Day Builder program

From Competent Crew to Confident Master of Vessel

This is not a quick certification. This is a deliberate, experience-rich pathway to becoming a capable, confident skipper.

The Day Builder Program is designed for sailors who want real command time, real decision-making, and real confidence—on inland waters and offshore. With 25 days of coached sailing instruction  this program gives you the depth of practice required to earn your NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master certification (not included).

What This Program Includes

25 Days of Instructional Sailing & Coaching

Train primarily on Lake Travis, where you’ll build strong fundamentals and progressively step into the role of Master of Vessel. Each day is focused on hands-on learning, repetition, and real responsibility—not observation.

You’ll work on:

  • Boat handling under sail and power

  • Sail trim and performance awareness

  • Docking, undocking, anchoring, and mooring

  • Navigation, passage planning, and weather interpretation

  • Systems knowledge, onboard problem-solving and provisioning

  • Leadership, communication, and crew management

Optional training days on larger vessels out of Houston harbor are available for sailors seeking additional experience. (Boat rental fees apply for Houston sessions.)

NauticEd Rank Assessment (Add-on)

The program culminates in your NauticEd Rank Assessment, including:

  • An on-the-water assessment aligned with NauticEd rubrics

You’ll be evaluated on boat handling, sail trim, navigation, safety procedures, and overall seamanship. The goal isn’t just to pass—it’s to walk away ready.

Please note: this session and instruction does not include the cost of any NauticEd online courses (optional)

25 Full Day (6 hours each)

What's Included
$8,500
  • 25 Days of Private Instruction & Sailboat (flex scheduling)
  • Lunch and snacks each full day on the water (not including the charter trip days)
  • Custom UV Shirt
  • Water (bring a refillable water bottle)
  • Safety gear, including auto-inflate PFD
Schedule a Discovery Call to get started

Who This Program Is For

  • Sailors preparing to charter independently

  • Those working toward Bareboat Charter Master certification

  • Students seeking depth, repetition, and real command time

  • Sailors pursuing their SLC alongside rank advancement

Who This Is Not For

  • Anyone looking for a fast, minimal-effort certification

  • Sailors who prefer classroom-heavy or observation-only training

The Outcome

You’ll leave knowing you can:

  • Take responsibility for a vessel

  • Make sound decisions under pressure

  • Lead a crew with confidence

  • Charter responsibly and independently

That’s the difference between holding a credential—and earning it.

Ready to Build Real Mastery?

If you’re committed to becoming a capable skipper—not just certified on paper—this program was built for you.

What students say about working with me

★★★★★

Emily is an awesome instructor! Over my 3 days spent with her, I feel that my skills and abilities increased dramatically. Moreover, I feel my confidence grew! Emily created a comfortable, safe environment for learning where I was able to safely grow. I highly recommend Emily to anyone learning to sail or up their abilities!

Morgan

Athlete

★★★★★

Emily was great from getting the charter organized to ensuring we had opportunities to practice, improve, and hone our skills during the week. Feedback was clear, consistent, fair, and directive with suggestions and examples given for demonstrating desired skills in subsequent days/exercises. I would highly recommend NauticEd instruction to anyone truly interested in advancing in the sport and accelerating learning.

Jackie

Private Instruction & Assessment, BVI Charter