catamaran sailing lessons caribbean

LEARN TO SAIL IN THE GRENADINES

Cost per person: from $6475 (catamaran courses available).

Trip costs depend on season and available yacht models. Contact us  today to share your sailing dreams and goals, desired dates and location, and let us put together a quote for you!

YOUR COURSE FEE INCLUDES:

• Private cabin onboard the newest sailboats
• Hands on training from exceptional instructors, flown in for your course
• FREE access to Nautilus’ exclusive online MASTERCLASS, with over 30+ videos, a $599 value to better help you prepare
• All food on board, apart from three evening meals ashore
• Formal ASA certification
• All textbooks, materials and international logbook
• Induction into our very own Alumni Tribe to join global trips, flotillas, sailing adventures, and custom deliveries

WHY LEARN TO SAIL IN THE GRENADINES?

About this destination.

Grenada and the Grenadines, form the southern end of the islands in the Caribbean. Join us on a sexy new catamaran or monohull for a week as you learn how to sail and earn your ASA certifications (ASA 101, 103, 104 and 114 are offered). An amazing place to embark on your own sailing journey.

WHAT MAKES THE GRENADINES SPECIAL?

This area of the Caribbean is what most of the Caribbean was like 30 years ago, pristine! We love the topography with the dramatic jungle covered peaks, and white sand beaches. The vibrant local culture is beautiful, and the locals are genuine and friendly. Consistent trade winds and warm weather make this one of our favorite Caribbean destinations!

Video Coming Soon

SAILING CALENDAR: WHERE AND WHEN TO SAIL

		Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
MALLORCA						WE SAIL				WE SAIL
CROATIA						WE SAIL				WE SAIL
BAHAMAS	WE SAIL											WE SAIL
MEXICO	WE SAIL										WE SAIL
TAHITI					WE SAIL
GRENADINES		WE SAIL									WE SAIL

BOOKING LEAD TIMES: Grenadines, Caribbean

How far in advance should I book my course with Nautilus? The further in advance the better as boat and captain availability fill up well in advance.

CHALLENGING

Very difficult, sample itinerary and map.

Fly into St George Grenada (airport code GND). Grab a taxi to the nicest marina on the island, Port Louis marina. You can drop your bags at the office and head to the Victory Bar to grab a rum punch and wait for boarding. We will board the boat at 5pm, get settled and head out for dinner together!

Do a chart briefing, systems overview and check all the equipment on the boat. We will then head out to practice our first drills on the boat, getting familiar with controlling a large sailboat. It's then up to Moliniere Point to practice mooring ball pickup and settle in for the afternoon. Swim and enjoy the tropical water. After some fun, do your first formal lessons aboard.

Today we talk through the basics of learning how to raise and trim the sails and set sail on our passage north, to the island of Carrioucou, avoiding the active underwater volcano called "Kick'em Jenny". We will stop at remote Ronde Island for lunch and a swim. We then set sail again to head towards Sandy Island.

This morning we will cover systems aboard, take a deep dive into engines and do mooring practice. It's then off to practice our sailing drills around Hillsborough. After hours of sailing fun we moor off paradise beach and head in for grilled lobster!

After an ASA morning test we set sail for the private island of Petit St Vincent, a stunning island surrounded by beautiful reefs. The challenge today is for students to navigate and sail around all the tricky reefs in the area. We will anchor off the white sand beaches of the island, and go ashore for sunset drinks.

Chart a course and set sail on a downwind leg to the remote bay of Anse La Roche. After another ASA test we will have a chance to swim, snorkel or paddle board around this beautiful beach. It's then time for another sail south to Tyrrel Bay, with several fun local restaurants where we can experience some of the cuisine of the Spice Islands.

We weigh anchor early and sail to the underwater sculpture garden off St George. This beautiful underwater sculpture park is a truly memorable snorkeling experience! Its then back to the marina for docking practice and a final celebration meal at our favorite restaurant on the island! We spend the last night of our trip on the boat in the marina.

We are off the boat by 8am and you are free to fly home, or take a couple of extra days to explore the rest of the beautiful island of Grenada, as there is lots to see and do from hiking to waterfalls, rum distillery tours, to great scuba diving!

YOU DESERVE THE BEST... EXPERIENCE THE NAUTILUS DIFFERENCE

PUT TOGETHER YOUR PERFECT SAIL TRAINING EXPERIENCE

MEET A RECENT STUDENT...

“Just got home from an ASA 101-104 class in Grenada with my wife and another couple that could not have been better. Our instructor, Lindsay Moore, has found her calling. Lindsay has a wealth of experience on the water but even more than that she is truly a teacher. It’s relatively easy to acquire skills, it’s another thing to be able to impart those skills on others.

Beyond being a fabulous teacher she was easy for all of us to relate to and an incredibly fun companion for a week living aboard a sailboat. Communication from the office staff at Nautilus was prompt and informative. I would highly recommend Nautilus Sailing, our course has changed our lives!”

KEVIN, Alaska (USA)

EVERY ALUMNI JOINS THE TRIBE

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

The only way to join our tribe is to learn to sail with Nautilus.

We’re really careful to make sure that we know and trust anyone coming on one of our special trips.

Join us on flotillas, offshore deliveries, free webinars and unforgettable sailing adventures around the world. Join the Tribe.

AS FEATURED IN

• Find A School
• Certifications
• North U Sail Trim
• Inside Sailing with Peter Isler
• Docking Made Easy
• Study Quizzes
• Bite-sized Lessons
• Fun Quizzes
• Sailing Challenge

ASA Sailing Schools in Caribbean

Directory of American Sailing Association sailing schools located in the Caribbean where you can take beginning to advanced sailing lessons.

Ship Shape Sailing School Freshwater Bay, Barbados

(246) 832-7348 barbadossailingschool.com.

Welcome to Ship Shape Sailing School and our beautiful Caribbean Islands. We are based in Barbados and lucky to have all different sailing conditions available right at our door step. We have an extensive fleet of training vessels available and can offer customized training courses to suit your needs.

More Information

Wet & Salty Adventure Sailing School St Michael, Barbados

+1 (246) 231-8297 wetandsaltysailing.com.

Wet & Salty Adventure Sailing School is your warm weather destination sailing school based in beautiful Barbados, where the water is warm and the winds are favorable all year round. Whether you’re a beginner or diligently working towards your next ASA certification or captain license, we can help you build your confidence and sailing skills on the water.

British Virgin Islands

Horizon sailing school tortola, bvi, british virgin islands, (877) 877-1888 horizonyachtcharters.com.

Over the course of a week you will gain the knowledge and experience to charter sailboats anywhere in the world, and embark on your own sailing adventure! The emphasis is on learning how to sail, through hands-on experience, in a beautiful part of the world.

Sail Caribbean Sailing School Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(800) 321-0994 sailcaribbean.com.

Offering unforgettable sailing programs for ages 11-18 and young adults alike. Fostering leadership, marine learning, and adventure in the BVI & Leeward Islands.

Sailing Virgins Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(415) 619-2704 www.sailingvirgins.com.

Sailing Virgins is the only sailing school in the Caribbean that caters solely to adventurous people in their 20s and 30s, making for not just a great sailing experience but a very social one at that. Sailing Virgins’ Island Adventures combine sailing instruction with a full-on adventure.

Sea Dog Sailing Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(404) 374-4754 www.seadogsailing.com.

SeaTrek BVI Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(877) 467-2454 seatrekbvi.com.

Whether you’re interested in scuba diving, sailing, marine science or just the all around summer adventure program, you’ve come to the right spot! SeaTrek offers tropical adventure summer camp programs for junior high, high school and college-aged students in the British Virgin Islands and other islands throughout the Caribbean.

