BVI: Premium Advanced Catamaran Course

Solo Sailor – You want to learn to sail and are looking to get ASA International Bareboat Certified so you can rent a bareboat charter on your next sailing vacation. You want a single occupancy = 1 adult in a queen cabin with en-suite head on a group course.

Cruising Couples – You are looking to learn to sail with your mate and gain confidence as a team so you can get ASA International Bareboat Certified so you can rent a bareboat charter on your next sailing vacation. You want to join a group course and share cabin. (double occupancy = 2 adults in a queen cabin with en-suite head)

Private Yacht – Couples, Friends and Families who want the entire vessel on a private learn to sail vacation and get ASA International Bareboat Certified so you can rent a bareboat charter on your next sailing vacation. ( Entire Vessel = 1-6 adults sharing 3 queen cabins with en-suite head)

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 hopping, snorkeling and beach time. We will always discuss and consider wind and weather factors.

Day 1: Arrive after 5 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

The sleep aboard starts at 5 PM on the day of your booking at the marina where the catamaran is docked at Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola BVI. 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.

Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example of what a week-long sailing journey aboard a Learn to Sail Vacation on a BVI Yacht Charter, exploring the breathtaking British Virgin Islands, may entail. However, it is important to note that the captain may adjust the schedule to ensure optimal sailing conditions and the best possible experience for guests.

Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA 106) – You must complete ASA Costal Navigation 105 as a prerequisite on your own.

Catamaran Cruising (ASA 114)

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).

Breakfast is served daily at 8 AM, Lunch around 12 noon and dinner about 6:30 PM. When we go ashore for dinner, we will usually make a dinner reservation for 7 PM. Dinner options in the BVI are dependent on the course we take in the week. These factors are variable and change with the weather and guests’ preferences.

We ask if you would like snacks, mixers, soda, booze, beer, wine, or specialty items, you purchase them on the way to the marina. Most of our guests are not here for a “booze cruise” but we can appreciate a nice rum drink, cold beer, or glass of vino after a long day on the sea once the boat is secure for the night.

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 and first mate.
• 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 106 /114, and certificates upon successful completion of knowledge 100 % skills and 80% exam scores.
• ASA 105 Online course to be completed prior to arrival.
• International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)
• CG -719s SMALL VESSEL SEA SERVICE FORM signed by the captain for your time at Sea.

• ASA 105 Online course
• 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.

The first night is designed to be a “sleep aboard” starting Sunday and you may board at 5 PM with the Captain. The boat will be on the dock the first night and we will depart the dock the following day between 10-12 AM.

There are two ways to get to the British Virgin Islands marina: You can choose to fly into St. Thomas to Cyril E. King Airport  (STT), U.S. Virgin Islands, if you fly into St. Thomas you’ll catch a 10 minute taxi to the public ferry from Charlotte Amalie.  St Thomas to Tortola Ferry Schedules.

When you fly or ferry to Tortola, we can arrange transport for you to the marina. If you are taking a course the captain will meet you at the taxi drop off. If you are on a bareboat charter, you will want to check in at the charter company office or go directly to your boat.

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 Courses include all operation costs, including all BVI cruising fees, national parks permit, 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.

You may cancel your course at any time subject to the following penalties:

Any cancellations more than 60 days prior to this agreement/ contract have been committed to 10% of the payment collected plus the cost of textbooks, logbook, and shipping, if shipped.

Between 60 and 30 days before your course: 50% of the total course fee collected plus the cost of textbooks, logbook, and shipping, if shipped.

Less than 30 days before your course: The total payment collected.

Cancellations must be notified to us in writing by post or email. The penalties will be calculated from the date we receive your cancellation.

We highly recommend travel insurance. Our cancellation policy applies in every instance and there will be no exceptions for any reason. Go Sail Partners will not issue any refund for not being able to attend, changing the number of participants, arriving late, or leaving a trip early, whether voluntary or caused by other circumstances.  Go Sail Partners is not responsible for any expenses incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations, injury, or illness, or fear of travel. Go Sail Partners assumes no financial responsibility for personal injury, emergency evacuation, or personal equipment lost or damaged in any way.

We may need to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or natural events outside the control of Go Sail Partners, LLC including but not limited to hurricanes and hurricane affected areas. No refunds will be issued but an alternative date will be offered. Several companies provide travel insurance, including some credit card companies. We are not affiliated with any of them.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have travel insurance, which will cover any issue that may arise.

Travel Insurance 

We reserve the right to cancel a course at any time without reason. If we cancel without reason, we shall return all collected payments paid by you.