Everything You need to know about our sailing school

FAQ Sailing school

Welcome to our sailing school FAQ page! Here, you’ll find answers to the most common questions from our participants and those interested in joining our sailing school. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to contact us—we’re happy to help!

Our beginner sailing classes are accessible to most people. Basically, if you can move and pay attention to explanations, you can learn to sail. The requirements are that you are over 18 and want to explore the passion for sailing!

Our sailing classes are designed for adults. Attendants must be over 18 years old. Upon request, we can accept 15 year old youngsters or more, if they attend with one of their parents, and provided they are able to fully understand explanations in English. For this kind of requests we usually offer family courses which are suited to family needs.

Yes! You can book a spot to join a sailing course on your own. Most participants are individuals signing up independently, and we match requests to create a cohesive group for your learning experience. Please note that we need at least two confirmed attendees for a course to take place.

Absolutely! You can join any course with a group of friends or family, provided there are enough spots available on your desired date. Alternatively, feel free to contact us to arrange a custom date for your group.

The duration depends on your individual abilities and commitment. We recommend taking at least two sailing courses—the Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses—to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed to build your experience independently. Our courses aim to teach you the art of sailing, technical equipment use, weather forecast interpretation, and good nautical practices, preparing you to sail safely with other skippers or on your own. Our progressive course offerings are designed to meet your evolving sailing needs over time.

A list of valid skipper’s licenses required to rent a boat in Croatia is available on the official website of the Croatian Ministry of the Sea: Croatian Ministry of the Sea. You can also access the relevant PDF document directly here. Our ISPA Day Skipper certificate is valid for chartering a sailing boat or catamaran in Croatia.

Ultra Sailing School is a licensed ISPA Sailing School and the representative for ISPA in Europe. With your international ISPA Day Skipper certificate, you can charter a sailing boat in Croatia and worldwide.

Yes, the ISPA Day Skipper certificate is a valid and recognized license for chartering a sailing boat or catamaran in Croatia.

We recommend dressing comfortably in sports outfits and bringing a cap, sunglasses, gloves, and non-slip white-soled sports shoes. We provide sailing suits, so you don’t need to worry about that. In the summer, wearing white clothes and using sunscreen is essential. For sailing in winter or spring, please bring spare warm clothes to wear under the sailing suits, as well as waterproof sports shoes. For more information on packing for your sailing week in Croatia, check our blog: How to pack for your sailing week.

Most our courses offer accommodation on-board, except for some specific terms of Shore-based Competent Crew course.

If want to arrive a couple of days before to visit Split, best is to check your preferred accommodation type on specialised websites.  Some students prefer staying in hotels, while others choose private accommodations like rooms or apartments. Split has plenty of great options to offer!

To join the Day Skipper course, you should hold a Competent Crew certificate from ISPA or an equivalent program.

No prior sailing experience is required for the Competent Crew course.

The more you sail, the more self-confidence you will gain. Experience is key to becoming a good sailor, so we encourage you to continue sailing after completing our courses. If you feel confident in your sailing skills and pass the Day Skipper course, you can charter a bareboat from us. If you don’t feel 100% confident after the Day Skipper courses, we strongly recommend reaching the Coastal Skipper level or renting a boat with a skipper to practice further under supervision.

Local kids in Croatia join sailing clubs and sail in optimist classes throughout the season. Some sailing clubs open their doors during the summer and organize summer courses for kids in optimist classes at very affordable prices. These courses typically last a few hours per day, and sailing instructors are not responsible for students outside of the course hours. As sailing clubs have their own rules, Ultra Sailing cannot assist with their kids’ programs. We advise contacting local sailing clubs directly for more information.

We organize regatta sailing, but only those sailors who have completed one of our sailing courses or can demonstrate sufficient previous experience are eligible to join us for a regatta.

We recommend our founder’s sailing book, “Nautical Skills,” which is a reference in Croatia. It is provided as a complimentary gift to our Day Skipper students. The book is available in both English and Croatian and can be ordered separately even if you do not attend one of our sailing courses. Additionally, ISPA offers online sailing education, with some modules accessible for free: International Sail and Power Academy | ISPA.

Participants share costs to prepare meals during the courses. They also provide food for the instructor. For embarked courses, participants often agree to take some of the dinners at local restaurants on the islands.