Private ASA Sailing Course On Your Vessel

This option is best if you have a bareboat vessel reserved, have your own vessel, or would like to sail on a specific vessel. You have a family or private group vacation plan. This course will not only train you to be ASA Bareboat certified operator, but it will also prepare you to be self-sufficient sailor ready to sail the world. If you are planning to buy a catamaran, Trimaran, or monohull to live aboard, our captains have essential live aboard experience vital to the sailing life.

We will meet at the vessel at the Marina determined in the booking. The itinerary is your choice either in the British, Spanish, or US Virgin Islands. We sail in the 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.  This is a fully customized itinerary so you can bring along family and friends who are not on the course. We will always discuss and consider wind and weather factors.

Below is a suggested plan.

• Every morning at 8 am after breakfast, the instructor will present around 1 hour exam review, one exam each day, theory, boat systems, and navigation, and the day’s plans.
• Every day we sail after the morning class session and operate the catamaran until around 4-5 pm, stopping for a lunch break midday, with swimming and snorkeling options.
• Every evening, we will anchor, or moor and we will have time for swimming, debriefing, free time, island exploring, and preparing dinner aboard or going ashore.
• The final day is for finalizing and verifying all the certification logbooks/sea-time forms. Then we will set sail to the marina, vessel clean up and packing. 10 AM Departure.
• Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example of what a week-long sailing journey aboard a Learn to Sail Vacation Yacht Charter, exploring the breathtaking British or US 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.

BASIC KEELBOAT SAILING (ASA 101)

BASIC COASTAL CRUISING (ASA 103)

BAREBOAT CRUISING (ASA 104)

CRUISING CATAMARAN (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.

Basics: 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.

Points of Sail: Sailboats move through 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.

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

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.

International Proficiency Certificate: The IPC which is an International Proficiency Certificate from American Sailing, which will certify you to bareboat charter in several European countries. (Belarus, Croatia, France, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey). https://www.gosailvi.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5908/2023/02/american-sailing-certified-emblem-Copy.png

Please plan to provide a taxi or ferry transportation if other than (Compass Point Marina), a private cabin with private bathroom (head) and shower, meals, and drinking water for the instructor.

• Selection of ASA certifications per student on the vessel. Price is per person/per certification
• An advanced ASA instructor with USCG Captain License.
• International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)
• CG -719s SMALL VESSEL SEA SERVICE FORM signed by the Captain for your time at Sea.

• The Catamaran (40-50 ft), Trimaran, or Monohull (40-50 ft)
• Provisions, food alcohol, water, moorings, fuel, dockage, or any other operating expenses.
• Optional customary gratuity (15-20% of your charter)
• Course books. You can find the course text books here or order them through your booking.
• Any meals ashore
• Flight and taxi transportation to and from the vessel departure/return location.

Cyril E. King International Airport (STT)  is an easy airport to fly into. This airport is serviced by American, Jetblue, United, Spirit, and Delta. You won’t need your passport to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands as a U.S. citizen. Once you land in St. Thomas, you’ll find taxis in the airport arrival area, expect to pay $15 per person +$2 per bag. Cash is best and the airport is 45 minutes from Compass Point Marina.

The first night is designed to be a sleep aboard starting at 5 PM Sunday of the week of your trip, so you do not need to stay in a hotel the night before. We recommend flying on the day of departure. If you arrive the day early you will check out of your hotel at 11AM and no baggage storage. We prefer no pre-boarding because we are usually cleaning and preparing the vessel.

We arrive on the final day Saturday at 10 AM and you should allow for 45 minute taxi transportation to the airport, and arrive at the airport about 2-3 hours prior to departure.

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.

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.

After 15 years of sailing all over the world we have been asked every question you can imagine. There are thing you have not even thought of yet. We want to share as much information as possible.

Check out our page on Frequently asked questions