BVI Vacation Courses 2024 | Sail Away Sailing School

Experience Level: “I’ve confidently sailed on a smaller keelboat and I’m ready for a live-aboard yacht learning vacation!”

Enjoy a beautiful vacation in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) while earning Basic Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104) certifications. ASA 104 serves as a European boating license in most of Europe and Asia. Our live-aboard yacht is a spacious 48’ Oceanis, pictured above, with 4 cabins and 4 heads. It has air-conditioning, bow thruster, chart plotter and Wifi. Layout – https://ws.nausys.com/CBMS-external/rest/yacht/10182939/html?date=10-02-2024 All are welcome on this cruise, though ASA 101 is the prerequisite for certifications. Board our boat at Ritter Marina in Tortola, BVI.

We will sail each morning and anchor off a different island in the afternoon each day. You will have time for snorkeling, swimming, hiking and enjoying all the sights of this magnificent group of islands. Our motorized dinghy will take us ashore for sightseeing and dinner excursions. We will learn navigation, boat systems, diesel engine checks, crew overboard techniques, emergency procedures, reefing, anchoring, sail trim, advanced knots, cooking underway, live-aboard skills and we’ll practice docking and mooring ball pick-ups.

Upon successful completion of on-water skills and written exam, you will be certified to skipper your own charter boat. Friends and family members are welcome on this cruise, though ASA 101 is the prerequisite for ASA 103/104 certifications.

Details and Fees

Basic and Bareboat Chartering course: Feb. 16-23: $2290 each for shared double cabin. $4480 for 2 people sharing a cabin registering together. One person in a private double cabin: $4280. Non-students take $70 off total fee.

Included: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, bottled water, onboard Wifi, snorkeling gear, Cruising and National Parks tax, textbooks; Coastal Cruising Made Easy, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy, ASA certifications, shared double berth, bed linens, towels. Packing list and textbooks will be sent upon registration. (ASA 101 is prerequisite for those completing the courses.)

Not included: Dinners ashore each night, taxi and entry fee to The Baths. Personal snacks and beverages.

No smoking onboard yacht, dinghy, dock, or public places in BVI.

Included: All breakfasts and lunches onboard, bottled water, coffee, tea, sundowner drink.

ITINERARY: Board at 5PM or later on February 16. We board at Ritter Marina in Road Town on the south coast of Tortola. We set sail after orientation. We will anchor or moor off a different island each night, exploring 1-2 islands every day. Disembark February 23 at 12PM.

GETTING THERE: Fly into Tortola airport code-EIS and take taxi to BVI Yacht Charters, Ritter Marina – or – Fly into St Thomas airport code-STT and take short taxi to ferry. Take 45-minute ferry ride to Tortola – Road Town. Taxi to BVI Yacht Charters, Ritter Marina. Ferries stop running in early afternoon. Purchase ferry tickets in advance. See bvitourism.com

Download the Registration Form

Experience Level: “I’ve confidently sailed on my own and am ready for a challenging but fun vacation!”

Earn your Cruising Catamaran certification (ASA 114) while enjoying a beautiful vacation in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Our live-aboard yacht is a 40’ 2019 Lucia Fountaine-Pajot (photo above) with 4 double cabins and 4 heads. It is air-conditioned, complete with full galley, flat screen TV, and state-of-the-art GPS, chartplotter and Wifi. Board our boat at Nanny Cay Marina in Tortola, BVI. Yacht details: https://virginislandsailing.com/yacht/from-the-fields-bareboat-charter-in-virgin-islands-british/

We will sail each morning and anchor off a different island by early afternoon each day. There will be plenty of time during the week for snorkeling, swimming, and enjoying all the sights of this magnificent group of islands. We will tow a motorized dinghy for sightseeing and dinner excursions. We will learn navigation, twin screw operation, diesel engine checks, crew overboard techniques, emergency procedures, reefing, anchoring, sail trim, cooking underway, live-aboard skills and learn to expertly dock a twin-screw cat.

Upon successful completion of on-water skills and written exam, you will be certified to skipper your own charter catamaran. Friends and family members are welcome on this cruise, though ASA 104 is the prerequisite for ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran certification.

Details and Fees

Cruising Catamaran course is FULL. Contact CaptainJoan@mac.com to be placed on Wait List.

Cruising Catamaran course: Feb. 9-15: $2490 each for shared double cabin. One person in a private double cabin: $4880. Non-students take $45 off total fee.

Included: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, bottled water, onboard Wifi, snorkeling gear, textbook; Cruising Catamaran Made Easy, ASA certification, shared double berth, bed linens, towels. Packing list and textbook will be sent upon registration. (ASA 104 is prerequisite for those completing the 114 course.)

Not included: Dinners ashore each night, taxi and entry fee to The Baths. Personal snacks and beverages.

No smoking onboard yacht, dinghy, dock, or public places in BVI.

Included: All breakfasts and lunches onboard, bottled water, coffee, tea, sundowner drink.

ITINERARY: Board at 12PM on February 9. We board at Navigare Charters in Nanny Cay on the south coast of Tortola. We set sail after orientation. We will anchor or moor off a different island each night, exploring 1-2 islands every day. Disembark February 15 at 12PM.

GETTING THERE: Fly into Tortola airport code-EIS and take taxi to Navigare Charters, Nanny Cay Marina – or – Fly into St Thomas airport code-STT and take short taxi to ferry. Take 45-minute ferry ride to Tortola – either west end or Road Town. Taxi to Navigare Charters, Nanny Cay Marina. Ferries stop running in early afternoon. Purchase ferry tickets in advance. See bvitourism.com

Download the Registration Form

BVI Vacation Course – Basic & Bareboat Cruising 2024

Prerequisite Certification: ASA-101 is required to earn your ASA-103 & 104 Certifications, but not required to enjoy the course!

BVI Vacation Course – Catamaran 2024

Prerequisite Certification: ASA-104 is required to earn your ASA-114 Certifications, but not required to enjoy the course!