CARLETON-SUR-MER SAILING FIELD GUIDE
Five Days Afloat: Learn to Command a Catalina 34 from Carleton-sur-Mer
A five-day, life-à-bord sailing course that teaches navigation, safety and seamanship aboard a spacious Catalina 34 — essential reading for anyone planning to skipper coastal cruises.
Five Days Afloat: Learn to Command a Catalina 34 from Carleton-sur-Mer.
Over five days and four nights out of Carleton-sur-Mer, this life-à-bord stage places you aboard a roomy Catalina 34 to learn core navigation, safety procedures and sail- and engine-handling; you sleep onboard each night at a new anchorage or in a marina while practicing maneuvers and preparing for a basic cruising certificate.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands-on seamanship and systems training
This five-day course focuses on theoretical and practical seamanship: navigation, safety, rules of the road, weather, matelotage, manoeuvres under sail and engine, and a final theoretical exam and practical evaluation.
Spacious Catalina 34 with double cabins
The course uses a Catalina 34—a 12-foot‑beam cruiser with two double cabins—that comfortably accommodates trainees and provides true life‑aboard conditions for practicing extended passages and berthing.
Life à bord: a different night, a new place
The stage is run in 'vie à bord' mode: participants sleep on the boat four nights in a row, spending evenings either at anchor or in a marina while practicing arrival and securing techniques.
What the day feels like
What five days aboard actually feels like
Expect concentrated, practical instruction delivered at sea: daily sails and maneuvers, classroom-style theory on board, hands-on drills in safety and boat handling, and evenings spent living aboard at successive anchorages or marinas — all designed to develop the basic skills and decision-making expected of a skipper or crew.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this week at sea is built for — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The course runs five days and four nights.
Embarkation and briefing occur at Voile Aventure Gaspésie in Carleton-sur-Mer.
Training is conducted in 'vie à bord' mode aboard a Catalina 34 with two double cabins; participants sleep on the boat each night at successive anchorages or marinas.
The listed cost is $399 + taxes per person; full payment is required to confirm a place and further details are provided by email after registration.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Croisière élémentaire course?
The course is five days long with four nights aboard the boat.
Where and when do we meet to start the course?
Participants meet at Voile Aventure Gaspésie in Carleton-sur-Mer for embarkation and briefings.
What type of boat will we sail on?
Training takes place on a Catalina 34, a spacious cruiser with two double cabins and approximately 12 feet of beam.
Can this course lead to an official brevet or certificate?
Depending on your performance and prior skills, the course can lead to the croisière élémentaire brevet; candidates must pass the theoretical exam and comply with Voile Canada logbook requirements within the stipulated timeframe.
How many people are in a training group?
The formation runs in groups of four or five trainees, aboard a boat that can accommodate up to seven people.
What is the cost and payment policy?
The price is $399 plus taxes per person and full payment is required to confirm a reservation; additional details are emailed after registration.