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Guide · Learning to sail
Learn to sail: courses, sailing trips and licences at a glance
There are several ways to learn to sail: on a sailing course at a sailing school, on a sail training trip at sea, or by working towards a sailing licence. Here you can see which path suits you and where to find courses and sailing trips.
Updated: 3 November 2026 · Editorial team toernfinder.de
Courses and sailing trips directly from the provider
The essentials at a glance
To get started
No previous experience needed
Paths
Sailing course, sail training, sailing licence
First official licence
usually the Sportbootführerschein See
For chartering
SBF See or SKS plus radio certificate
Courses on Törnfinder
225 Dates
Which path suits you?
That depends on what you have in mind: simply giving it a try, learning to sail at sea or gaining a licence.
Sailing course at a sailing school
Dinghy or yacht · on a lake or on the coast
The classic way in: a few days or weekends with an instructor, often with a certificate from the school at the end.
View sailing courses →Sail training
A week on board a yacht
You live on board for a week and learn to set sails, manoeuvres, navigation, and mooring and casting off.
View sail training trips →Get your sailing licence
SBF See, SKS, radio
Official licences for motorboats, charter yachts and radio. An overview shows which licence applies to what.
Sailing licences at a glance →Anyone who already has a licence and wants to skipper a yacht themselves will find that Skipper training boosts their confidence.
First steps: a sailing course at a sailing school
Most people start at a sailing school. There you learn in small groups with an instructor, often over several days in a row or at weekends.
- On a dinghy: a small open boat, usually on a lake. You feel every movement of the wind and the boat, and you learn to sail very directly.
- On a yacht: a larger boat with a cabin, usually on the coast. This adds harbour manoeuvres, navigation and life on board.
- For children and teenagers: Many schools offer their own courses and sailing camps during the holidays. More at Children's sailing and Sailing camp.
At the end, many schools issue a certificate, for example under the rules of the VDS or VDWS. This is not an official licence, but it is proof that you can sail. The difference is explained on the page Sailing licences at a glance.
Learning at sea: sail training
On sail training, you sail with an instructor every day for a week. That way you learn a great deal in a short time, and in the evening the boat lies in a new harbour.
Many people combine this with a holiday, for example on the Baltic Sea, in Croatia or on Mallorca. Sail training is also suitable for the practical part of the SKS, which often ends with the exam on board. You will find current sailing trips, sailing areas and prices on the page Sail training.
Getting your sailing licence
For sailing itself, no official licence is usually required in Germany. As soon as an engine of more than 15 hp is involved or you want to charter a yacht, however, you need one.
- Getting started: of Sportbootführerschein See, and on inland waterways the SBF Binnen.
- For chartering: of SKS and the radio certificate SRC.
- For longer sailing trips: SSS and SHS.
You usually learn the theory in evening classes, at weekends or online, and the practical part on the water. All licences, including those from Austria, Switzerland and Great Britain, are listed on the page Sailing licences at a glance.
Gaining confidence: skipper training
With the licence in your pocket, you often still lack experience as a skipper. In skipper training you skipper the yacht yourself, with a trainer standing beside you.
The focus is on harbour manoeuvres, leading the crew and sailing in stronger winds. Many people do skipper training before their first charter trip. You'll find dates and sailing areas on the page Skipper training.
Deepen your knowledge: seminars and courses
Besides sailing itself, there are courses on individual topics. They mostly take place ashore, over an evening, a weekend or online.
- Navigation: Nautical charts, course and position, including with electronic aids.
- Meteorology: Reading weather forecasts, assessing wind and weather conditions.
- Seamanship: Knots, lines, manoeuvres and good practice on board.
- Safety and Medicine: Emergencies on board, first aid at sea.
- Engine theory: Maintenance and minor repairs to the boat engine.
- Radio and Radar: Operating the radio and radar safely.
Frequently asked questions about learning to sail
Short answers to the questions asked most often.
What is the best way to learn to sail?
Most people start with a sailing course at a sailing school or with a sail training trip. On a dinghy you learn sailing very directly; on a yacht, navigation and harbour manoeuvres come into it as well.
Do I need previous experience to learn to sail?
No. Beginners' courses and many sail training trips are expressly aimed at beginners. What the provider expects is stated in the course or trip description.
Can I learn to sail without taking a licence?
Yes. In Germany, an official licence is usually not required for sailing itself. You need one for motorboats over 15 hp and usually for chartering a yacht.
How long does it take to learn to sail?
You can learn the basics in anything from a few days to a week. To skipper a yacht yourself, you need more practice, a licence and often skipper training.
Can I learn to sail on holiday?
Yes, for example on a sail training trip. You sail every day for a week with an instructor, for example on the Baltic Sea, in Croatia or in Mallorca.
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