Sistership Sailing School Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(284) 496-7145 sailsistership.com.

Located in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, aptly named ‘the sailing capital of the world’, Sistership specializes in ASA courses for women, couples and families. Our women instructors have many years of experience in the BVI and the charter industry and can prepare you for your first charter experience like no one else. Learn to sail in the safe, fun, sailor-friendly waters of the beautiful BVI with experts who really care about the quality of your experience. Our motto is ‘Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone’. We are serious sailors whose top priority is your safety and …

Swain Sailing School Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(800) 948-7245 swainsailing.com.

Rob Swain Sailing School is located in Tortola in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. Founded 23 years ago by our lead instructor Rob Swain we pride ourselves in providing a complete experience. Whether you are learning to sail or wish to gain bareboat or coastal cruising certifications our ASA qualified instructors who are all experienced yachtsman and women will help you reach your goals.

TMM Yacht Charters Road Town, Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(800) 633-0155 sailtmm.com.

We offer only charter courses. Charter a yacht and take the instructor with you and enjoy the beauty and great sailing in the BVI at the same time. Courses are conducted in the beautiful sailing conditions of the BVI

Top Tier Sailing School Tortola, British Virgin Islands

(877) 250-6300 toptiersailing.com.

An ASA certified training school located in the British Virgin Islands. Whether you are new to sailing or an experienced sailor looking to achieve specific ASA certifications, Top Tier Sailing School offers comprehensive sailing courses and a learning experience like no other.

True Blue Sailing School Tortola, BVI, British Virgin Islands

(284) 541-6666 www.truebluesailing.com.

LTD Sailing – Living The Dream! Grenada, Grenada

(473) 457-3240 ltdsailing.com.

LTD Sailing – ‘Living the Dream!’ is the premier sailing school in the Caribbean, offering 7 & 10 day ‘Cruise and Learn’ vacations. We can also customize private courses to accommodate your specific sailing goals. Our instructors are the best in the industry and we only use top quality, modern charter boats from the best charter companies. We offer both monohull & catamaran certification courses. Learn to sail with the best while enjoying an unforgettable Caribbean sailing vacation!

Nautilus Sailing St. George’s, Grenada

(800) 680-7902 nautilussailing.com.

Dreaming of learning how to sail and embarking on your own sailing adventures? Nautilus Sailing offers premium live aboard sailing courses in Grenada and the Grenadines – one of the most pristine parts of the Caribbean! The consistent trade winds make for excellent sailing between the islands and we love the vibrant and friendly local culture. An amazing place to sail!

Beaches Negril Resort & Spa Negril, Jamaica, Jamaica

(876) 527-5341 www.beaches.com.

Beaches Sailing Fun has international recognition from the American Sailing Association with competent and highly trained Instructors who are meticulous on introducing beginners to Sailing in a resort setting. Our Sailing Program aboard a fleet of Laser Bug Performance, Hobie Wave, and Hobie Getaway that is perfect for Sailing.

Beaches Ocho Rios Resort & Spa St Anns, Jamaica, Jamaica

(876) 527-1264 www.beaches.com, puerto rico, caribbean sailing solutions fajardo, puerto rico, (787) 502-7201 www.sailingsolutionscaribbean.com/.

A short ferry ride from mainland will take you to Isleta Marina where our school is located, we are close to many beautiful venues, El Yunque Tropical Rain Forest, excellent restaurants, and beautiful beaches. Enjoy your Learn to Sail vacation with us, there is time to learn and explore the East Coast of beautiful Puerto Rico, including Culebra and or Vieques. US Coastguard licensed Instructor, Coastguard inspected sailing boats.” Bienvenidos!!

Puerto Rico Sailing School Fajardo, Puerto Rico

(787) 370-0909 www.puertoricosailingschool.com.

Puerto Rico Sailing School is located in Isleta Marina in a small island in Fajardo, half a mile from shore on the beautiful east coast of Puerto Rico. Our location is surrounded by many tourist attractions and is walking distance from hotels, inns & other accommodations.

Sail Caribe Yacht Charters Fajardo, Puerto Rico

(787) 889-1978 www.sailcaribe.com.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Barefoot offshore sailing school (boss) kingstown, saint vincent and the grenadines, (784) 456-9526 barefootoffshore.com.

Barefoot Offshore Sailing School (B.O.S.S.) is the longest-established (more than 20 years) and most active American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing school in the south-eastern Caribbean. BOSS is a subsidiary of Barefoot Yacht Charters, owned and run by folks who have been sailing and living here for more than 3 generations, and this gives us the unusual advantages of insight and local knowledge that most charter companies, no matter how experienced, simply cannot offer.

LTD Sailing – Living The Dream! St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

(786) 450-7163 ltdsailing.com.

LTD Sailing is the designated sailing school for Sunsail in the Southern Caribbean. Sunsail recognizes the quality instruction that we provide to our students and we are happy to offer classes on the best boats in the industry. We are charter brokers for Sunsail and can help you book your next vacation on a Sunsail or Moorings boat. Ready to buy ? We are international yacht brokers for the Multihull Company and 5 Oceans Marine Group. We offer private courses on your own yacht, as well. From beginner to boat owner, we can help!

BodyHoliday St. Lucia, St. Lucia

(758) 724-7807 thebodyholiday.com.

At BodyHoliday, we make the promise to our guests “Give us your body for a week, and we will give you back your mind”. We are extremely pleased to add the official ASA accredited sailing courses to our wide array of activates and are certain that through sailing, we can help those keen individuals forge a meaningful connection with the water, wind and world. BodyHoliday offers a unique stay and learn vacation at our 5-star all-inclusive hotel. Not only will you learn how to sail, but you can also indulge yourself in many of the other complementary activities that we …

Turks and Caicos

Beaches turks and caicos resort providenciales, turks & caicos, turks and caicos, 649-946-8000 www.beaches.com, ritz sailing academy grace bay, turks and caicos, (649) 245-5792 ladygracecatamaran.com.

The Ritz Sailing Academy will be offering the ASA 110 Small Boat Sailing Course exclusively to guests of The Ritz-Carlton. The course takes 10 hours to complete and can be administered over 3 or 4 classes during a guest’s stay.

US Virgin Islands

Black rock sailing school st thomas, us virgin islands, 1-888-607-sail blackrocksailingschool.com.

We at Black Rock are confident in saying that we are the Virgin Island’s Foremost Sailing School! We perform more thorough lectures and sailing drills than ANY other sailing school in the Caribbean, aboard some of the nicest training boats available – guaranteed!

Go Sail – Virgin Islands St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

(786) 905-6865 gosailvi.com.

Go Sail Virgin Islands, located in sunny St Thomas offers you a 6 day liveaboard sailing instruction and adventure. With over a decade of experience cruising these dreamy waters, our captains and crew know how to deliver industry leading sailing instruction mixed with action-packed fun.

iYacht Club St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

(855) 924-8252 iyachtclub.com.

You deserve a sailing vacation where you are attended to and get the best expertise. At our school, you get to explore one of the best sailing grounds in the world: the Caribbean. Your journey will specifically focus on the beauty and diversity in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Charter House is the accredited school that oversees all the charter yachts, captains, and crew. Because we are locals, we draft an itinerary, based on your interests, that highlights the locations you’ll want see and activities you’ll want to do.

Virgin Island Sailing School St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands

(805) 850-8135 sailusvis.com.

