Quick Details
Duration: 5 days & 4 nights – Boarding typically begins on Tuesday evening.
Group Size: Private group instruction for up to 6 people
Boat Details: 39′ – 44′ sailboat
Food/Drink: Provisions are coordinated among crew
Contact us for a custom quote!
Become an Advanced Sailor on Lake Superior
The Advanced Sailing Course is a five-day sailing class designed to create more competent, confident sailors. Improve your sailing skills and experience night sailing, standing watches and sailing offshore in varying weather conditions.
Everyone is involved in planning the passage. The instructor reviews navigation procedures, use of charts, dead reckoning, radar, and GPS in an easy to understand and relaxed environment. This exciting adventure covers over 200 nautical miles (weather depending) with plans to sail to Isle Royale National Park and Grand Marais.
Your Classroom
Your classroom is a 39–44-foot sailboat, where you’ll learn by doing while living aboard throughout your five-day course. Boarding typically begins the evening before instruction starts, with an overnight stay aboard the boat in the harbor. The remaining nights are spent at anchor or in other ports, with your instructor aboard. Each boat is equipped with a head and galley. Plan to bring bedding or a sleeping bag and towels, along with provisions coordinated among your group.
Because this is a private course, your group can discuss its goals and preferred timing with our team before the trip is arranged.
Gather Your Crew for a Private Course
The Advanced Sailing Certification course is now offered by private arrangement for groups of interested sailors rather than on a set public schedule. If you have a group of friends, sailing partners, or fellow boaters who want to take their skills offshore, we’d love to help you plan the experience. Private courses are scheduled by request, with custom quotes based on your group’s needs.
Interested in attending but don’t have a group together yet? Contact Superior Charters to tell us about your experience and interest. We can discuss potential options, although a course date and availability cannot be guaranteed until a private arrangement is confirmed.
-
The course is available by private arrangement for groups of interested sailors. Contact Superior Charters to discuss your group’s preferred timing and availability.
-
The course is designed for private groups rather than individual enrollment in a scheduled public session. If you’re interested but don’t have a group, reach out to our team. We’ll discuss your interest and any potential options for arranging a course.
-
Pricing is provided by custom quote. Contact Superior Charters with your anticipated group size, preferred timing, and any questions about the course, and we’ll discuss pricing for your group
-
- Five days and four nights of an offshore adventure – Students should be prepared to share sleeping and living spaces – don’t forget to bring bedding, towels and provisioning supplies.
- Boat is equipped with all safety gear required by USCG
- Personalized training with a USCG Licensed Captain
- Cleaning fee for an easy walk-away experience
- Insurance coverage for the training vessels
-
The Advanced Sailing Certification Course gives you an offshore experience while in a safe, learning environment. Your lesson begins when you arrive, making sure the boat is equipped for your journey. The crew will then review charts and weather forecasts to determine the passage to the North Shore of Minnesota and Isle Royale National Park. You will learn not only the sailing and boat handling aspect, but how the vessel systems work, how to cook and live aboard, it is all part of the learning experience. Depending on the learning pace of all in your class, the following knowledge and skills will be learned and practiced during your live-aboard sailing course. These trips are hands-on activities that require complete, unaided mobility getting on and off docks, boats, and dinghies.
- Planning a cruise
- Familiarization with boat layout and sail plan
- Operation of engine, stove and head and preparation of meals
- Routine engine maintenance
- Use and conservation of battery and charging systems
- Water use and conservation
- Use and location of thru-hull fittings
- Maneuvering under power and sail with emphasis on windage considerations and close quarters
- Big boat docking and anchoring techniques
- Proper and safe handling of halyards and lines
- Proper and safe use of winches
- Apparent wind and sail selection
- Sail shape and trim
- Inter-crew communication when trimming sails, docking and anchoring
- Jib roller furling use
- Overboard recovery procedures
- Boom preventer use
- Spring lines and dock line configurations
- More knots and their applications
- GPS navigation
- Radar use
- Rules of the Road
- Danger bearings
- Coast Guard requirements
- VHF use
- Courtesy using lights and sound signals
- Use of safety harness
- Emergency tiller use
- Distress signals
- Night sailing and dead reckoning