Quick Details
Duration: 3 days & 2 nights – can start on any day of the week
Group Size: At least 2 people MUST sign up together; an additional 2 people can be added to as crew for a reduced rate of $495 per person.
Boat Details: 32 – 33′ sailboat
Food/Drink: You are responsible for all food/drink while onboard. Make sure to provide provisions for your instructor too!
All Season
Per Person plus Taxes and Fees for Double Occupancy
$ 1195
Spend Three Days Learning to Sail
No previous sailing experience required! Superior Charters’ three-day charter certification program is designed to prepare you to charter a sailboat on your own in the Apostle Islands and give you hands-on experience at anchoring overnight in the islands.
This course covers the basics of sailing, vessel systems, docking in the slip and anchoring overnight. You start with hands-on experience as a novice and in just a few short days, you’ll be on your own, exploring the beauty and pristine nature found in the Apostle Islands. Our instructors determine you and your crew’s skill level and focus on what you need to learn and accomplish to successfully bareboat charter.
Your Classroom
This course typically takes place on any of our 33′ Jeanneau sailboats, which serve as your classroom and overnight accommodations. You sleep onboard the boat in harbor two out of the three nights, with complimentary boarding the evening prior to the first day of your instruction. You will spend one night at anchor with the instructor aboard. There is a head and a galley on all boats. Bring a sleeping bag or bedding and towels.
Participants
This course certifies two people in three days. You can add up to two additional people to join you as crew and they will receive a crew certification.
Add a crew member: For a reduced fee of $495, bring along an additional hand who can gain boating experience while you’re certified
Must sign up two people at time of booking – require names, contact phone # and email address for each attendee required.
Provisions
All provisions are supplied by you and your party as with all bareboat charters. Please keep in mind that you should plan for the instructor in your meal plans.
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The course is completely arranged around your schedule and boat availability.
Choose your arrival evening: Arrive after 6:00 pm and meet the captain to have them get you situated on the boat for the evening. You’ll sleep on the boat the night before your course begins
Choose your course dates: Three consecutive days spent on the water, learning to sail with your sailing partner.
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The course is priced on a per person basis with 2 students being trained together.
Course Fee – $1,195/person
Additional Costs
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- Cleaning Fee – $150 – divided among crew members
- Daily Damage Fee Coverage – $135 – divided among crew members
- Park Service Fee – $59.75 per person (skipper)
- $24.75 per person (crew member)
- Tax
- Provisions are coordinated and provided by crew member
Make it a family affair! Bring kids (minimum age of 12) to learn more about boats and their role in sailing. – Cost: $295/child
Want to bring a crew member? Adults and even kids as young as 16 can learn and get Crew Certified on your trip – Cost: $495/crew
The training boats are the 32′ – 33′ in size with up to 2 private cabins. We are limited by living space on the boat to 4 guests in total.
Gratuity
Although not required, our Captains appreciate gratuity for a job well done. Gratuity can be provided in cash to your Captain on the dock or let our office staff know how much gratuity you would like to provide to your Captain, and we can charge it to your credit card on file. -
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- Three days and two nights – Learn to live on a boat! You will have your own private boat, but will be sharing some living space when the captain is aboard for one overnight. The captain is allowed their own private cabin for sleeping, so take this into account with your plans.
- Boat is equipped with all safety gear required by USCG – rentals of inflatable life vests at no cost
- Personalized training with a USCG Licensed Captain
- Training books sent ahead of the course
- Cleaning fee for an easy walk-away experience
- Insurance coverage for the training vessels
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- Training books – You may like to have these for reference.
- Provisions – You’ll be providing food and beverage for the trip – don’t forget to include the captain!
- Linens – Bedding isn’t provided on the boat, so make sure to bring your own sleeping bag, pillows, towels
- Personal Sailing Gear – Already got your own inflatable PFD or sailing gloves? Bring them along and use them!
- Gratuity – Captains appreciate gratuity for a job well done! Although not required, our Captains are independent contractors who provide personalized service to our customers and appreciate gratuity if you feel the experience exceeded your expectations. Industry standard is 15-20%.
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The Bareboat Sailor Certification Course will cover much of the following –
- Planning a cruise – navigation and chart reading
- 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
- 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
- Rules of the Road
- Coast Guard requirements
- VHF use
- Courtesy using lights and sound signals
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Sailing is a physical activity that people of all ages can participate in and appreciate, but being physically fit will increase sailing performance and safety. These trips are hands-on activities that require complete, unaided mobility getting on and off docks, boats, and dinghies.
- Strength – Hoisting the mainsail or pulling up anchor can require some brute strength to accomplish such tasks. Sailing isn’t always easy!
- Balance – Think about a wet deck on a heeling boat, you’ll need good balance to stay upright.
- Coordination – You’re often completing multiple tasks simultaneously on a boat, move smoothly and efficiently to get it all done.
- Agility – Moving quickly, easily and safely are key to having a successful trip, no better place to know if you’re agile than during docking!
- Flexibility – Increased flexibility helps with your overall balance and physical fitness. There’s also something to be said for the person who can maneuver on a small boat!
- Overall Physical Fitness – At the end of the day, sailing is still a physical activity. If you’re fit, it’ll be easier to complete all tasks and expect the unexpected.