In the Caribbean, the water is 78-82 and air, about the same with 10-15 knot breezes 340 days a year. We are based in St Thomas (which is more economical to fly in to) but spend most of our time island hopping in the BVIs. With so many islands, the majority of ocean swells are block making for fast, comfortable sailing. Students are limited to 6 per class and matched to our small but outstanding group of highly experienced instructors.

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Horizon Sailing School - Charters

• Sailing Tips
• ASA Courses to learn Sailing

Basic Keelboat Sailing Standard (#101)

Basic Coastal Cruising Standard (#103)

Bareboat Chartering Standard (#104)

• Cruising Catamaran Standard (#114)
• Meet our instructors

Horizon Sailing School

What better way to learn to sail, or hone your existing sailing skills, than on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean?  We have ASA sailing schools in the BVI and St Vincent; some of the most idyllic cruising grounds in the world, offering first-class tuition, consistent breeze and 365 days of sunshine.

“I loved every minute of my certification.  My ASA Instructor gave me such confidence”

Our schools are  American Sailing Association  certified facilities offering you first-class tuition with our great Instructors. All of our ASA courses are taught on our private boats as opposed to renting a cabin with other people; it’s just you and your friends or family onboard.  Our courses are personally tailored around your own vacation schedule; you let us know when you would like to take your Learn to Sail adventure. You will experience a true ‘liveaboard’ experience; all of your study and practical work takes place on your private yacht as you sail the beautiful Caribbean.

After your safety briefing and initial theory work, you will depart from your  Horizon Yacht Charters Base , having provisioned and organized your snorkel equipment, and sail to the next stunning anchorage; all the time working through your ASA certification with your ASA Instructor.

Over the course of a week you will gain the knowledge and experience to charter sailing boats anywhere in the world, and embark on your own sailing adventure.  The emphasis at Horizon Yacht Charters Caribbean sailing schools is on gaining hands-on experience at your own pace.  Typically, the day will be split between theory work and practicing new skills through sailing exercises.

“My wife and I undertook the certification together which makes us more confident sailing together now”

Once anchored for the afternoon; put the books away and enjoy a swim, a snorkel or spend time exploring ashore.  After all, it’s your Caribbean vacation!

Click Here to Meet our Instructors

HOW DOES IT WORK

The American Sailing Association (ASA) program has structured levels of sailing standards, which are examined at progressive certification levels at our Caribbean sailing schools. Students who learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters receive an ASA Logbook that lists the standards, certification and records sailing experience. All courses and examinations are run by our ASA qualified instructors. When a certification level is successfully completed, your ASA Logbook is signed and stamped so that any charter or rental fleet operator can see your level of competency. The most popular American Sailing Association courses we offer are as follows:

If you have little or no experience, then we recommend that you begin with ASA 101 and ASA 103.  If you are on a week’s charter, these two courses can be taught in 5 days, giving you a couple of days to practice your new-found skills at the end of the week or to simply relax in the Caribbean sunshine.

Those that have cruising experience and basic seamanship skills should also add ASA 104 to their instruction. The three courses can be taught in one week, but don’t forget you are on vacation too so you may want to extend a few days to relax.  We also offer the catamaran ASA 114 certification.

“This has given me a taste of what it could be like to buy our own boat in the future and go cruising – that’s the dream, isn’t it?”

Email our Horizon Caribbean bases to check availability and full pricing.

About the ASA

The American Sailing Association introduced certifications to the United States over 35 years ago. Today, with 350+ sailing schools worldwide and 508,000 ASA-certified sailors, ASA represents the largest and most trusted network of schools in the United States.

Learn to sail in the Caribbean with Horizon Yacht Charters way and achieve American Sailing Association certification.  Contact our Caribbean sailing schools here .

ASA Sailing Tips

As an accredited provider of American Sailing Association (ASA) courses, we’re pleased to offer a selection of the most popular ASA sailing tips! A learn-to-sail charter with Horizon provides the perfect way to learn to sail whilst enjoying a Caribbean sailing vacation.

if you would like to get a head-start on your learning, or simply refresh your memory on certain aspects of sailing, we’re pleased to provide a series of video ASA sailing tips below.

If you would like more information on our learn to sail courses please feel free to contact us .

Keeping lines tidy

Wind Direction

Slot Effect

Tacking & Gybing

Slowing the boat

Raising the Main

Spring Lines

Roller Furling

The American Sailing Association is the leading authority on sailing instruction & sailing schools in the United States. You can learn to sail through Horizon Yacht Charters’ certified sailing schools with certified sailing instructors. Through our sailing classes, Horizon and ASA will help you learn sailing, safely & with confidence. ASA Certified Students can go from basic sailing lessons to advanced sailing courses, enjoying sailing experiences around the world. Students who learn so sail with Horizon Yacht Charters receive a Logbook that lists the standards, certification and records sailing experience. All courses and examinations are run by ASA qualified instructors.

Would you like to find out more about Horizon Yacht Charters Learn to Sail sailing vacations? Follow this link or complete a reservation request form and we will be delighted to assist.

If you would like to find out more about the American Sailing Association, you can visit their website here .

If you have any queries on sailing tips, or suggestions on additional tips to include on our website, we would be delighted to hear from you – send us an email and we’ll see what we can do!

The American Sailing Association (ASA) program has structured levels of sailing standards, which are examined at progressive certification levels at our Caribbean sailing schools. Students who learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters receive a Logbook that lists the standards, certification and records sailing experience. All courses and examinations are run by ASA qualified instructors. When a certification level is successfully completed, your logbook is signed and stamped so that any charter or rental fleet operator can see your level of competency.

You will set sail from your Horizon Yacht Charters Base and visit several special locations whilst at the same time earning your American Sailing Association learn to sail certifications.

Over the course of a week, you will learn to sail, gaining the knowledge and experience to charter sailboats anywhere in the world, and embark on your own sailing adventure!  The goal is to enjoy a learning vacation while you learn to sail.

The emphasis at Horizon Yacht Charters Caribbean sailing schools is on learning how to sail, through hands-on experience. Mornings will be spent learning and practicing new skills. In the afternoons you will set sail, refining these newly learned skills along the way.

Once anchored for the afternoon, there will be free time to spend exploring, engaging in watersports, fishing, and relaxing…

ASA 101 Prerequisites: To learn to sail Non-Sailors must sail a boat of about 20 feet or more in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision.  A preparatory Standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required. Successful candidates earn a National Safe Boating Certificate approved by NASBLA and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Obtain your ASA 101 qualification and learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters !

ASA 103 Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification. Sailors must cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea  conditions.

Obtain your ASA 103 qualification and learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters !

Obtain your ASA 104 qualification and learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters !

ASA 114 Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification (ASA 101). Basic Coastal Cruising Certification (ASA 103) and Bareboat Cruising Certification (ASA 104) and the ability to demonstrate competencies in all knowledge and skills elements of those Standards.

Obtain your ASA 114 qualification and learn to sail with Horizon Yacht Charters !

“We’ve sailed with Brian as a skipper only and as an ASA instructor. He is as patient with a large family as he is in a one on one teaching role. Brian has an intuitive mastery of sail trim that he passes on to his students with ease. It’s clear he has not only been sailing his entire life but that he is a natural teacher as well. His knowledge of Grenada, St Vincent and all in between is matched only by his rapport with the locals. If you walk around any of the Windward Islands with Brian, you immediately feel like a local as everywhere he goes he is warmly greeted.  Without a doubt, Brian has made each of our charters that much more enjoyable and we’ve walked away with more sailing knowledge gained in 7 days than we might have learned in years of trial and error.” – John Baldschun

This is what one of our clients had to say recently: “The three of us loved Donna. She is obviously very skilled and experienced, but joins this with a delightful, engaging manner. She evaluated, but also shared much of her substantial knowledge of sailing in your local waters. We liked her so well we were sorry to part.” Andy L, Dec 2016.

