Navigating Your Calling: The School of Navigation and Seamanship (SONS)

January 5th, 2026 - March 27th, 2026

Set sail on a 12-week journey of faith, seamanship, and discipleship.

Your mission awaits.

“Glory Bound” - Docked in the port of Ensenada, B.C., Mexico.

Answer the Call to the Sea

What if a sailboat could be a vessel for change? At YWAM Rancho Abierto, we believe that God is using maritime ministry to reach the unreached. Our mission is to train and equip individuals and families to be the “tip of the spear” - the first to make contact with remote communities, navigating challenging waters to deliver hope where others can't go.

Through this University of the Nations-approved course, you'll join a community of passionate mariners. We partner with YWAM Ships Corpus Christi to provide practical, hands-on training in the coastal waters off Baja California, Mexico. You'll master navigation and gain experience in vessel operation aboard Glory Bound, a 46-foot motor yacht, and Regalo, a 50-foot sailboat. Regalo will teach you patience and reliance on God's wind, while Glory Bound will teach you discipline and power. Together, they will be your extended classroom.

Successfully completing the course means more than just earning your Royal Yacht Association (RYA) Day Skipper certificate. It means stepping into a calling to serve God in a unique and powerful way.

Course Highlights:

  • Seafaring Skills: Gain experience in essential skills like knot-tying, mooring, and engine maintenance.

  • Modern Navigation: Learn to use charts, electronic navigation, and GPS to plot your course.

  • Safety First: Gain confidence with critical safety procedures, from weather analysis to emergency response.

  • Spiritual Leadership: Develop your character and leadership with YWAM's core values and biblical principles.

Living in community

At YWAM Rancho Abierto, you will be part of a community that values worship, fellowship, and service. SONS is an extension of that family, with all of our students and staff participating in the life of the base. Our curriculum combines classroom instruction in navigation, seamanship, and maritime safety with daily worship and community living. You'll learn to lead both on ships and in life.

Dates: January 5 - March 27, 2026
Cost: ​$4200 (Not including your travel expenses to either San Diego, CA, or Tijuana, B.C., Mexico)
Requirements: A completed Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM