USVI: Solar Classic Catamaran Advanced 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 U.S. Virgin Islands to St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix 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. This is a large stable vessel and it’s not as likely for you to get seasick.

Sleep aboard starts at 5 PM on the day of your booking at the marina where the catamaran is docked in St Thomas, USVI. We will spend the first night on the dock.

Please call the captain upon arrival and he or she will show you to your cabin to sleep aboard on the Catamaran. 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 -8 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 operating 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 Yacht Charter, exploring the breathtaking 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.

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 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). Click here for more info.

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).

The Catamaran has 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.

• 6 glorious days sailing with your USCG Captain/ ASA Advanced Sailing Instructor.
• Drinking Water, all breakfasts, all lunches and 2 dinners aboard.
• Queen bed en-suite cabins (private bathroom (head) and shower with warm fresh water, bunk, linens, towels).
• Course Textbooks, logbook, and certificates upon successful completion of knowledge 100 % skills and 80% exam scores.
• 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.

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 15 minutes from Crowne bay 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 30 minute taxi transportation to the airport, and arrive at the airport about 2-3 hours prior to departure.

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.