Another client has said: “ I just wanted to say a huge thank you!  We had a phenomenal trip!  BVIs are an amazing place. Would like to especially praise Donna. She did a great job of balancing teaching my ASA 104/114 and vacation time for others on the boat.  Her energy and enthusiasm for sailing are obvious. Everybody on the boat consider this one best all time trips. Already planning the next charter”. Joe Parkey – 1/2 – 1/92020.

“Incredible week sightseeing, snorkeling, great stops for overnight. Cara’s knowledge of sailing is tremendous, answered all our questions, always made us feel safe, and was a great teacher.”

“Cara was awesome, gave us her personal cell phone number, and responded to questions happily. A pleasure to have a board”

Chris’ training will focus on safety, doing things the right way and thorough understanding of the water. While I am still a novice skipper I feel as if I know more than a lot of the skippers that I watched during the week. If you follow his instruction you too will be a better skipper. No shortcuts and you will ensure a safe happy trip for you and your family.

If you want an instructor or just a skipper ask for Chris. You will not be disappointed.

We will be back and I will recommend this charter company to my friends and family”. Patrick Anglim – January 13th 2020.

“Greg is an excellent sailor/skipper! His knowledge and explanations were fantastic” ~ Kaczmarek

“Greg and Laura are off the charts! If you are lucky enough to sail with them, you will have the sail of your dreams” ~ Hilary Cohen

 “Selwyn Maxwell was professional, friendly, sensitive to guest needs, cheerful and an excellent tour guide. He was always conscious of safety and comfort.” ~ Nattall

“Selwyn was an excellent captain, very attentive and good to work with. Highly recommend him!” ~  Stricker

“Selwyn had top-notch local knowledge and sailing experience” ~ Kelly Family

“Outstanding experience! Great local knowledge. Captain is highly experienced to handle any situation. Captain flexible with plans and showed me all the local highlights” , Yacht: Bavaria 40 Transitions, Dates: 9th to 19th December 2021. ~ Client: Diane DeGroot

“My husband and I chartered a catamaran for 9 days and arranged to have a certified ASA instructor to take ASA 101,103,104,& 114. I have to say we feel really lucky to have Brian as our instructor. He is the only local certified ASA instructor in the Grenadines…I was incredibly impressed with his knowledge and his teaching styles. We were able to complete all 4 courses and had a lot of fun in the process. I would highly recommend him as a hired Captain or Instructor. He was definitely was a huge part of what we loved about our trip!  We will be hiring Brian again for our next trip to the Grenadines.” ~ Natasha & Andi Marcher 2019

“Heiden was great – made trip super easy and fun” ~ Morris

“Heiden was fantastic, very friendly with the kids and extremely professional.” ~ Sirgue

“The family are not natural sailors so we were a bit apprehensive but we had a great trip. Heiden was very helpful and really helped with the kids. We had a great time!” ~ Langford

“We could not have been better treated in a 5 star hotel. Everything was superb!” ~ Gittins 2010

“Michael and Ellie were excellent crew and we were well looked after in every way.” ~ Harris 2012

Meet our instructors!

Update: Beginning in January 2024 we will no longer require COVID-19 vaccination for participation in any of our group courses or stateroom bookings.

2 Day Sailing Courses

Overnight live-aboard, with food included.

For those with limited time and/or seeking for a value, these courses are ideal. We offer Basic Sailing, Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Cruising (Charter Certification) and Cruising Catamaran, as well as our Docking Endorsement, mostly completed between 9AM Saturday and 5PM Sunday, with some midweek options.

• Basic Sailing (ASA 101)
• Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103)
• Bareboat Cruising (ASA 104)
• Cruising Catamaran (ASA 114)
• Docking Endorsement (ASA 118)

7-10 Day Sailing Courses

Learn while vacationing in a world-class cruising ground.

Our most popular courses, these learning vacations take you out in the islands for a week (10 day option for our Advanced Learn-n-Cruise) of sailing, exploring and learning. We offer beginning and advanced courses that take you through some of the most spectacular cruising area in North America. In the beginning course, with pre-study and a desire to learn, students can achieve Bareboat Cruising (ASA 104 Charter Certification) in just one week. We limit course size to four students (up to 6 on our catamarans) and one instructor as you live aboard beautiful yachts between 30 and 45 feet.

• Basic to Bareboat Learn-n-Cruise (ASA 101/103/104)
• Women-Only Basic to Bareboat Learn-n-Cruise (ASA 101/103/104)
• Cruising Catamaran Learn-n-Cruise (ASA 103/104/114)
• Advanced Learn-n-Cruise (ASA 105/106)
• Advanced Catamaran Learn-n-Cruise (ASA 114/105/106)

Stateroom Bookings

An opportunity to refresh and build your sailing skills.

This option is designed for those who have completed their ASA 104 certification and are looking for an opportunity to get out on the water to practice their sailing skills without needing to charter a boat themselves. Stateroom bookings often sail with one of our guided flotillas, adding a nice element of camaraderie. While not structured courses, there is a USCG captain/ASA instructor onboard and you have the option to pursue your ASA 111 Sailing Refresher Certification (stateroom bookings are designed for skills review so no other ASA certifications are available).

Private Instruction

Tailor your course to your own needs..

This option lets you tailor your course to your specific needs. We offer a private "buy out" option for most of our 2-day and 7-day courses or we can arrange for private instruction during your bareboat charter.

Tailor your course to your own needs

For those who would like private instruction, or would like to arrange their own group (often a family), this option lets you tailor the course to the specific needs of each member of your crew. Private lessons can be done on your own boat, or one of our bareboat charter vessels as part of your bareboat charter. Simply pick your dates and we’ll assist you in selecting an instructor.

Power Courses (Single or Twin)

Learn to skipper a powerboat while exploring the islands.

Learn and vacation at the same time on our liveaboard Power Learn-n-Cruise. This course covers the skills essential to skippering a 29' - 42' single engine or twin engine power yacht, including paper and electronic navigation, cruise and fuel planning, understanding vessel systems, "rules of the road", maneuvering in a marina, picking up a mooring ball and anchoring. RPBA/Recreational Power Boat Association Close Quarters Powerboat Handling certification for either single or twin engine is included in your course.

Instructor Qualification Clinics

Become an asa or rpba certified sail or power instructor.

For those experienced mariners who would like to share their love of sailing or power cruising by teaching others. In addition to a USCG Captain's License, these certification are required for all instructors who teach our courses.

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British Virgin Islands Sailing Schools

Get started:, call: (888) 454-7015, [email protected], request a quote.

• Scrub Island
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Amazing Caribbean Sailing Vacation Locations

Our location on Scrub Island and our Tortola Sailing Scho ol at The Moorings charterboat base are graduating lots of new cruising sailors and boaters these days! In the British Virgin Islands we teach US Sailing certification courses aboard Moorings 45′-50′ monohulls and catamarans, and 46′ powercats. Beautiful Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina is where you can Learn to Sail or take our popular Fast Track to Cruising® Course , earning three US Sailing certifications in a week on a monohull and four certifications on a catamaran, with live aboard and stay-ashore options!

American Airlines offers nonstop flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) to Beef Island/Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (EIS). Outside Baggage Claim at EIS, you are be greeted by a taxi driver to transport you across the parking lot to Trellis Bay where you will take Scrub Island Resort’s complimentary water taxi for approx. 20 minutes to this lovely island oasis!

