Skipper School · Women only
Learn to Sail with a Crew of Women
April 2027 · Theory from $299
2 weeks online + 7 days at sea · No experience needed
As featured in Forbes · Authority Magazine
50+
Women skippers
2 weeks
Online theory
7 days
On a sailboat
100%
Women on board
Why this week
A vacation you come home from with a skill
You'll still swim off the boat at lunch and have dinner in a little harbor town. But this week has a job. Every day you take the helm, dock the boat, drop the anchor and plan the next leg yourself.
You fly home with a license and a skill most people only watch from the beach. Next summer, instead of booking a hotel, you can rent a sailboat in Greece and take your friends out yourself.
What our skippers say
“Came knowing absolutely nothing about sailing. Left knowing how to handle a boat and already planning my next trip.”
Sophie✓
London
“I was nervous about coming alone, but the girls made it feel like we'd known each other for years. And I actually learned to sail!”
Emma✓
New York
“Not just a vacation, but a skill I'll have for life. Learning to sail along the Italian coast was pretty hard to beat.”
Olivia✓
Amsterdam
“I loved that we actually got to do the sailing, not just sit on a boat. By the end of the week, I felt so much more confident.”
Mia✓
Copenhagen
How it works
Three steps from never sailed to your own boat.
Learn the theory online
Study from home, in English, at a pace that fits around your life. $299.
Sail a week with us
Live on the boat, practice every day with Kris, and take the exam on the last day.
Rent your own boat
Rent a sailboat without a hired captain, pick a country, invite your friends. You're the skipper now.
What's included
Boat, instructor, exam. You bring a swimsuit.
Practice week · April 2027
Your boat for the week
The sailboat you train on and sleep on, seven nights.
Kris, every day
A female captain on board from the first morning to the exam.
Swim stops
Quiet bays you can only reach from the water.
Dinner ashore
Little harbor towns at the end of a sailing day.
The exam
On the last day, on the boat you've been sailing all week.
Celebration dinner
A last night out for the newest skippers in the group.
What you'll learn
Eight topics online, then the same eight again on the water until they stick.
Steering and docking
Taking the helm, pulling into a marina, anchoring in a bay, raising and trimming the sails.
Navigation
Paper charts and a compass, finding your position without GPS, reading buoys and lights, knowing who gives way to whom.
Planning a route
Picking where to go, where to anchor for the night, and how far you can realistically sail in a day.
Weather
Reading a forecast, spotting a storm before it hits, and changing plans when the wind does.
How the boat works
Engine, anchor, electrics, fresh water. What usually breaks and how to fix it yourself.
Radio
Calling a marina to book a spot, talking to other boats, and making a distress call if you ever need to.
Knots and lines
The handful of knots you'll use every single day, and how the ropes on a sailboat work.
Paperwork
Renting a boat, insurance, licenses, and crossing borders by sea.
Never sailed before
The stuff everyone worries about before their first week.
Safety
Kris is on board the whole time. Safety drills happen on day one, and we sail in conditions that suit beginners.
Strength
Winches do the heavy lifting. If you can carry a suitcase up a flight of stairs, you can sail.
Seasickness
Most days are short hops between bays with swim stops. You'll get a packing list with what actually helps.
Living on a boat
You share a double cabin with one other woman. There's a shower on board, and we cook some meals together and eat others ashore.
The exam
It covers exactly what you practiced all week. Kris tells you when you're ready.
We're picky about who joins
We hope you are too.
For you if…
- You've never sailed. The theory starts from zero, and the practice week is built for complete beginners.
- You've been a passenger for years. You're ready to stop handing the helm to someone else.
- You want a week away that leaves you with something. A real skill, and a license to prove it.
- You're coming solo. Lots of women do. We match roommates through a short questionnaire.
Not for you if…
- You want a week of lying on deck. You'll be working the boat every day.
- You're looking for a party boat. It's drills in the morning and sailing in the afternoon.
- You'd rather skip the intro call. Everyone talks to us for 15 minutes before booking. It's how we keep the group right.
The theory course
Step 1 · two weeks online, before you get on the boat.
