Coastal · Offshore · Atlantic

Go further. Grow in confidence.

Take an active part in life aboard ZERO, develop your seamanship and record your experience. Programmes are arranged around the yacht’s itinerary, your goals and suitable conditions.

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ZERO Mile Building

Build miles. Build confidence.

Join a small-group sailing passage aboard the Sun Odyssey 52.2. Up to six guests, guest cabins with private WCs, and practical time at the helm, on watch and planning the next leg.

5 days suggested · Algarve

Coastal confidence

Pilotage, sail handling, anchoring and a planned night passage. A programme to work towards Day Skipper entry experience, adapted to your existing logbook.

7–10 days suggested · Algarve & Sines

Offshore experience

Longer non-stop passages, night watches, weather decisions and passage planning. Skipper responsibilities are agreed for each complete passage.

Madeira · Canaries · Azores

Atlantic passages

Continuous watches and ocean passage preparation. Tell us whether your aim is experience, Yachtmaster mileage or an Ocean qualifying passage.

These are independent experience-building voyages. RYA course certificates are issued through recognised training centres; exams and acceptance of qualifying experience are separate.

Route planning & sailing estimates

From Olhão, along the Algarve.

One-way planning estimates via the Faro–Olhão bar. Plan Vilamoura as a long return day; Albufeira and destinations farther west suit overnight or one-way trips with a return transfer.

Average progress towards the destination

These are planning assumptions, to be calibrated with this yacht’s passage logs. Average progress includes the effect of wind angle, sea state, reefing and current; it is not a promised boat speed.

Coastal passages from Olhão — destinations, approximate distances and estimated one-way times.
Destination	Approx. distance	Estimated time
Vila Real de Santo António	≈ 35 NM	7.5 h
Vilamoura	≈ 19 NM	4.5 h
Albufeira	≈ 25 NM	5.5 h
Portimão	≈ 38 NM	8 h
Alvor · outside approach	≈ 42 NM	8.5 h
Lagos	≈ 45 NM	9 h
Sagres / Baleeira	≈ 56 NM	11 h

Coastal times allow 5 NM of initial pilotage at 4 kn and 30 minutes for arrival. Vila Real de Santo António also separates 3 NM of the Guadiana approach at an assumed 3 kn. Tide waits, stops and return passages are extra. Alvor means the outside approach; entering its lagoon depends on draught, tide and local advice. Baleeira is weather-dependent.

Vila Real de Santo António & the Guadiana

Sail east from Olhão, spend a night in Vila Real de Santo António and explore the river landscape. An upriver extension towards Foz de Odeleite and Alcoutim / Sanlúcar de Guadiana is subject to this yacht’s bridge-clearance and draught checks.

VRSA → Foz de Odeleite

≈ 10 NM one way

≈ 3–4 h

VRSA → Alcoutim / Sanlúcar

≈ 18–20 NM one way

≈ 5–7 h

Olhão → VRSA → Alcoutim → VRSA → Olhão

≈ 106–110 NM total

4–5 days suggested

River estimates use 3–4 kn of progress over the ground plus about 30 minutes for manoeuvring; they do not change with the offshore-speed selector. Allow for current, local restrictions, tide waits and stops. River sailing depends on wind and room to manoeuvre; plan for engine use where needed.

Alcoutim access is not yet confirmed for this Sun Odyssey 52.2. The yacht’s stated draught is 1.80 m. Before offering a passage beneath the international bridge, we still need its height above the waterline including masthead equipment, checked against available clearance, and a depth assessment for the tide and loading. If unsuitable, retain the VRSA / lower-estuary itinerary; any excursion on a different river boat is quoted separately.

Useful for tidal pilotage and passage planning. Record river legs separately and confirm their eligibility with the RYA before relying on them towards an exam. Stops create separate passages; adding the circuit’s miles does not make it a single qualifying passage over 60 NM.

For a longer coastal passage, Lagos → VRSA is an approximately 65 NM candidate to assess on the shortest safe navigable route. It must meet the actual distance, continuity and role requirements. Portimão → VRSA is about 57 NM and is not automatically over 60 NM.

Official Guadiana charts

Plan a Guadiana itinerary

From Olhão, into the Atlantic.

Non-stop sea time only. Booking windows include preparation, rest and weather flexibility: typically 6–8 days for Madeira, 7–10 for the Canaries and 9–12 for São Miguel. These are programme outlines, not fixed departures.

Atlantic passages from Olhão — destinations, approximate distances and estimated non-stop sea time.
Destination	Approx. distance	Estimated time
Porto Santo	≈ 490 NM	89 h · 3.7 days
Madeira · Quinta do Lorde	≈ 510 NM	93 h · 3.9 days
Lanzarote · Marina Rubicón	≈ 590 NM	107 h · 4.5 days
Gran Canaria · Las Palmas	≈ 660 NM	120 h · 5 days
São Miguel · Ponta Delgada	≈ 870 NM	158 h · 6.6 days

Distances are approximate route estimates, with land and island approaches considered. A charted passage plan and the forecast set the final route. The calculator excludes stops, port manoeuvres, weather delays and return legs for Atlantic trips.

Island connections: Porto Santo → Madeira about 30 NM; Madeira → Lanzarote about 290 NM; Lanzarote → Las Palmas about 100 NM; São Miguel → Porto Santo about 550 NM. These are separate passages when you stop.

Logbook & qualification guidance

Plan your progression with your logbook.

Day Skipper practical entry

5 days, 100 NM and 4 night hours, plus basic sailing ability and the required theory knowledge.

RYA requirements

Coastal Skipper practical entry

15 days, including 2 as skipper, 300 NM and 8 night hours.

RYA requirements

Yachtmaster Coastal exam

Standard experience: 30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 NM and 12 night hours. Specific certificate holders may qualify for reduced requirements.

RYA requirements

Yachtmaster Offshore exam

Standard experience: 50 days, 2,500 NM, 5 days as skipper and 5 passages over 60 NM, including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Tidal-water, recency and certificate requirements also apply.

RYA requirements

Yachtmaster Ocean passage

Requires at least 600 NM and 96 hours continuously at sea, including 200 NM more than 50 NM from land/navigation objects, responsible watchkeeping or command, preparation and celestial-navigation evidence. The exam has further prerequisites.

RYA requirements

A qualifying passage uses the shortest navigable port-to-port route and actual distance run. Extra tacks cannot make a shorter route qualify. One nominated skipper is responsible for a whole passage; rotating the role does not give everyone a skipper passage. Passage definitions.

Olhão–Sagres (about 56 NM), Madeira and Lanzarote are not automatically qualifying threshold passages. Direct São Miguel and Las Palmas voyages are candidates for Ocean planning, subject to the complete criteria and actual time at sea.

Your passage record should identify dates, ports, planned and logged miles, days aboard, night hours, tidal waters, your actual role, watch duties and skipper verification. A booking does not guarantee a qualification.

Plan my mile-building trip

Your charter starts here

Plan your sailing passage.

Share your experience, goals, dates and group. We will discuss a suitable programme and confirm participation arrangements.

Olhão · Algarve, Portugal

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