If you are taking a powerboating certification course with us, take Moorings’ transportation (there is a charge) from EIS to the base in Road Town where you check-in Sunday evening and spend a peaceful first night aboard at the marina. At the end of your powerboating course, take a taxi from Moorings base back to EIS airport for your return flight home. Some students make arrangements to fly to St. Thomas, USVI, and take a ferry on to Tortola, BVI (with advanced ferry ticket). Learn more from BVI Tourist Board here .

The Official Sailing School for The Moorings and Scrub Island Resort

Since 1973, our Offshore Caribbean Sailing school has been the official BVI sailing school for The Moorings, training thousands to feel empowered through British Virgin Islands bareboat charter cruises with the world’s pre-eminent charter company. We also teach aboard Moorings Power Catamarans . Call 888-454-7015 or 239-454-1700 to book your Caribbean sailing vacation with us today!

For help with flight option to/from the British Virgin Islands contact The Moorings’ in-house flight specialists at 866-649-2003. They successfully book flights for thousands of their charter customers.

Come to our BVI Sailing School in the Sailing Capital of the World!

Take a look at this fun video from our Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted flotilla in the British Virgin Islands in 2019 and you’ll see one of The Moorings monohulls we chartered then for sailing instruction and fun!  When you learn here you can charter a cruising yacht or catamaran anywhere in the world. So give us a call today and book the most rewarding learning adventure you’ll ever experience!

Book Your BVI Adventure Now! Book Your British Virgin Islands Adventure Now!

Call 888-454-7015 or 239-454-1700

Email [email protected].

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A Learn to Sail Caribbean Vacation: Rookie to ASA Sailor in 7 Days

Inside: Planning a “learn to sail vacation” to get your ASA sailing certification? From the best Caribbean sailing schools to what a week long course is actually like, here’s every little thing you need to know.

When pressed, I cannot offer a reasonable explanation as to why my husband, Dave, and I suddenly decided we must learn how to sail.

It sounds fun? Well, sure. But so does a spa holiday.

Sailing holidays are glamorous? Obviously! (But, as it turns out, sailing classes are decidedly not.)

We’re in the market for a powerboat? Nope, that would be a good reason to take a powerboat course.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle).  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

Dave and I are indeed in the market for a boat. Ideally, a roomy powerboat to moor in Seattle’s Puget Sound area (his hometown). A floating condo, if you will, to use as a home base for our regular visits.

So, I suppose there’s just one reason learning how to sail seems like a good idea. We want to be educated buyers when we purchase our boat. Is it possible that a sailboat might be a good option for us?

How will we know unless we try it?

Why not learn how to sail in the Caribbean?

If learning how to sail sounds like fun, then surely learning how to sail in the Caribbean would be even better!

I’ve only been sailing once before. A few blissful days aboard Kokomo, a 36′ monohull, in Panama’s remote San Blas Islands.

Read More: Kokomo, Kuanidup & the Kuna Yala: The San Blas Islands, Panama

After that trip, I was definitely inspired by the sailing lifestyle. But you don’t just decide to become a sailor.

No, that would be too easy.

Learning to sail involves intense studying and many skills to master. Surely it takes months, even years…right?

Not necessarily. But more on that in a moment.

The next step, finding a sailing school!

How to choose the best Caribbean sailing school

As luck would have it, the Caribbean has several wonderful sailing schools. From the British Virgin Islands to the Grenadines, there’s a Caribbean sailing school to suit every salty sailor from rookies (like us) to experienced sailors looking to expand their knowledge.

Most Caribbean sailing schools offer everything from basic sailing courses to intense liveaboard multi-course options at a wide range of prices.

This brings me to the Barefoot Offshore Sailing School (BOSS) .

Before settling on Barefoot, we carefully researched half a dozen sailing schools scattered across the Caribbean. Most are based in the Virgin Islands and pretty expensive (approximately $3-4k per person for a week-long course).

While learning how to sail is important to us, $6,000-$8,000 for a week in the Caribbean seems a little steep. When we find Barefoot, however, we discover that the school has all of the same great reviews as the other schools – for nearly half the price.

And we have a winner!

Our ASA Sailing Course Learning Plan

Barefoot offers a number of American Sailing Association (ASA) liveaboard courses.

Being the overachievers that we are, we opt for the most ambitious. It’s a 7-day, 6-night adventure with the opportunity to complete four ASA courses:

• ASA 101 – Basic Keelboat
• ASA 103 – Basic Coastal Cruising
• ASA 104 – Bareboat Cruising Made Easy (you must complete this course to charter a sailboat)
• ASA 114 – Catamaran Cruising (specific to catamarans and powerboats – the types of boats we actually plan to buy)

Note: Because I know it’s bugging you, as it did me: there is no ASA 102 course, it’s an older course that was retired.

The most popular week-long course covers just 101 to 104. But we decide adding the catamaran course will be beneficial for additional practice with powerboats. Plus, it will give us more options if we decide to attempt a holiday sailing charter someday.

Now, most experienced sailors will tell you that a monohull is the only true way to experience sailing in its purest form. And that’s probably true. However, catamarans can be far more comfortable from a stability and living space standpoint than a monohull sailboat.

And I’m just going to say it. Dave and I are built for comfort. Not a 25-degree heel while underway.

What are the best months to sail the Caribbean?

Obviously, when planning a sailing course in the Caribbean, you’ll want to avoid the Atlantic hurricane season months of June 1st to November 30th.

The best sailing conditions in the Caribbean are from December to April. During these months, you’ll have the best chance for sunny skies and calm seas. Though, as we later discover, calm seas are no guarantee!

We chose the month of February for our Caribbean “ learn to sail ” vacation.

Learning How to Sail: The Homework

But it’s not long before we realize that this Caribbean vacation won’t be like any of our previous tropical holidays.

This one comes with homework…and lots of it!

We book our February course in September and immediately get online to order the textbooks for ASA 101, ASA 103, ASA 104 and ASA 114.

When they arrive, they are alarmingly thick.

We have the best intentions to begin studying immediately. Truly, we do.

We’ll be totally prepared! We will read these books cover to cover! We’ll quiz each other on nautical terms and practice tying knots!

We’ll be the best students they’ve ever seen!

Forget where the heck we put those books until 3 months later. Give or take.

Time for a reality check

As the holidays roll around, we dust off the ole’ “ learning to sail ” ASA textbooks and smugly begin reading the first book. We still have two months to prepare. Easy peasy!

But the ASA 101 book is like learning another language.

We quickly realize that four courses in one week for two people who have NEVER sailed is ridiculously ambitious. Barefoot recommends that new sailors take every opportunity to get out on the water before they arrive in the Caribbean for their live-aboard sailing course.

We need to find a way to get out on the water STAT. And maybe even knock out ASA 101 somewhere before we go. Just to take some pressure off the whole experience.

Enter, ASA 101 in sunny San Diego…

As the end of the year approaches we also realize we need some miles in our Delta accounts. Why take a sailing course on a freezing cold lake in Atlanta when you can fly to San Diego and do it there?

So obviously, that’s what we do! (Honestly, it’s a no-brainer.)

We find a school called Harbor Sailboats in San Diego and sign up for a weekend ASA 101 course. It turns out to be a wonderful two days of sailing time in the San Diego Bay with a reasonable amount of classroom time thrown in for good measure.

The additional experience proves invaluable to our success two months later.

The ASA 101 written test is 100 questions and it is no joke! We’re thankful that we studied as much as we did.

With the first course out of the way, our new love for sailing is blossoming. We’re feeling a lot better about our chances in St. Vincent and looking forward to expanding our sailing knowledge on a bigger sailboat in turquoise Caribbean seas.

