Learn to Sail in the Virgin Islands
A liveaboard learn-to-sail experience in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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Join us for a liveaboard learn-to-sail adventure in the stunning U.S. Virgin Islands! If your dream is to skipper your own bareboat charter—whether in the Virgin Islands or beyond—this immersive course is your perfect first step. Held aboard a well-equipped sailing catamaran, this experience combines hands-on learning with the beauty of island cruising. Starting from St. Thomas, you’ll explore the turquoise waters and scenic anchorages of St. Thomas and St. John, gaining the skills, confidence, and certification needed to skipper your own sailing vacation.
Overview
- This is a liveaboard learn-to-sail experience.
- If your dream is to be the skipper of your own bareboat charter- in the Virgin Islands or beyond- this course is for you!
- This course will be held on a well-equipped sailing catamaran, embarking from St. Thomas in the US Virgins and cruising around St. Thomas and St. John.
- The requirement is that students complete their NauticEd coursework (online) before the start of the course date so that all of us have a shared starting point for the course.
- Students will serve as crew with shared cooking, cleaning, pilotage, and skipper responsibilities.
- We plan the daily curriculum such that afternoons/evenings are reserved for snorkeling, taking the dinghy ashore, hiking, bars, and restaurants.
- The pricing structure is for a single student in a private cabin, and plus one (guest) is an additional nominal charge.
- See details for more information, and certainly contact us for information or to signup.
Outcomes
- Students will have the opportunity to embrace a comprehensive, immersive learn-to-sail experience that will significantly enhance their sailing skills and resume.
- Training and certification is available for a full range of skill levels, from beginner to bareboat certification and licensing. See course options for details.
- Please note that we cannot guarantee that you will meet the minimum requirements for credentialing. Certification and licensing are dependent on your (a) successful knowledge-theory coursework, (b) assessed skills, and (c) your overall participation and attitude during the cruise. As such, we are happy to discuss the specific requirements in further detail!
- This is a learning and credentialing opportunity. This is NOT a sailing vacation in the sense that we will be training during the week. That said, we certainly plan to have a LOT of fun!
Why Learn in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
The U.S. Virgin Islands are a dream destination for aspiring sailors, offering the perfect blend of stunning scenery, ideal conditions, and accessible sailing opportunities.
And yes, love cruising the British Virgin Islands (BVI)! But here are some thoughts on the U.S. Virgin Islands:
- Easy Accessibility from the U.S.
As a U.S. territory, the Virgin Islands are convenient to reach with no passport required for U.S. citizens. English is widely spoken, and the islands are equipped with modern amenities to make your trip comfortable. - Ideal Sailing Conditions
With steady trade winds, protected waters, and warm temperatures year-round, the USVI provides a safe yet challenging environment to build your skills. The consistent trade winds (about 15 knots) and calm seas are ideal for beginners and intermediate sailors alike. - Close Proximity to Anchorages
The islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix are just a short sail apart, making it easy to experience a variety of anchorages in a single trip. The proximity allows for more hands-on practice navigating, anchoring, and mooring in real-world conditions. - Stunning Scenery and Vibrant Marine Life
The USVI is famous for its turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and vibrant coral reefs. As you learn to sail, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views and the opportunity to snorkel, swim, and explore the natural beauty of the islands. - Learn on Real Charter Boats
Training on a charter-ready vessel in the same environment you’ll encounter as a future skipper is invaluable. You’ll gain practical experience handling systems and sailing a catamaran or monohull like the ones you’ll rent for your own adventures. - Gateway to Future Charters
Many sailors dream of chartering in the Virgin Islands, and this training positions you perfectly to achieve that goal. Learning in the USVI gives you the confidence and competence to return as a bareboat skipper.
Course Options
We offer instruction a full range of sailing backgrounds and goals – from just starting out basic sailing to getting your bareboat certification, and even international licensing. For those wanting certification or licensing, we credential through NauticEd (i.e., NauticEd certifies and licenses internationally). The links below provide additional information from NauticEd.
- Basic Sailing: an introductory course for new sailors. Also, this is recommended if you join us with a partner who wants to learn how to crew. Certification includes a Certificate for “Basic Sailing Skills”. Learn more here >
- Skipper: training for larger sailboats, overnight trips, and sailing in diverse weather conditions. This is an intermediate-level course and certification. Learn more about Skipper >
- Bareboat Charter Master: with Bareboat Charter Master you learn multiday and near coastal sailing, which is PERFECT for training in the USVI! The Bareboat Charter Master certification is accepted worldwide – AND, this is a prerequisite for the SLC international license. For this level of training, you’ll want some experience coming into the course (we can discuss). Learn more about Bareboat here >
- SLC License: the International Sailing License and Credentials can be assessed as part of the Bareboat training. This license allows you to charter boats in the Mediterranean and any worldwide location requiring an international license. More about the SLC >
- Catamaran Endorsement: we’ll be training on a catamaran, and so of course you can get a catamaran endorsement along with your certification and/or license (note: requires an additional online Catamaran Confidence course). Catamaran Endorsement >
- Private Instruction: no rule says that you must get certified. If you’re rusty and need some additional training, we can work that out too.
USVI Learn to Sail Details
What sailboat will I call home?
- This is a four-cabin, four-head Catamaran, meaning that you will have your own private area each night.
- Comfort is important! The training vessel comes with a generator and air conditioning, meaning you can sleep in a climate-controlled cabin.
Dates
- The courses typically run from Saturday to Saturday.
- When you complete our interest form, you will be asked to rank your choices. We will look at all form submissions and find the most popular dates with our students.
- Currently, we have two courses forming for 2025:
- May 3-10, 2025: (two boats) – six cabins remaining
- November 8-15, 2025: (two boats) – six cabins remaining
- THESE DATES ARE TENTATIVE
Pricing
- We are still finalizing the budget but are anticipating the following:
- May 3-10, 2025: (two boats) – $5,000 per student/cabin
- November 8-15, 2025: (two boats) – $5,000 per student/cabin
- The rates above are for a single student in a private cabin. If you would like to add an additional student to your cabin, the add-on is $300.
What’s Included?
- Lodging aboard the training vessel
- Instructor fee: your boat comes with a highly-trained, professional sailing instructor and USCG Captain
- Provisions for all breakfasts, lunches, and most dinners. We work with a provisioning service that will have everything delivered to the boat before we embark.
- Budget for two dinners ashore (note: it is customary in sailing to treat the captain to dinner ashore)
- Nightly moorings
- Fuel for cat and dinghy
- Water refill (although the training vessel also has a water maker).
- Trash (yes, in the Caribbean you pay per bag of trash)
- All USCG-required safety equipment on board
What’s Excluded?
- Your roundtrip travel to/from the charter base in St. Thomas
- NauticEd online course fees. Please note that if you do not yet have the courses, then we may be able to purchase these for you at a discount and forward those savings to you.
- Instructor Gratuituity
- Meals ashore, as needed
- Alcohol (feel free to imbibe when we anchored or moored for the day)
What to Bring and Pack?
- Comfortable clothing
- Please wear shoes with non-marking soles (deck shoes or tennis shoes). High heels and black-soled shoes are not permitted.
- Hat, sunglasses, and your preferred sunscreen
- Please bring your set of plotting tools for passage planning (before the course we can advise on which tools you’ll need
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know:
Email: captainwaynecook@gmail.com
Phone: 972-533-0129
If this experience is a good fit for you, please complete FORM
