Late afternoon
About 3 hours on a private sailboat: a few tacks in the bay, sail trim and anchoring at sunset.
- Ideal on weekdays after work
- Helming and sail trim
- Back to the lights of Marseille
from700€
per boat, up to 12 people
Request a date
Take the helm · Professional skipper on board
Sailing practice on a sailboat in Marseille: take the helm
A private sailboat trip where you take part in the manoeuvres: helming, sail trim, tacking and anchoring, alongside a professional skipper. For curious beginners or sailors who want to get back into it.
Full day from790€
- From 1 to 12 people
- Professional skipper
- All levels
The options
Sailing practice: the options
Our sailing practice takes place on a private sailboat: the price is for the boat, whatever the number of participants, up to 12 people.
Day on a sailboat
From 10am to 5pm: time to practise all the manoeuvres, have lunch at anchor and sail on different points of sail.
- Tacking, gybing, reefing
- Anchoring and picking up a mooring
- Swim break and lunch
from790€
per boat, from 10am to 5pm
Request a dateOn your own boat
A professional skipper comes on board your sailboat or catamaran for a complete handover.
- Harbour manoeuvres
- Electronics and autopilot
- Ideal after a purchase
On quotation
depending on the duration and the boat
Request a datePrices include taxes and are for the private boat with skipper, fuel and port taxes included. On a catamaran, the full day starts at €1,490. This is neither a sailing course nor a certified training course: it is a boat trip where you take part in the manoeuvres.
On the programme
What you practise during the session
Helming and points of sail
Holding a course, feeling the boat, going from close-hauled to running downwind: you take the helm as soon as you leave port.
Sail trim
Genoa, mainsail, traveller, backstay: understanding how each adjustment changes the speed and comfort of the boat.
Tacking and gybing
The basic manoeuvres, repeated until everyone knows their role on board: helmsman, winch crew, pit.
Anchoring and harbour
Choosing an anchorage, dropping the anchor, picking up a buoy, then harbour manoeuvres, often the most dreaded.
Depending on your level and the day’s wind, the skipper adds reefing, motoring in the harbour, man overboard or reading the chart and depth sounder. The goal is simple: to leave more at ease than when you arrived, and keen to sail again.
Everyone progresses at their own pace: the most confident take on responsibilities, such as the harbour manoeuvre or choosing the anchorage, while beginners discover the helm and the winches. The skipper explains every move, without unnecessary jargon, and lets you take over as soon as you are ready.
- Helming on all points of sail
- Sail trim
- Tacking and gybing
- Reefing
- Anchoring and picking up a mooring
- Harbour manoeuvres
Who is it for?
Who is sailing practice for?
The curious
You have never been on a sailboat, or hardly ever: discover the feel of the helm and of a boat picking up speed under sail.
Before a charter
Chartering a bareboat this summer? A refresher day gives you confidence, especially for harbour manoeuvres.
New owners
You have just bought a sailboat or catamaran: a skipper helps you get to grips with it, on your own boat.
Before a cruise
A family cruise, an Atlantic crossing or a tour of Corsica: prepare your crew, watches and sail trim with a professional.
Teams
A day of sailing where everyone has a role: sailing is a great team bonding tool, also available as team building.
Families
Children love the helm! Life jackets in their size and an attentive skipper: an active trip full of memories.
See also our team building at sea with a regatta between boats, and our charter management if you own a boat.
How it goes
A typical practice day
- 1
9:45am · Welcome at Port Corbières
Coffee, introduction to the boat, safety instructions and the day’s programme depending on the weather.
- 2
10am · Leaving port and first tacks
Hoisting the sails, first turns at the helm, tacking in the bay of Marseille.
- 3
12:30pm · Anchoring and lunch
Anchoring exercise in a cove on the Côte Bleue or the Frioul, a swim and lunch.
- 4
2pm · Manoeuvres and sail trim
Gybing, reefing if the wind allows, man overboard, picking up a mooring.
- 5
4:30pm · Back to port
Harbour manoeuvre, mooring and debrief with the skipper: what you have learnt and what you can work on.
Charter
Before a bareboat charter: the refresher
Chartering a bareboat means setting off alone in charge of a boat you do not know. Even with a licence and experience, a few hours of refresher make all the difference, especially if you have not sailed since last season.
Harbour manoeuvres first
This is often where everything is decided: leaving a tight berth, coming back alongside with a crosswind, picking up a mooring line. The skipper has you repeat these manoeuvres under engine until they become second nature.
Anchoring with confidence
Choosing a sandy bottom, letting out enough chain, checking that the anchor holds, anticipating the wind shift overnight: all moves that guarantee peaceful nights during your cruise.
