Professional Sailing & Cruising Coach – Stephan Rauer
Are you new to sailing? Bought a new yacht? Need a refresher?
If you recently acquired a sailing yacht and started living aboard part-time or full-time, the learning curve can feel steep—but exciting. My role is to guide and coach you through every essential aspect of sailing and yacht ownership.
With tailored coaching, I help you:
Understand and set up your onboard electronics
Optimise your yacht for comfortable and safe cruising
Build a maintenance programme
Learn weather analysis, VHF use, and safe passage preparation
Master foundational seamanship—from knots and terminology to docking, manoeuvring, sail trimming and route planning
Coaching options
1. Onboard Coaching
We begin with an email exchange followed by a phone or video call. Confidence and trust are essential in sailing, and my goal is to ensure you feel fully supported.
If we agree to proceed, I join you on your yacht for a definded period to coach you through real-life sailing scenarios—often during your maiden voyage from point A to point B. You will gain hands-on experience in living aboard, manoevering under engine, helming, navigation, cruising and safety.
Rates
200€ per day (24h)
1000€ per week (8 days, 7 nights)
Travel, food & accommodation covered by the customer
For point-to-point delivery cruises: 1000€ arrival bonus (safe, incident-free passage
2. Yacht Acquisition Help
If you want to buy a monohull or catamaran for retirement or extended cruising, I can research, assess, and shortlist vessels that fit your needs—saving you time, money, and uncertainty.
Rates:
Upon agreement depending of the specifications
3. Consultation Calls
Need guidance on cruising, yacht systems, or lifestyle aboard?
We schedule a call to explore your goals. I use my extensive network in the cruising and live-aboard community to find the right solutions for you.
Rates:
First call + first 30 minutes: FREE
50€ / 30 minutes (phone or video)
Sailing areas
Mediterrannean
Caribbean
Adriatic Sea
- Tyrrhenian Sea
- French Riviera
- Ionian
- Aegean
- Saronic Gulf
- Dodecanese
Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Saint Martin
Why choose me
Nearly 50 years of sailing experience
Over 30 years cruising + 15 years yacht racing
Owner of multiple yachts from 20ft to 50ft. Yachtmaster at 21 year old
Currently living aboard Chronos, a 50ft Bavaria based in the Ionian Sea
Graduaded (Bsc. Hon.) in Yacht & Boat Design (Southampton University, 1986)
Professional background in yacht design, civil architecture, media & internet
Founder of Naviguer et découvrir (since 2012), running 10–15 cruises each year
Sailed with vver 800 guests sailed so far. More than 100 cruises organised
Fluent in French, German & English
Passionate about teaching, cruising and sharing the sailing lifestyle
Calm et good pedagogue
Sailing and cruising coach testimonial – Jon Treanor, SY Hineni, Jeanneau 440
Stephan is one of those rare individuals that literally shows you the ropes simply and easily! He is without a doubt the best sailor and coach I have ever met. Whether preparing you for formal sailing qualifications or helping with setting up your boat, I found Stephan to be knowledgeable and fun to be around!… En savoir plus “Sailing and cruising coach testimonial – Jon Treanor, SY Hineni, Jeanneau 440“
Sailing and Cruising Coach Testimonial – Peter & Renate, Lagoon 450S
It’s not just a course and a sailing licence that help: if you buy a sailing boat without ever having sailed, you need a sailing and cruising coach. A good sailing and cruising coach, a professional skipper who can not only sail, but also explain clearly what needs to be done when and under what conditions in order… En savoir plus “Sailing and Cruising Coach Testimonial – Peter & Renate, Lagoon 450S“