Next stop, the Caribbean!

Located between St. Lucia and Grenada in the southern Caribbean Sea, the multi-island nation of St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) is comprised of 32 islands and cays spanning 45 miles.

Of those 32 islands, only 8 are populated.

The Grenadines may be one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets for sailors (ok, to be honest, they’re no secret these days!). Most charter holiday seekers flock to the US and the British Virgin Islands for their turquoise waters and closely-grouped abundance of picture-perfect islands.

But the Grenadines offer all the same beauty at a more affordable price.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

The largest of the islands is St. Vincent. Home to the majority of SVG’s population of 110,000, it’s also the home base for the island’s booming yacht charter industry.

Popular destinations for sailors include the islands of Bequia, Union, Cannouan, the Tobago Cays, and Mayreau. The Grenadines are also well-known for a handful of exclusive private island resorts on Mustique, Petit St. Vincent, and the luxe Palm Island Resort .

But there will be no private island resorts for us on this trip. We are staring down the barrel of a child-sized cabin for two, a limited water supply, and a hand-pump toilet.

Sorry…ahem, I mean, a glamorous, Caribbean sailing holiday!

Arrival in St. Vincent

After a quick 20-minute flight from St. Lucia (where we spent a few days on the way), we are welcomed at St. Vincent’s gleaming new airport. It seems decades ahead of the one we just left behind in Castries.

Read More: Giving St. Lucia a Second Chance

We breeze through Immigration and Customs and our driver (sent by the Barefoot Sailing School) is waiting for us as we exit baggage claim.

For our first two nights on the island, we will stay at the Barefoot Suites , the company’s small hotel above the charter base. It’s nothing fancy but our room does have a lovely view over the picturesque Blue Lagoon. And it’s the perfect place to observe the boats coming and going from the Barefoot dock each day.

As we engage in some vigorous last-minute studying from our terrace, we watch the monohulls and cats come and go from the docks.

We see many of Barefoot’s fleet arrive back after a week at sea. Some carrying charter guests and others, presumably, sailing students.

Some people getting off the boats appear freshly showered, relaxed, tanned, and well-dressed. While others are somewhat bedraggled and alarmingly grateful to be back on dry land.

Later, with the benefit of hindsight, I realize the clean, refreshed sailors were likely charter guests. While those looking like they were just rescued by the Coast Guard were almost definitely sailing students.

Learning How to Sail, Day 1 – St. Vincent to Bequia

The next morning, we arrive at the restaurant eager to meet our instructor and fellow students. We are full of nervous energy for the week to come.

Have we studied enough? Will we be seasick? Can we actually pass all of these ASA courses in a week? Will there be a hairdryer? (Spoiler alert, no.)

We first meet our instructor, Canadian-based Captain Joel.

Our fellow students for the week are Nick and Alyssa, a lovely couple from London, also totally new to sailing.

During the course of the week, Alyssa reveals that Nick actually booked the trip and later presented her with textbooks for her upcoming “ Caribbean sailing holiday.” Alyssa is a much better sport than I probably would have been in her shoes. She also turns out to be a keen student. As does Nick.

First up, the ASA 101 test

The first order of business before departing the charter base is to take the ASA 101 written exam.

BAM! A test, right out of the gate.

At this point, Dave and I are incredibly grateful that we’ve already passed this test. We sit comfortably by while our new friends from London ace it pretty quickly (they have clearly done the advanced studying!).

Introducing…Isaphil

We are next introduced to our home for the next 7 days, Isaphil – a 38’ Lagoon catamaran with 3 cabins and 1½ heads (that’s boat talk for bathrooms).

I’m pleased to discover Isaphil is surprisingly roomy. Most of her modern conveniences are powered by batteries and twin diesel engines. No air conditioning, of course, but with small fans in the cabins and the hatches left open, the Caribbean breezes will suffice.

We load our provisions for the week (selected online in advance) and unpack our small bags in our cabins.

Then, it’s time to prepare for departure.

Slipping the lines…here goes nothing

Our first sail is relatively short.

From Blue Lagoon, St Vincent we cross the Bequia Channel to the island of Bequia (pronounced bek-way), the sail takes just two and a half hours.

The first sail is terrific. Dave and I are easily able to adapt the basic sailing skills we learned in San Diego, like tacking and jibing, to the larger catamaran.

Dave is truly in his element and I start to believe that learning to sail might actually be fun! Especially as we cruise into our first picturesque anchorage in Bequia just before sunset.

Anchoring 101

We make our way to Joel’s favorite anchorage spot (which he indicated earlier on a map) and begin our first attempt at anchoring.

It is somewhat of a disaster.

I’m still not sure exactly why. Too many boats nearby? Not enough swing room (another fancy nautical term)? Too many rookie sailors trying to be helpful?

Who can say?

Most likely, a combination of all of the above. We try several times unsuccessfully before Joel finally suggests we give up and rent a nearby mooring ball for the night.

Anchoring 101 Mooring Ball 101

To top it off, we manage to fumble the boat hook into the drink while trying to pick up the mooring ball. It is not a stellar first effort and I have no doubt Joel is now wondering what he’s in for this week.

In other news, we need a new boat hook.

3 Cheers for Anchor Beers, the best part of a sailing holiday

Eventually, Joel is able to secure us to the mooring ball and we all experience a new favorite ritual…anchor beers!

Since this is a sailing class, not a sailing vacation, no drinking is allowed during the day while we’re underway.

However, the dropping of the anchor each evening signifies it’s time to sit back, enjoy the sunset and crack open the adult beverage of your choice.

Unfortunately, by now the sunset has long since passed.

Silver lining? The anchor beers are extra cold.

By now, we are too tired to pile in the dinghy and head ashore for dinner. So we utilize our on-board provisions and combined brainpower to throw together a surprisingly tasty pasta for dinner.

Learning How to Sail, Day 2 – Bequia to Mayreau

The next morning, we are up with the sun (as we will be every day) to head ashore and see some of Bequia.

We also need to shop for a few more things – for example, a new boat hook – before departure.

Bequia is a cute little town. We pick up ice, a few additional provisions, and more adult beverages at the market. Because, after last night, all indications are pointing to the need for increased amounts of adult beverages to survive this week!

Suitably provisioned, we stop by the lone marine store for the boat hook. Then we stroll Bequia’s quaint, colorful waterfront for a bit before returning to Isaphil.

Plotting a course & readying the boat

Today is the longest of our sailing days, five hours at sea from Bequia to Mayreau.

We begin with navigation and Joel teaches us how to plan out our departure, sailing course, and arrival at the next anchorage.

I won’t bore you with the details but let’s just say this part of learning how to sail is far more difficult than I imagined. It involves navigational charts, weather forecasts, tide charts, and more math than the average adult without a smartphone is likely comfortable with.

Satisfied that we have a good course planned out, we begin our pre-departure checks.

Engine checks, bilge pump checks, PFD’s (personal flotation devices) on, sunscreen on, hats, gloves. There is an entire routine to be completed prior to raising the anchor each day.

Wait, maybe this will be a sailing vacation!

By 10:00am we are finally underway and it is a beautiful Caribbean day despite rough seas.

The highlight of the day is meeting up with a pod of dolphins who swim playfully alongside us for nearly half an hour. It is one of the few moments of the week we all actually feel like we are on vacation.

In fact, Joel even takes the helm and orders us all up to the bow to go “ be on vacation and play with the dolphins” for a bit.

Nope, maybe not.

But unfortunately the fun doesn’t last.

