Beyond ASA Courses: Increasing Your Nautical Miles

So, you’ve finished the basic courses and are ready to start sailing solo. Congratulations—the time and effort will pay off once you’re on the water! Not only can this help you avoid getting caught in irons once you hire a bareboat charter, but it’s also lots of fun to learn new skills. Mile building is also important to do before you take ASA advanced courses. The extra experience ensures you adequately understand the fundamentals of sailing. 

Let’s look at how to gain sea miles and everything you need to consider before you start sailing. 

What Is Mile Building?

Now that you’re ready to gain sea miles, you may wonder what exactly mile building is. Don’t worry—it’s pretty straightforward.

Mile building is essentially just getting out on the open sea and practicing everything you’ve learned from your captain when taking the introductory courses. Best part? When you sign up for a refresher course, you’ll gain sea miles in the beautiful Virgin Islands. We don’t think there’s a more scenic classroom anywhere in the world. 

When you begin to gain sea miles by chartering a bareboat, you’re not only getting the chance to practice sailing, but you also give yourself the additional experience needed before signing up for advanced courses. You’ll build key nautical navigation skills, develop a keen sense of weather patterns and tidal changes, and (hopefully) catch a great tan.

Why Do I Need to Gain Sea Miles?

As mentioned before, the only way to really understand how to operate the boat and handle different sailing conditions is to practice. Sailors who want to progress to taking extended cruises need to understand the basics before beginning to learn more advanced skills. 

Here are a few reasons why it’s essential to take a refresher course and begin mile-building before taking our advanced courses: 

• Learning the fundamentals during daylight is the only safe way to begin sailing at night.
• Maintaining control over the ship takes time and practice.
• Most companies require seeing a sailing resume with a set number of hours before allowing you to take a vessel for overnight excursions. 

Now that you know why it’s important, it’s time to learn how to gain sea miles.

How Should I Increase My Sea Miles?

Every ship needs a captain— So take a refresher course if you need more practice or contact us for a bareboat charter. 

You can build nautical miles on the following types of boats: 

• Monohull
• Catamaran

Taking the ASA courses is a great way to learn the fundamentals of sailing, but practicing afterward is equally important. The best way to gain sea miles is to sail as often as possible! 

Set Out Sailing and Gain Sea Miles Now 

Once you’ve completed the ASA courses, it’s natural to want to get out and test your skills. We know it may sound cliche, but practice really does make perfect. 

The only way to become a captain is to take to the seas—now it’s your turn to try. See our yachts from Go Sail Virgin Islands if you’re looking to increase your nautical miles. Ask about our discounts for previous students GSVI Alumni and ASA members when you book!