Stay in Balance
Balance Academy
Your Cruising Confidence Starts Here
Owning a Balance is an exciting moment — but it can also feel overwhelming.
Balance Academy is a personalized, onboard guidance program designed to help new owners become comfortable, confident, and independent aboard their own yacht.
Rather than a classroom course, Balance Academy is hands-on learning delivered aboard your boat, after handover, in real conditions around Cape Town. We work alongside you, at your pace, helping you understand your systems, your handling, and your routines — until the boat truly feels like yours.
What Balance Academy Is (and Isn’t)
Balance Academy is not a certification program and not a sailing school.
It is a guided transition into ownership.
Many owners arrive with experience — some with a lot, some with less — but nearly all discover that a modern performance cruising catamaran introduces new systems, new habits, and new responsibilities. Our role is simply to stand beside you during those first steps and help you develop confidence safely and comfortably.
You are not being evaluated.
You are being supported.
How it Works
1. Introductory Call
We begin with a relaxed conversation to understand your experience level, comfort zones, cruising plans, and how much time you have available.
2. Owner Assessment
Together we identify the areas you most want help with — whether that is docking, sail handling, systems familiarity, passage preparation, or simply becoming comfortable operating the boat as a team.
3. Customized Training Plan
We then build a tailored itinerary. There is no fixed curriculum; the program adapts to you, not the other way around.
4. Onboard Guidance
Training takes place aboard your own Balance yacht in Cape Town waters, working through real situations at a comfortable pace.
5. Ongoing Confidence
The goal is independence — not perfection — so that when you depart on your first voyage, you feel ready.
The program is offered in three time-based formats. The difference between them is not what you learn — it is how much real-world experience we can build together.
Owner Ready Core
3 Days
Designed for new owners who want to quickly become comfortable operating and managing their yacht.
You will work within the marina and spend time sailing in Table Bay, practicing handling, anchoring in beautiful clifton, and daily onboard routines, returning to port each day.
The focus is familiarity and confidence — making the boat feel approachable and manageable.
Sailing Ready Standard
5 Days
Expands the learning window and introduces more real-world decision making.
Includes extended sailing days and may include a single overnight stay in nearby cruising grounds such as Dassen Island or Langebaan.
Owners leave this program feeling ready for bluewater cruising and day-to-day operation without assistance.
Voyage Prep Intensive
7–10 Days
A live-aboard experience designed for owners preparing for extended cruising or an upcoming passage.
This format may include a short multi-night coastal excursion in Cape waters, allowing real routines to develop — watches, anchoring habits, systems management, and crew coordination.
The goal is to help you depart not just knowing your boat, but trusting yourselves aboard it.
Who Leads the Program?
Balance Academy was developed in collaboration with experienced Cape Town skipper Jeremy Franken, who serves as the program’s lead coordinator and primary facilitator.
As the program grows, additional facilitators may join the training team, all operating under the same structured approach.
Every owner is different. After the assessment call, your program may include guidance in areas such as:
- Boat handling and docking techniques
- Sail management and sail plan decisions
- Anchoring and daily routines
- Passage preparation and planning
- Safety procedures and onboard habits
- Understanding onboard systems and maintenance awareness
- Crew coordination and communication
- Developing confidence operating short-handed
Coverage depends entirely on your goals, experience, and available time.
See our Balance Academy Curriculum Overview document for an idea of all that is possible to learn.
Beyond Balance Academy, we can assist owners in arranging specialist third-party courses in the Cape Town area. These are not part of the program itself but can be valuable additions to your preparation.
Examples may include:
- Marine diesel/engine familiarization courses
- Offshore medical and first-aid training
- Other seamanship and safety programs
These courses are operated and priced independently by external providers and are subject to availability. We are happy to help facilitate introductions and bookings where possible.
Balance Academy is a benefit available exclusively to Balance Catamaran owners.
Programs are scheduled individually after handover and are customized to each owner’s needs and availability.
Pricing is calculated on a daily facilitation rate based on the selected program duration.
Yacht operating expenses (fuel, marina fees, provisions, and related costs) are not included.