The sail starts out fine but after an hour or two of rough seas and 40-knot winds, none of us (except Joel and Dave) are feeling great.

But I am definitely feeling the worst of the bunch. In fact, by hour two at sea, I’m feeling downright lousy.

I am the designated navigator for the first part of the day which means continually going into the salon to track our progress on the chart. Every time I go below deck I feel worse. And by the middle of the day, I am miserable.

Seasickness sucks

I haven’t been seasick since I was a kid. And, to be honest, I thought I was invincible.

Boy, was I wrong.

Not too long ago I cruised through the Drake Passage (considered the world’s roughest sea crossing) twice going to and from Antarctica. I spent most of the voyage with a glass of champagne in one hand while pointing out whales with the other and never broke a sweat.

Read More: Expedition Antarctica: Why it’s Worth Every Penny

But this 5-hour crossing between Caribbean islands really does me in.

Sitting on the deck and staring at the horizon (which usually works) doesn’t help at all. Eventually, I end up down in our cabin in bed for an hour or two, which ironically does help tremendously.

By the time we arrive in Mayreau I am feeling almost human again.

Anchored, at last

We successfully anchor for the first time, hooray! And it’s just in time to watch a marvelous sunset.

Anchor beers for everyone!

Since the restaurant options are limited at our anchorage, Joel suggests we grill chicken (included with our provisions) for dinner. After a very long day, we all agree.

After dinner, Joel has another theory lesson for us (a nightly routine). Eventually, we all fall into bed completely spent by 9:30pm.

Caribbean Sailing Course, Day 3 – Mayreau to Tobago Cays

On our third day of sailing lessons, we awake to a gorgeous rainbow. After yesterday’s queasiness, I’m relieved that today’s sail is a short one, just 2-3 hours.

Today, our course is set for the most popular hot spot in the Grenadines, the Tobago Cays.

Sailing the Incredible Tobago Cays

The Tobago Cays are five tiny islets famed for their white sand beaches and spectacular coral reef.

These uninhabited islands comprise a national park and are incredibly popular with sailors. The plan for the day is to get the coursework and sailing lessons out of the way early. Then, we can enjoy some quality time snorkeling when we arrive in the spectacular Tobago Cays.

The other big activity in the Tobago Cays is the nightly lobster BBQ held on shore.

Several local entrepreneurs have developed quite an operation where they catch fresh fish and lobster in the surrounding waters and grill it up ashore each night for the dozens of sailboats anchored nearby.

Joel mentioned the lobster BBQ to us last night so we’re all excited for a lobster dinner on the island tonight. It’ll be nice to have a night off from the cramped onboard galley.

He calls ahead to his favorite fisherman, Captain Neil, and makes a reservation for the 5 of us. When we arrive that afternoon Captain Neil even brings by the day’s catch for our approval (and for a photo op).

The sail is better this time. Short enough that no one suffers too much discomfort, despite the rough seas. We arrive at our anchorage around 3:00pm and drop anchor.

There is plenty of time left for snorkeling. Unfortunately, a rain shower blows through just as we crack open our anchor beers.

A lobster BBQ ashore in the Tobago Cays

As the sun sets, we board the dinghy and head ashore to join about 50 other cruisers for dinner.

It’s quite a set-up. Picnic tables line the beach with bistro lights strung overhead and amazing smells waft up from the BBQ huts nearby. It is cruiser heaven.

Rum punches are served all-around and the atmosphere is festive as we await our scrumptious crustaceans.

We are joined at our table by the crew of a fellow Barefoot sailboat with an instructor and two students aboard.

Before we know it, the most incredible trays of lobster, seafood, and side dishes are placed before us. It is quite possibly the largest lobster I have ever had in my life and it is delectable!

The entire meal is wonderful and it is probably our favorite night of the entire trip. For an hour or two, it’s a welcome break from the coursework and truly feels like a vacation!

Becoming a Sailor, Day 4 – Tobago Cays to Union Island (Valentine’s Day!)

Day four starts early with a little bit of vacation time squeezed in before we move on to the business of the day.

Since we are anchored in the gorgeous Tobago Cays, it’s time to go for a snorkel and see some turtles!

And also to take a little hike on the island to see the iguanas.

We pile into the dinghy with our snorkel gear and motor over to the roped-off swimming area. There, we tie off the dinghy and dive in in search of turtles.

The water is rough (as it has been all week) and the current is strong. Dave and I don’t last long before swimming to shore to enjoy the beach. Nick, Alyssa, and Joel persist and are rewarded with a few turtle sightings.

After swimming a bit longer, everyone reconvenes on the beach to hike up the hill and see the iguanas and the island’s scenic viewpoints.

The view of the islands in the sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea is truly incredible. It even reminds me of some of my favorite South Pacific spots (minus the overwater bungalows!).

Read More: Forget Bora Bora: 3 Reasons Moorea is the Best of Tahiti

I just wish we had more time to enjoy it. But it’s time to head back to the boat, get cleaned up, and begin sailing school for the day.

Before we depart, Captian Neil stops by to drop off a tuna he caught for us that morning (at Joel’s request). He slices it up into steaks and we store it in the fridge to save for dinner tomorrow night.

Sailing to Union Island

Today, our destination is the anchorage of Clifton on Union Island.

Like most days, we have two to three hours of sailing ahead. And like most days, the winds are strong and the seas are rolling. Nothing left unsecured on a shelf in the cabins below is safe.

For this stop, Joel has a trick up his sleeve.

We are in need of a refill on our freshwater tanks. Joel knows that if you are the last customer of the day on Lambi’s water dock in Clifton you can moor there overnight free of charge if you eat at their restaurant.

Since the restaurant has a steel drum band and it’s Valentine’s Day, that sounds like a great plan to all of us.

Not to mention the luxury of being tied up to a dock overnight and simply stepping on and off the boat at our leisure. The daily dinghy transfer is gradually losing its novelty. Plus, the additional boat stability provided by dock versus anchor will be a welcome change.

After another rough sail and a few new skills tests, we arrive in Clifton at 2:00pm. It’s still too early to hit the water dock and be the last customer. So we find a suitable temporary anchorage and head into town to explore.

The town of Clifton

The town of Clifton is my favorite of the islands we visit.

The streets are lined with pastel-colored shops, cafes and vegetable stands. We wander for a bit before settling in at Joel’s recommended stop – the Snack Shack – for ice cream and wifi.

At 4:00pm we head back to the boat and cruise up to the water dock just before closing at 5:00pm. We are indeed the last customer of the day, so we tie off our mooring lines and then Joel squeezes in one more theory lesson before dinner.

A romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at Lambi’s is thoroughly enjoyed by two happy couples plus one Joel (sorry, Joel!).

Learning to Sail, Day 5 – Union Island to Cannouan

The next morning, at Joel’s urging, we all feel ready to take on the ASA 103 written test before setting sail for Cannouan.

Since today’s sail is another short one (just 2 ½ hours) we have a little extra time to spare in Clifton. So, for the only time all week, we sleep in slightly past 7:00am.

Oh, the luxury!

By 11:00am, we have all successfully passed the 103 written test and are feeling a little more confident. We might make it through this week after all!

Today’s sail begins our journey back toward St. Vincent.

Joel decides to break up the return voyage with an overnight stop in Cannouan. This way we won’t have another 5-hour sailing day to endure (bless you, Joel).

The sail to Cannouan is rough but not nearly as bad as Day 2. However, the toughest part of the day is still ahead, man overboard drills.

Man Overboard! (thankfully, not really)

Joel saves the fun of man-overboard drills until we arrive in the calmer waters of our anchorage at Cannouan.

