about

Hi, I am Patrik Lindr, and I am an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Cruising Instructor Trainer.

Through Yacht Master Class, I would like to invite you into my experience of sailing, and share with you the best safe practices, skills, and techniques, so that you can have more confident and enjoyable time on water. 

I did not grow up around water, and only started sailing - albeit intensively - later in my life. I feel this allows me a unique perspective towards the challenges of learning to sail.

In the last eight years, I had the privilege of teaching and coaching over 750 sailors, from beginners to RYA Yachtmaster level. Many of them went on to have incredible adventures of their own. 

In 2024, I was honored to be appointed as an RYA Yachtmaster Cruising Instructor Trainer, a distinction held by around 50 instructors worldwide. 

My own journey began in landlocked Prague, Czech Republic. After graduating in Air Transportation Engineering, I started working in R&D for Volkswagen. It took me 4 years to realize that sedentary work sedated my heart. The office was way too small and my heart screamed for the mysterious freedom of the ocean.

I hopped on a bus to Sweden and bought and incredibly well built Albin Vega 27, which I eventually sailed on for half a year from the Baltic all around Atlantic Europe to the Mediterranean. 

For me, it was an experience of a lifetime, not only because of the incredible places I got to see (many of them off the beaten path), inspiring people I got to meet (the Swedish saying that "sailors help each other" was proven over and over along the way), friendships I could build,
but also because of the vast variety of conditions and scenarios - and quite frankly mistakes - that I could learn from. 

I did not return to the office. The next Winter I headed over to rainy, windy, yet stunning Scotland. I passed my RYA / MCA Yachtmaster Offshore exams, before gaining a Cruising Instructor license, and started teaching at a local Royal Yachting Association school.
The first year full-time teaching was also a year of full-time learning for me. I realised that the more you know, the more you understand that there is so much more to learn.
The following year, I passed the ultimate Yachtmaster Instructor exams.

After teaching in many places around Europe, Canary Islands, and Canada, I still consider Scotland to be the best training ground I have sailed - and I love to return to teach a couple of courses every year. 

In 2018, me and my fiancé Sarah started a sailing adventure holiday company Wander the Waves. With clients (which almost invariably become our friends as well) we explore the most beautiful places of our home planet. 

In 2019 we moved to British Columbia, Canada, where we continue to explore, and wonder.
I had the privilege to teach the first RYA course on the West Coast of the American continent for a newly emerging local school. 

Since then, I spend my Spring and Summers teaching and exploring in Canada's pristine wilderness, and the second part of the year teaching and sailing in Europe and Canary Islands. 

In 2024 I had the privilege to be invited to learn from and sail with some of the very best of the best instructors within the Royal Yachting Association.

It was an intensely challenging yet massively rewarding week that reminded me there is always so much more left to learn.

I am humbled and honored to have been appointed as a Yachtmaster Cruising Instructor Trainer for the RYA! Never stop learning...

Yacht Master Class project has been hatching over several years. I hope it can help bring value to your sailing.
 Please don't hesitate to get in touch.
I offer private own boat tuition

Qualifications ∣ Patrik Lindr ∣ RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Trainer based in Vancouver, BC