IYT School
Why Tiller and Kites should be Your choice:
WE ONLY DO PRIVATE LESSONS!
We teach primarily ‘location specific’ Sailing Lessons in Arizona as well as Internationally recognized certifications. Lake sailing has its own unique challenges and demands that are different to coastal or open-water sailing. We teach and train specifically to your location as well as open water and coastal sailing.
ABOUT ICC (International Certificate of Competency) – it is now mandatory to hold a recognized International Certificate of Competency (ICC) if you wish to charter a boat in certain European countries. It is generally required for the inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries. In Northern Europe and Scandinavia the ICC is generally not required, but it is strongly advised you check with any European, Scandinavian, or Eastern European country that you wish to charter in before you leave.
Tiller and Kites also teaches and certifies the following IYT courses:
- Dinghy (4 levels)
- Youth Sailing – Dinghy and Keel Boats
- IYC Day Skipper/Crew – Keel Boat
- International Bareboat Skipper Sail and International Crew / Sail
- International Yacht Racing/High Performance
- Small Powerboat & RIB Master
- VHF Marine Communication
- IYT ICC Certification SAIL and POWER
- Specific ‘skills’ courses, including spinnaker sailing and race training
- Personal Water Craft (Jetski)
Our Experience
We deliver CAPABLE, COMPETENT and CONFIDENT sailors.
Tiller and Kites
is an International Yacht Training certified sailing school based in Peoria (Lake Pleasant) just north of Phoenix, Arizona. International Yacht Training is considered by many (especially charter companies) as the gold standard in sail boat training.
Our school has the largest and most diverse fleet of boats in Arizona – dinghies, catamarans, race boats and cruising boats. You do not ‘learn to sail’ a boat – you learn to sail all types of boats.
The courses and training are designed to create Competent, Confident and Capable sailors.
GET TO KNOW TILLER AND KITES
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT US
- We use several different classes of boats from 8 to 37 feet.
- Classes on Lake Pleasant and San Carlos, Mexico
- The boats are the definitive example of their class.
- All boats are impeccably maintained and race-ready at all times.
- The boats are easily recognizable by their distinctive hull colors.
- Tiller and Kites is an International Yacht Training certified sailing school.
- Learn at your pace, go as far (and fast) as you want to!.
Knowledge
Learning HOW things work on a boat is not that hard. Understanding WHY and how to use that knowledge gets you closer to the true art of sailing.
Technique
There may be more ways than one to get from A to B. Efficient and intelligent technique gets you there safer, quicker and comfortably. Learn how.
Experience
Achieved through repetition and time on the water - at the helm, trimming, on the bow. Learn every aspect of mastering and commanding a sailboat with confidence and safety always in mind.
COURSES
price
order
“TRY SAILING” INTRO TO SMALL BOAT/KEEL BOAT SAILING
A very immersive One Day course for those with none or some sailing experience but want to learn the proper basics of sailing.
This keelboat course is on board one of our J/24s.
This is our only ‘small group’ course.
$225.00 per person (Min 3 people)
$275.00 per person (Min 2 people)
1 day, Lake Pleasant
IYT DAY SKIPPER/CREW COURSE (Private Lessons)
Our most popular course, the IYT DAY SKIPPER/CREW course was designed specifically for Capable, Competent and Confident sailing as both helmsman and crew.
Some classroom time- lots of sailing usually aboard one of our J/24s (or similar keelboats)
THIS COURSE IS ALL one-on-one ‘PRIVATE LESSONS’. Please contact us if you have a ‘group’
2 Days $750 per person.
IYT Day Skipper/Crew course certificate
IYT SMALL POWERBOAT/RIB MASTER (Private Lessons)
Learn how to properly and safely operate a powerboat up to 10 meters. This IYT course covers basic and advanced powerboat operation and is needed to obtain your powerboat ICC (see below) Can be combined with VHF sand ICC for the complete certification. This course is online and in-person.
$800.00 per person (plus fuel)
2 days and includes VHF certification
IYT Small Powerboat/RIB
Master certificate
IYT VHF RADIO OPERATOR/MARINE COMMUNICATIONS (Private Lessons)
Generally combined with the more advanced Keel Boat courses, the IYT VHF certification can also be obtained as a stand-alone certificate.
$200.00 per person (weekdays)
$250.00 per person (weekends)
1 day
IYT certificate
IYT BAREBOAT SKIPPER (SAIL) WITH ICC
This is a TESTING ONLY for highly qualified candidates. You should have a sailing log book with at least 200 hours (or similar documentation) and be well prepared to complete online and in person testing as well as on the water test sailing. Contact us if you are interested in using your experience to qualify for the IYT Bareboat Skipper + ICC + VHF certificates.
IYT NAVIGATION MASTER
This is a 4 day course designed to enable the offshore mariner to safely navigate extended passages using traditional methods. It includes practical navigation exercises and sample chartwork calculations. Course includes charts and instruments.
DATES; OCTOBER 17-20, 2025, Lake Pleasant AZ.
$875.00
IYT BAREBOAT SKIPPER (POWER) WITH ICC
This is a TESTING ONLY for highly qualified candidates. You should have a marine log book with at least 200 hours (or similar documentation) and be well prepared to complete online and in person testing as well as on the water test sailing. Contact us if you are interested in using your experience to qualify for the IYT Bareboat Skipper + ICC + VHF certificates.
IYT BAREBOAT SKIPPER (SAIL) – Coming soon
Achieve the “Golden Ticket“ in sailing: The International Yacht Training Bareboat Skipper certification plus ICC and VHF. This course is held on the Sea of Cortez, Mexico aboard either our Wylie 34 or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 479.
4-5 days, $soon, all included.