The right safety reflexes
Man overboard, reefing when the wind picks up, using the VHF: sailing practice also reviews safety procedures, so that the whole crew knows what to do.
Chartering one of our boats afterwards? The refresher takes place on board the sailboat you are going to charter. Discover our sailboat and catamaran charters.
The sailing area
The waters of Marseille for practising
Marseille is an ideal place to practise: a sheltered bay for the first tacks, the Côte Bleue and its calanques for anchoring exercises, the Frioul islands for sailing among islands, and a regular thermal breeze in the afternoon in summer.
The mistral, a good teacher
The mistral often blows over Marseille. When moderate, it offers good conditions to learn how to reduce sail and trim the boat in strong wind, in the shelter of the bay. When strong, it means staying in port: the skipper decides, and the trip is postponed at no cost. Forecasts are followed on Météo-France marine.
A comfortable, safe boat
Practice takes place on our 43 to 47-foot sailboats, stable and well equipped, with self-tailing winches, a genoa furler and modern instruments. All the safety equipment is on board: life jackets, jacklines, harnesses and man-overboard gear. Discover our advice on safety at sea.
Booking
Book your sailing practice trip
Quick reply, by email or on WhatsApp.
In pictures
Sailing practice in pictures
Why book with LOCVOILIER?
Since 2018, LOCVOILIER has organised boat trips, charters and deliveries from Marseille, Cassis and La Ciotat. Our professional skippers know every cove on the coast, our boats are carefully maintained and you benefit from private, secure parking at Port Corbières. Prices are shown clearly, all taxes included, and we reply to every request quickly, by phone, email or WhatsApp.
FAQ
Sailing practice: your questions
What does a sailing practice trip involve?
It is a trip on a private sailboat with a professional skipper, during which you take an active part in the manoeuvres: helming, sail trim, tacking, gybing, picking up a mooring and anchoring. The skipper remains responsible for the boat and supports you at every step.
How much does sailing practice on a sailboat cost?
The day on a private sailboat with a skipper costs €790 for the boat, from 10am to 5pm, for up to 12 people. The late-afternoon trip, about 3 hours, starts at €700. On a catamaran, the full day starts at €1,490.
Do I need to know how to sail?
No. Beginners are welcome: the skipper adapts the pace and the manoeuvres to your level. More experienced sailors use it to get back into practice before a cruise or a charter.
Is it a sailing course?
No, it is neither a sailing course nor a certified training course. It is a boat trip with a skipper where you take part in the manoeuvres to gain confidence. For a licence or a certified course, contact an approved sailing school.
Can we practise on our own boat?
Yes. A professional skipper can come on board your boat for a handover: harbour manoeuvres, anchoring, sail trim, using the electronics. It is ideal after buying a boat. Price on quotation depending on the duration.
How many people can take part?
From 1 to 12 people on a sailboat. In a group, everyone takes turns at the helm and the winches, and the price of the boat is shared.
Is it useful before a bareboat charter?
Yes, it is even one of the best ways to prepare: a refresher day with a skipper before setting off alone on a charter helps you get your reflexes back, especially for harbour manoeuvres.
What should we bring?
Light-soled shoes, a cap, sunscreen, a windproof jacket and something for lunch if you have not booked the catering option. Life jackets are provided.
What happens if it is very windy?
The skipper adapts the trip: moderate wind is an excellent opportunity to work on reefing and sail trim. If the mistral is strong or the sea too rough, the trip is postponed at no cost.
Where does the trip take place?
Departing from Port Corbières in L’Estaque, in the bay of Marseille, along the Côte Bleue and around the Frioul islands: varied waters, with sheltered anchorages for practising.
Can we prepare for a regatta or a cruise?
Yes. Before a family cruise, an Atlantic crossing or a regatta with friends, the trip focuses on what you need: watches, fine sail trim, night sailing or crew manoeuvres.
How long does it take to feel at ease?
One day is enough to learn the basics and gain confidence at the helm. To sail a boat independently, you need several trips and regular practice: many of our clients come back throughout the season to progress.
Can I come alone?
Yes, the trip is possible from one person, at the price of the private boat. To share the cost, come with friends or colleagues: up to 12 people on board a sailboat.
Is there a minimum age?
No, children are welcome with their parents, with a life jacket in their size. They love holding the helm, always under the skipper’s watchful eye.
Can we give a sailing practice trip as a gift?
Yes, with our gift vouchers, valid for 12 months and extendable by 6 months free of charge: a day on a sailboat is an ideal gift for a sea lover.
Quick reply, no commitment
Fancy taking the helm?
Tell us your level, your objectives and the date that suits you.
Set the right course from the start!
