Hi Algarve Cruising Center Members, Thank you very much!!! This is Michal from Poland I have joined the Bareboat Skipper course Oct. 2019 I strongly recommend this for people who want to get sailing skill and spend wonderful time. I started with basic experience and trough the course I get to the level when I can sail by myself (of course more practice is needed) The course covered all necessary skills to become independent sailer. Starting from theory and basic know-how. Then all necessary items like: how to go OUT and IN to the port, how to make yacht docking, and how to sail using the wind power. We could make by ownself passage planning and then confirm that in practice. ( sailing from Olhao to the Villamura port ) I think the good point of this school is also that They are not focused to make the highest number of participants. The 3 people join the course then you can have a lot of chances to make each maneuver by yourself. The teacher Ricardo has high level of sailing skill and a good method of teaching. Combining theory and practical tasks, and he is a very good personality. He is open to communicate and very oriented for each participant individual approach. For example, he was very patient for myself in case of my poor English undestanding so every time wen necessary, he spend time for addtitional explenation the content. His show also high level of acceptance in case needs of repating same task many times accepting Every day he is giving the feedback for each participant. This can help you to understand what you should focus on. The fieedback is honest and very helpful. He took care about us to make our stay comfortable, show for us the Olhao city and local restaurants and food. I have spent a great 10 days and I become sailer I really recomend you that school Thank you again !!!! hope to come back some time

I cannot recommend Algarve Cruising Center for sailing lessons. In summary, we found the teaching style of the instructor/owner Ricardo Barradas as authoritarian, discouraging, disrespectful, antagonistic, uninspiring and, overall, unpleasant. We were also disappointed in his questionable business practices. Finally, the IYT tools and curriculum were frustrating and lacking relative to the practical part of the course. We took the Fastrack Bareboat Skipper class, which is an intensive 10-day sailing class in Olhão, Portugal. Going in, we knew we didn't meet the "minimum suggested pre-course experience" which is "10 days at sea, 200 miles and 4 night hours." Effectively, we only had a 16-hour, 2-day US Sailing basic sailing course taken 2 years prior. Because we were concerned we lacked enough experience for this particular course, my girlfriend had a 10-minute call with the instructor before registering. He assured her our very limited experience wouldn't be a problem. As it turned out, we think this was poor advice. During the class, his negative tone, angry attitude, and overall condescending demeanor made it clear he expected us to know much more (or learn much quicker) based on reading the IYT materials and his explanations/demonstrations. Admittedly, it sometimes took us many attempts to learn what he was teaching (e.g., transits, spring lines). We tried to take his denunciations in stride and keep a positive attitude as we really wanted to learn; that's why we were spending so much money for his instruction. It often seemed like he was trying to make us feel guilty and dumb for not learning quicker and that it should be perfectly clear based on his instruction. He even berated my girlfriend when she accidentally dropped the halyard shackle into the water. (We both apologized profusely and offered to reimburse him or even go buy a new one. He said the store was closed and it was only 2 EUR so we should just forget it. I brought out and offered him 2 EUR cash but he declined. More on this later under business practices.) We felt his teaching style asserted arrogance, superiority, and disdain for us when we'd unsuccessfully perform what he'd taught. He said he'd been sailing since age 6 so perhaps it's understandable sailing concepts should be easy for him. Unfortunately, some of the concepts as he taught them were difficult for us to grasp quickly (especially given limited exposure from IYT materials - more on this later, too). He also said he used to be a physical education/gym teacher before teaching sailing so it might be his style was based on teaching exercises and sports to children. As adults, we weren't put-off by receiving minimal (if any) praise when we'd do something correctly but did not find conducive what appeared as condescension when we'd forget something he said or do something wrong. Based on evaluation comments he made in an email after the course, it also appears he was either inaccurate/incomplete with his feedback of perceived knowledge gaps delivered during the course or changed his mind after the course (based on our dissatisfaction and expectations of a poor review?). When he did provide feedback, we found it delivered harshly and aggressively. This method might be warranted when making a mistake because sailing mistakes can certainly be life- and property- threatening. Sailing safely is a serious subject so perhaps it's not surprising his direction lacked humor, empathy, and patience. We don't get the sense he enjoys teaching. Granted, different students learn best by different techniques so Ricardo Barradas might work well for some. However, there are instructions he gave that I'm challenged to find beneficial in any introductory context.

Uma experiência completa da vivência e convívio com o mar! Obrigado Ricardo!

Exelente escola com o um exelente professor/instrutor. Aulas teoricas e praticas onde se aprende de forma exaustiva manobras importantes a efectuar no mar. Um abraço Ricardo!

Experiência inesquecível! Excelente professor!