Next group starting soon · 2 weeks · In English
$299
Applications are open now. You cover the rules of the road, navigation, weather, radio, and how a sailboat is put together. You'll show up already understanding what your instructor is talking about, so the week goes into practice instead of lectures.
Already did sailing theory at another school? Attach your certificate in the form and go straight to the practice week.
Apply for the theory
The practice week*
Step 2 · seven days on a sailboat, day by day.
We meet at the marina in the afternoon, settle into cabins and do a full tour of the boat. Safety briefing, life jackets on, then the first dinner together with the whole group.
* The plan may change depending on weather and sea conditions.
What you get at the end
An international skipper license
ISSA Inshore Skipper plus a VHF radio certificate. In plain English: you can rent a sailboat without a hired captain and sail it yourself, anywhere in the world.
Your instructor
Founder of Hidden Jam
Kristina Vazovsky
Licensed yacht captain · Forbes 30 Under 30 · 85+ countries
Kris holds a captain's license and also flies planes. She founded Hidden Jam, has traveled to 85+ countries and lived in seven of them.
She's on board with you every day of the practice week, from your first time at the helm to the exam.
Course cost
Apply below to save your spot. We reply within 24 hours.
Step 1 · Theory course
$299
2 weeks online · In English · Applications open
- All eight topics, from zero
- Prepares you for the practice week, wherever you do it
- Can be given as a gift
Step 2 · Practice week
from$2,990/ person
April 2027 · 7 days
25% deposit to secure your spot · 8 of 8 spots left
- Seven nights on the sailboat you train on
- Kris as your instructor, every day
- A dinghy to get to shore
- The exam
- Celebration dinner on the last night
Not included: flights · travel insurance · boat kitty for food, fuel & marinas (~€150pp) · license fees (~€200)
ApplyFAQ
Everything you might want to know before applying.
I've never been on a boat. Is that okay?
Yes, that's exactly who this is for. The theory starts from zero, and the practice week is designed for beginners.
Do I need to be fit or strong?
No. You need to be able to step on and off the boat and move around the deck. Winches handle the heavy work.
Do I need to know how to swim?
You should be comfortable in the water. You'll wear a life jacket during drills, and nobody has to jump in if they don't want to.
Is there an age limit?
You need to be 18 or older. There's no upper limit.
Is it really women only?
Yes. Every student and the instructor.
I'm coming alone. Is that weird?
Not at all. Lots of women join solo, and we match roommates through a short questionnaire.
What's the online course like?
Two weeks, in English, from home. You'll get the full schedule after you apply.
Do I have to take the theory course first?
Yes, or bring a theory certificate from another sailing school.
What license do I get?
An ISSA Inshore Skipper license plus a VHF radio certificate. It lets you rent a sailboat and skipper it yourself, anywhere in the world.
What if I don't pass the exam?
Kris won't send you into the exam until you're ready. If something still needs work, we'll talk through options for extra practice.
How soon do I get the license?
Usually within a few weeks after the exam. We'll handle the paperwork with you.
Can I do the practice somewhere else?
Right now the only date is April 2027. Pick Greece, Croatia, Montenegro or Turkey in the form and you'll hear first when those dates open.
Can I bring a friend who won't take the exam?
Yes, if there's space on the boat. She joins the sailing and everything else, just without the exam. Mention it in the form.
What if I get seasick?
Most days are short sails between bays, and nights are at anchor or in a marina. If the forecast shows swell, we'll share what helps and adjust the plan.
What else will I pay for?
A shared boat kitty for food, fuel and marinas (~€150 per person) and license fees (~€200). Plus flights.
What should I pack?
A soft bag instead of a suitcase, non-slip shoes, a windproof layer, swimsuit, sunscreen and a hat. You'll get the full list after you book.
Can I give the course as a gift?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll send a gift certificate for the theory course or the full program.
I have my license. Now what?
Rent a boat with friends anywhere you like. Or join one of our Hidden Jam sailing trips and keep practicing with a group.
Apply
Takes two minutes. We reply within 24 hours and set up a quick call.
Skipper School · Women only
Learn to sail your own boat
Theory starts now · April 2027 · 8 of 8 spots left
Theory $299
8 of 8 spots left · April 2027