BVI: Advanced Cruising Couples Catamaran Course

We sail in the British Virgin Islands while learning how to operate the catamaran on a crew-centered adaptable itinerary. We want to schedule time for sailing skills, island hoping, snorkeling and beach time. We will always discuss and consider wind and weather factors.

Day 1: Arrive after 4 PM, Sleep aboard on the dock

Day 2: Norman Island The Bight

Day 3: Cooper Island

Day 4: Baths and North Gorda Sound

Day 5: Anegada

Day 6 : Jost Van Dyke Great Harbor

Day 7: Return to the dock. Plan to take your ferry or flight after 12:00 noon

Sleep aboard starts at 5 PM on the day of your booking at the marina where the catamaran is docked in St Thomas, USVI. Once you are settled, the first crew meeting begins with introductions. Then the captain will show you around the vessel and do a short boat orientation. We will recommend some great dinner spots off the vessel for the first night.

• 7 AM daily, breakfast, coffee, and/or tea will be available.
• Every morning at 8 AM we will spend about an hour at the galley table (classroom), to discuss topics like exam review (1 each day), theory, boat systems, and navigation, and the sailing skills  for the day and plans for our desired anchorages.
• Sailing Daily after the morning class session and operate the catamaran until around 4-5 PM, stopping for a midday lunch break, with swimming and snorkeling options.
• We will anchor or moor every evening around 4-5 PM. We will have time for knot tying, swimming, debriefing, free time, island exploring, preparing dinner aboard and/or going ashore.

The final day is for verifying all the certifications, logbooks, and sea-time forms. Then we will set sail to the marina. At the dock you will have time for vessel clean up and packing for a 10 AM departure. We can help you arrange a taxi to pick you up.

Coastal Navigation (ASA 105)

Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA 106)

Catamaran Cruising (ASA 114)

Docking Endorsement (ASA 118)

Experienced Advanced Instructors with local Virgin Island knowledge will regale the tales of adventures at sea. These fun hands-on lessons will prepare you for any sailing adventure, anywhere.

Review all sailing terminology, parts of a sailboat, and how to safely get where you need to go with confidence.

Wind and Weather: It is crucial to understand wind direction and learn to assess weather conditions and make informed decisions based on wind patterns.

Review: Points of sail and the art of sailing is using this to your advantage.

Sail Trim: Proper sail trim is essential for efficient sailing.

Sailing Maneuvers and Boat Handling: Operating the boat in tight places and Tacking, Jibing, Heave-to, Sail in Reverse will give you confidence. Momentum is the key concept for understanding how to stop, stall, start and reverse.

Anchoring and Mooring: Sleep comfortably at night with Air conditioning and no stress.

Safety Procedures: Boat maintenance, PFD, VHF, Crew overboard (MOB), and what to do in emergencies.

Review Knots and Line Handling: Bowline, cleat hitch, square knot, round turn and 2 half hitches.

Night Sailing at a longer distance.

Dock Procedures and handling your crew.

Navigation and Nav Rules: Learn to navigate a boat with GPS and Charts while underway using the proper US Coast Guard COLREGS.

Bareboat Charter: Boat systems and terminology relevant to cruising sailboats. How to bareboat charter, plan a vacation, provision, and plan your itinerary.

Advance cruising route planning.

The International Proficiency Certificate which is an IPC from American Sailing, which will certify you to bareboat charter in several European countries. (Belarus, Croatia, France, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey).

The provisions arrive on the day of your arrival. We provide the provisions for all breakfasts, all lunches and 2 dinners aboard. Typically, you (the students) will prepare food for the crew. Each student will be assigned a role, day, and/or meal preparation duty. The refrigerator/freezer will be stocked upon arrival with breakfast food (eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, yogurt, fruit, pastries, granola), lunch food (turkey, cheese, mayo, mustard, bread, wraps, burgers, tacos), dinner (Fish, rice vegetables, Chicken, pasta, salad).

Catamaran which has Air- Conditioned 4 Queen beds en-suite cabins (private bathroom (head) and shower with warm fresh water, bunk, linens, towels).

The instructor will take one cabin and the students fill the other three cabins.

• Single Cabins will have 1 student
• Double Cabins will have 2 students sharing a cabin.
• Entire vessel has 3 double cabins available for up to 6 students sharing three cabins.

• 7 glorious days sailing with your USCG Captain/ ASA Sailing Instructor.
• Drinking Water, all breakfasts, all lunches and 2 dinners aboard.
• Queen bed en-suite cabins (private bathroom (head) and shower (warm fresh water), bunk, linens, towels)
• Course Textbooks, logbook, and certificates upon successful completion of knowledge 100 % skills and 80% exam scores.
• Online ASA 105 Course
• FREE IPC For students ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising certified and active ASA Members. ($49 value)
• CG -719s SMALL VESSEL SEA SERVICE FORM signed by the Captain for your time at Sea.

• Any meals ashore
• Any alcohol/soda/mixers/snacks you may wish to bring on board.
• Optional customary gratuity (15-20% of your charter)
• Flight and taxi transportation to and from the vessel departure/return location.

You can also fly directly to Tortola (Beef Island, EIS) at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport BVI and take a taxi to the boat dock.

When you arrive either by ferry or airplane. You will need a passport with more than 6 months until expiration. You will go through customs and immigration. We recommend having $50 cash to pay any fees upon entry and departure fees.  Check out our post on traveling to the BVI.

Group and Private Course include all operation costs, including all BVI cruising fees, national parks permits, Virgin Island search and rescue fees.

We arrive at the dock on the final day before 10:00. You will want to plan on being at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, 1 hour to the ferry dock. We can help you arrange a taxi to the airport or ferry dock.