A sense of safety
Calm, responsible leadership and decisions suited to the conditions, the yacht and the crew.
Learn · Discover · Share
I help people sail with greater confidence, safety and awareness through private voyages, sailing training, skipper coaching and yacht delivery.
Your experience on the water
Participants most often highlight safety, calm leadership, extensive knowledge communicated clearly, and the opportunity to gain real experience through active and increasingly independent involvement.
Calm, responsible leadership and decisions suited to the conditions, the yacht and the crew.
Clear explanations based on real situations — not only how to act, but why.
Space to steer, plan, make decisions and learn under the supervision of an experienced skipper.
A partnership-based approach, freedom to ask questions, respect and attention to individual needs.
About
My name is Piotr Jurkowski. I am a professional skipper, sailing instructor, sailing educator and Lead Sailing Instructor and Training Supervisor.
I have sailed since the age of ten and offshore since sixteen. Since 2011, I have trained complete beginners, active sailors and skippers preparing for independent yacht command.
My approach combines extensive practical experience on the water with a background in psychology, trainer education and working with individuals and groups. People come first — their needs, abilities, goals and sense of safety.
As a training supervisor, I coordinated multi-yacht courses, supported less experienced instructors and helped maintain consistent standards and safety across several crews.
How I teach
First, I help participants understand the objective, conditions and risks. They then perform the task — initially with my guidance and, over time, with increasing independence. They make decisions, observe the outcomes and gain experience. Afterwards, we review what happened, discuss the decisions made and draw practical conclusions.
The objective, conditions, available options and risks.
Steer, plan and make independent decisions.
Name the lessons and apply them to future situations.
Safety does not mean doing everything for the learner. It means creating the right conditions for independence while an experienced skipper is ready to intervene when necessary.
Services
From a calm family voyage to intensive preparation for independent yacht command, the scope is agreed individually.
Professional skippering for families, private groups, individual clients and yacht owners, including route preparation, voyage organisation and calm leadership on board.
Harbour manoeuvres, sailing handling, safety, navigation, crew organisation, passage planning and preparation for independent charter.
Individual support for licensed or experienced sailors who want to improve confidence, decision-making and crew leadership.
Practical offshore experience including watches, navigation, longer passages, yacht handling, teamwork and real-world decision-making.
Delivery and repositioning of privately or commercially owned yachts between ports, countries or sailing areas, with optional owner or crew training.
Communication, learner-centred instruction, feedback, group work, psychological safety and instructor responsibility.
Experience and qualifications
Baltic Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Atlantic coast, Mediterranean, Adriatic and Polish inland waters.
Instructor since 2011, several hundred sailors trained, experience supervising multi-yacht courses and supporting other instructors.
Social psychology, transport psychology, trainer education, work with individuals and groups, and development of workshops for sailing instructors.
Polish Yacht Skipper, Polish Sailing Instructor, STCW Basic Safety Training, LRC, SRC and professional skipper/instructor liability insurance.
On the water
Below are selected current events in which I work as a skipper or instructor. Some are delivered in cooperation with sailing schools and organisers.
5–12 September 2026
Details, current price and booking are available from the organiser.
Check current terms, price and booking with the organiser . Opens in a new tab12–19 September 2026
Details, current price and booking are available from the organiser.
Check current terms, price and booking with the organiser . Opens in a new tab7–21 November 2026
Details, current price and booking are available from the organiser.
Check current terms, price and booking with the organiser . Opens in a new tabPublished events are not the full offer. Other dates, voyages, training, skipper coaching and yacht delivery services are available on request or can be prepared as tailored assignments.
Ask about other datesRecommendations
Many participants return for further voyages and training, recommend the experience to friends, and sometimes assemble their own crews to sail together again.
Participant review: “Knowledge shared clearly, a partnership-based approach to the crew and a good atmosphere.”
Participant review: “Every manoeuvre was explained before it was attempted and discussed afterwards.”
Participant review: “He is calm, decisive and approachable, and willingly shares his knowledge. He supports the crew and creates a strong sense of safety.”
Participant review: “Great atmosphere, professionalism and a very high standard of safety.”
Philosophy
Sailing Is Learning is not only about technique and practical sailing skills.
It is about discovering people and places, connecting with nature, exchanging experience, accepting responsibility, working together and continuing to grow. Every voyage can teach something — to a beginner, an experienced skipper and an instructor.
I believe the best voyages leave more than memories: new skills, greater confidence, people worth meeting and the desire to sail again.
Contact
Tell me the dates, sailing area, yacht, number of people and your objective. Together we can define a scope of work suited to you and your crew.
Request a tailored proposalProfessional Skipper · Sailing Instructor · Sailing Educator