- 3 Days
No previous sailing experience required! Our three-day Bareboat Sailor Certification Course is designed to prepare you to charter a sailboat on your own & give you hands-on experience at anchoring overnight in the Apostle Islands.
Quick Details
Duration: 4 days & 4 nights
Group Size: This course is designed for 4 people (typically 2 sets of students)
Boat Details: 38′ catamaran – Private cabin & shared living space
Food/Drink: Provisions are coordinated by attendees
Learn to cruise on a catamaran!
The Cruising Catamaran Certification Course is a four-day sailing class designed to create confident, competent catamaran sailors. You’ll spend the first day learning the fundamentals of sailing while aboard a 33-39’ monohull. This is the perfect setting to learn terminology, sail trim and boating basics. Days 2-4 have you practicing and exhibiting those new skills aboard your catamaran classroom. From start to finish, you will get the feel for truly living aboard a catamaran from provisioning and cooking to cleaning. This is the perfect course for those that have always dreamed about sailing away on a catamaran or those who want to upgrade their skills.
This course is designed to train two sets of students at a time but can be set up as a private course for an additional fee. You should bring your own bedding and towels and plan to work with the other students to provide and prepare provisioning while on board the boat. You will spend one overnight at anchor with your instructor on board. The rest of the time, you can plan on living on the boat while in the marina.
Learn to cruise on catamarans! Book today!
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We offer multiple course offerings throughout the sailing season. 2022 Dates Announced!
July 8 – 11, 2022
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The course is priced so that course has four students – taught in pairs, perfect for couples!
Double Occupancy Price – $3,052/couple + tax
Solo Sailor Price – $2,035/person + tax
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- Four days and four nights living aboard a catamaran – you will have your own private cabin, but shared living space – don’t forget to bring bedding, towels and provisioning supplies
- Boat is equipped with all safety gear required by USCG – rentals of inflatable life vests at no cost
- Course materials – two online training courses and training book
- Personalized training with a USCG Licensed Captain
- Insurance coverage for the training vessels
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Arrival Day
Board the boat around 5 pm, meet the instructor, board the catamaran, stow gear and provisions – on your own for dinner
Day 1
8:30 am – Meet the instructor in the charter office – hands on instruction begins after completing paperwork with office staff. Grab gear and board your monohull training boat for the day. Learning terminology, sailing and maneuvering fundamentals.4:30 – Arrive back in marina and dock training on boat, debrief, relax or study, dinner on your own – stay on-board the catamaran
Day 2
8:00 am – Captain boards the catamaran for training session – quick intro to catamaran systems and practice maneuvers, sail handling, safety practices
5:00 – Arrive back in marina and dock training on boat, debrief, relax or study, dinner on your own – stay on-board the catamaranDay 3
8:00 am – Captain boards the catamaran for training session – students implement their new skills, plotting a course for the day, learn anchoring and overnight procedures on boat – Captain stays on boat for overnight training while anchoring. Students can plan to cook and clean up as if you were bareboat chartering. Cooking aboard is part of the learning process.
Day 4
8:00 am – Students sail on their own, for their practical testing back to the marina.
2:00 pm – Arrive back in marina and dock the boat. Students will clean the boat as required from all charter guests. After off-boarded, students will be awarded certificates of completion. Off-board no later than 4 pm.
Courses dates are set, if you would prefer a private course please let us know.
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The Cruising Catamaran Certification Course prepares you for catamaran cruising on your own, whether bareboat chartering (without a professional captain or crew aboard) or cruising on your own boat. 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 (maximum four per boat per instructor unless you opt for a Private Course for two to six people), the following knowledge and skills will be learned and practiced during your live-aboard cruising course.
- 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 – learning this on a monohull and catamaran
- 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
- Big boat heavy weather and reefing techniques for catamarans
- Boom preventer use
- Spring lines and dock line configurations
- More knots and their applications
- GPS navigation
- 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
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.