I have been teaching RYA courses in Mallorca for six seasons now and every year I become more convinced that October and November are the sweet spot for starting your sailing education.
The reasons are practical. Class sizes are smaller so you get more helm time. The marinas are quieter so berthing practice is less stressful. The wind is more consistent and interesting — you actually get proper sailing conditions instead of drifting around in light summer airs or getting blasted by July thermals. And the water temperature is still warm enough that falling in is not the end of the world.
I had a Competent Crew group out yesterday — four students instead of the usual summer maximum of five or six. Each of them got nearly double the tiller time they would have had in July. One student told me afterwards it was the first time she felt like she was actually sailing rather than just holding on.
If anyone is thinking about doing Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper over the winter, now is when the practical sessions really shine. Happy to answer questions about course timing and what to expect.
Katrin, I think I might have been one of those students yesterday! Or at least it sounds exactly like my group. If so — thank you again, it really was brilliant.
I can confirm everything you said. I started my Competent Crew in September when there were still lots of charter boats everywhere and the difference now is enormous. Yesterday I actually had time to practise tacking without feeling like I was holding everyone up.
For anyone reading this who is on the fence — just do it. I was terrified when I signed up and now it is the highlight of my week.
Can confirm this from the student side. I did my Day Skipper in March and it was brilliant — small group, loads of helm time, and the instructors were not rushed. A friend did hers in July and said she spent half the practical sessions waiting for charter boats to clear the fairway.
The only downside to autumn courses is the weather can be more unpredictable. We had one day cancelled due to a tramuntana warning which pushed everything back. But honestly even that was a good learning experience — understanding when NOT to go out is part of the course.
Katrin is right about the conditions. I was out in the bay yesterday morning and counted maybe four boats between Club de Mar and Portixol. In July you cannot move without dodging a charter cat.
The wind has been consistent too — proper thermals building by midday, steady 12-15 knots, none of that frustrating calm-then-sudden-gust pattern you get in August. If I were starting from scratch I would absolutely pick October.
Can confirm — doing my course now in October and it is so much nicer than I expected. The harbour is calmer, there are fewer boats to dodge when we are practising, and honestly the weather has been perfect. Warm enough to be out all day but not that crushing August heat where you cannot think straight.
Also the instructors seem more relaxed. Less back-to-back courses so they have more time for questions, which someone like me definitely needs!