commercial@acm-caraibes.com+596 5 96 74 66 92

Level 1 - Initiation

Level 1 - Initiation, allows you to discover the fundamentals of sailing on a catamaran.

Navigation area

Approximately 100 miles of coastal sailing between St Tropez and the Calanques, with the islands of Hyères, Porquerolles, Port Cros and the Presqu'île de Giens a must. Nights are spent at anchor, depending on the weather, and a stopover in port may be considered during the course, depending on weather conditions.

School boat

Our Lagoon 380 is fast, easy to handle and safe, making it an excellent catamaran for learning. All safety and comfort equipment is on board.

Content of your level

  • Equip yourself with the suggested equipment

Knowing how to equip yourself (vest, harness, clothing)

Knowledge of catamaran equipment (VHF, fire extinguishers, liferaft, FAR, crown buoy, lifeline, seawater valves, etc.)

At a standstill know where the wind is coming from

Feel the wind on your face (sense of flags or weather vane)

How to use winches safely


Keep an eye on safety tips

Movingin balance



Preparing for towing/hauling

Know how it works: 3 clockwise turns, cranks set correctly, selftelling, spinlocks open.

Identify the 3Rs rule (Route, Réglage, Rangement)

Know the danger zones (cap, sheet cart...), sun protection and hydration, close valves and portholes, tidy boat, 360° watch and VHF channel 16

Know how to move to windward/leeward, lower center of gravity, one hand for yourself, one for the boat, attach to lifelines.

Take part in manoeuvres as a crew , flying fenders (no hands), no throwing yourself on the quay, blocking the ship with a biting turn

Linking landscape and map, Following a course

Know how to read a map and situate yourself on it, Know how to situate yourself on the water, Link landscape and map, Maintain a stable trajectory.

Getting ready to sail/motorize

Know how to start the engines, Prepare for mooring line release (double point),

Protecting the boat with fenders

Know how to maneuver the engine out of port, area, speed, throttle management, etc.

How to hoist sails (Zone, preparation, shipping)

Launching and using the dinghy

Inflate the sail to move forward

Use the tiller to steer

Use the tiller to change tack

Using the sail to slow down

Use the bar to slow down

How to trim and ease sails How to adjust sails to the limit

Lofer, Feller

How to change tack upwind and downwind

upwind ease the sails, downwind trim the sails

upwind luff to bring the boat's nose into the wind

downwind strike to bring the boat downwind

Take your garbage ashore

Report polluting/dangerous objects

Respect environmental preservation guidelines

Organize selective sorting, Know what can be disposed of at sea (biodegradables)

Identify UFOs, fishing traps and nets, cardinal buoys and marker buoys

Know how to use black water tanks, identify valves and draining areas
Know the regulations governing anchorage and fishing areas

Know the rules of the road

Know the RIPAM (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea),

Identify collisionroutes

Tying sea knots


Catamaran components

Know and use the main sailor knots: dead turn 2 half key, chair knot, cleat knot, 8 knot, capstan knot.

Identify structural elements: hull, beam, standing and running rigging, windlass, intake valves, deck fittings

How much does it cost?

  • Skipper certification
  • 1295
    per pers / excluding service pack at €380
  • Duration 7 days

-10% discount for second person in shared cabin
-10% off your second internship in the calendar year
10% off your first rental following a one-week training course

ACM has chosen to take care of the entire organization of your cruising course, based on the principle of a service package.

We take care of everything, so that we can concentrate 100% on training.

Our service package

Service pack information

  • PACK SERVICES ACM
  • 380
    per person
    to be added to the cost of your training
  • New for 2020!
    1 month of online theoretical training in the form of videos with commentary, graphic diagrams and summary sheets.
  • Partnership with Ocean Skill
  • Private cabin
  • Safety equipment - Individual self-inflating vest and additional safety equipment for offshore courses.
  • Provisioning - Breakfast, lunch and dinner and little extras we deliver in the morning. Arrange for storage, so you know what to bring.
  • On-board consumption: gas, batteries
  • Bedding (complete kit) - Top and bottom sheets, pillow and pillowcase, blanket and comforter.
  • Catamaran cleaning package: no need to clean the catamaran on your return.
  • FFV MMA insurance: you are insured for the course via the Fédération Française de Voile.
  • Your ACM / FFV passport: we validate your level and number of miles sailed. Equivalence validation according to your experience.
  • Navigation software: approach to navigation software with the IPad (INAVX and Weather 4D Pro) from offshore stage 3.
  • Welcome and early night on board the day before: restaurant (not included in the service package) with the crew and your instructor.
  • Parking space and amenities : you can leave your car or motorcycle in an enclosed area just a stone's throw from your catamaran. Showers and toilets on site.
  • Supplement to be arranged by crew
  • According to consumption
    per crew
  • Diesel + dinghy fuel: according to consumption on your return (approx. 20 €/pers. depending on destination).
  • Provisioning : top-up provisioning (if necessary) *On 7-day courses, allow for a top-up.
  • Stopover: according to weather conditions or crew wishes (otherwise anchorage).

Our upcoming Level 1 courses

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See our other levels

Level 2: Advanced

Level 3: Evolution (Semi-high-rise)

Level 4: Quartermaster (Offshore)

Skipper (Yachting)

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