While arguably the most important skill we will master during our week at sea (this one is, after all, life or death), this technique proves to be a challenge for everyone.

We are tested first on picking up a man-overboard under power. For our skills test, the man overboard in question is portrayed by a life vest tied to two fenders we nickname Carl.

We grow to hate Carl. And I’m pretty sure he knew it based on the number of times we ran him over.

After a couple of tries, we all manage to successfully maneuver the boat into position to rescue Carl without coaching from Joel. Power test passed!

Next, Joel has us attempt the same skill under sail. The maneuver under sail is quite a bit more intricate. We all struggle with it but each manage to execute the maneuver at least once. (I choose not to dwell on how many times we may have executed Carl in the process).

Skills test complete, we head into the anchorage and pick up a mooring ball for the night.

Anchor beers for all!

None for Carl.

But enough about Carl

That night we cook dinner on board, grilling up the delicious tuna caught by Captain Neil yesterday. It is wonderful and we are, again, exhausted.  

I honestly don’t think any of us stay up past 9:00pm on any night of this trip. More often, we are out cold not long after sundown.

Caribbean Sailing Course, Day 6 – Cannouan to Bequia

Our final full day at sea begins like all the others – breakfast cooking, breakfast cleaning, engine checks, bilge checks, PFD’s, sunscreen, gloves, etc.

By this point, it is becoming a familiar routine and we are all in sync and rotating responsibilities with seamless efficiency.

We knock out the morning routine quickly and set about charting our course for the day. We’re headed back to our first stop, Bequia, taking turns being skipper along the way.

Due to strong headwinds, we motor-sail most of the way (a combination of using the sails while also running the engines on low RPMs to increase our speed). We take turns successfully completing our skipper duties and I’m up last.

Engine failure…

A few minutes into my skipper reign, I am drunk with power and have just ordered up a “ round of cookies for everyone!” from my first mate, Joel. But just as I’m settling into a groove, the port engine sputters and takes its last breath.

Figures this would happen on my watch.

Thanks to the sails and the starboard engine we are still underway and progressing nicely. But the lack of an engine will impact our ability to maneuver once we reach our anchorage.

Since we don’t need the engines for the final testing of our man overboard drills under sail, we are still able to complete that testing once we reach the calmer waters of Bequia.

It takes everyone several tries (and Carl takes a beating) but eventually, we all manage to rescue Carl under sail without any instruction from Joel.

No engine, no problem

Once we complete our final skills test, Joel takes over the helm as we approach Bequia on a single engine. Instead of heading for the popular anchorage near town, he continues down the coast where there are fewer boats and we’ll have more room to maneuver.

We attempt to anchor but then discover we also have an issue with the windlass (used to raise and lower the anchor at the push of a button). So we opt for a mooring ball instead.

Once we are secured, Joel opens the engine hatch and quickly sets about trying to diagnose the engine problem. Dave dutifully hands him tools with one hand, while sipping his recently acquired anchor beer with the other.

I mix myself a fruity rum cocktail (because anchor beers aren’t just about beer) and Nick and Alyssa opt for a refreshing swim.

How to diagnose engine failure…or not

I will paraphrase the next hour for you as I remember it:

Joel: It could be the do-hickey (insert actual diesel engine part here). Let me check that.

Dave: Maybe we’re out of gas.

Joel: It could also be the thing-a-ma-bob  (I really hope diesel engine parts are not on the next test).  Let me try this.

Dave: Could we be out of gas?

Joel: It’s not this, and it’s not that. Let me radio into the charter base and see what they suggest.

Dave: I think we might be out of gas.

Long story short….we were out of gas.

In Joel’s defense…

He was certain that the charter base had fully fueled the boat before departure. And we have definitely not blown through an entire tank with our limited engine use.

Apparently, diesel fuel gauges are notoriously unreliable (filing that little tidbit away for future reference).

Thankfully, the charter base gives Joel the OK to refuel. The other option is to rely only on sails for the trip back home in a strong headwind tomorrow morning. That doesn’t seem like a great option to me.

He radios ashore and miraculously a cute little fuel boat pulls right up alongside us within 30 minutes.

$180 US dollars later, we are back in business!

Last night dinner in Bequia

Later, we all take turns in Isaphil’s lone shower to clean up for our final dinner ashore.

Joel gives us several options for our last meal in the Grenadines and we choose the Fig Tree restaurant. Mostly because he promised us a string band and dancing.

It’s another wonderful dinner further enhanced by one last postcard-worthy sunset. And we all learn that Joel has some mad dance skills.

It’s a lovely way to end the trip.

However, we are all still dreading the final two written tests tomorrow so we head for bed pretty early.

Learning How to Sail, Day 7 – Back to St. Vincent

The sail back to St. Vincent today is short but straight upwind so it’s slow going.

What could have been less than an hour under power takes nearly 3 hours by power-sailing. By the time we make it back to Barefoot’s home base, we are all relieved to be off the boat for good.

We also look remarkably similar to the group I saw last week from our balcony and wondered if they’d been lost at sea. Mystery solved.

I can’t begin to explain just how much information we absorbed over the course of this past week. My brain is spinning by the time we arrive back in St. Vincent.

But we aren’t done just yet.

Sailing School Final Exams

Now it’s time to lug our suitcases up the hill to the restaurant and tackle the written tests for ASA 104 and ASA 114.

Nick, Alyssa, Dave, and I settle in at a table in the restaurant. After 6 days at sea, I swear this place is rocking. We order lunch and get to work diligently on the written exams.

Two hours later we are finished. ASA 104 was tough but ASA 114 was fairly easy. We celebrate our success with a well-deserved round of cocktails. Make it a double.

Cheers, sailors!

It feels amazing to finally be done and it feels even better when Joel grades our tests and we all pass with flying colors.

All the hard work was actually worth it.

So, there you have it! Four newly minted sailors, at your service.

And one incredibly exhausting vacation.

I can see now why Joel says some people don’t pass all of the courses on the week-long liveaboard. You really have to be committed to succeed.

Without a significant amount of studying in advance, it’s nearly impossible to absorb it all in a single week.

The Blue Lagoon Resort

Our sailing course may be over, but we’re not done with St. Vincent just yet. In fact, the best is yet to come.

For the next two nights, we’ll continue the graduation celebration just down the road at the lovely Blue Lagoon Resort . The nice folks at Barefoot are even kind enough to give us a lift over (along with Nick and Alyssa to the hotel where they’re staying tonight).

We say our goodbyes and exchange contact info with Nick and Alyssa. Then we head inside the resort to check in.

When we get to the room, and I don’t think I’m overstating this, it is quite possibly the most wonderful hotel room we’ve ever seen.

(Upon further review, it is honestly just a nice, standard hotel room. But after a week of living on a catamaran, it seems like the freaking Taj Mahal.)

Air conditioning? Yes!

A king-sized bed? You got it!

Unlimited hot showers? But, o f course!

An abundance of functional electrical outlets? Duh!

Wait, even a hairdryer? Stop. Do not toy with my emotions. How else could one reasonably be expected to dry one’s hair?

(I haven’t seen a hairdryer since we arrived in the Caribbean and I may or may not have kissed this one while Dave was looking the other way.)

Lazy days on St. Vincent

We have the best of intentions to spend our last few days exploring the beautiful island of St. Vincent. However, after 5 minutes in this room, we decide we are not leaving it for the next two days.

We even have a beautiful beachfront view from our terrace. Oh, the luxuries!

We take long hot showers and jovially inspect our disturbing assortment of mystery bruises (thank you rough seas!). Later, we lounge languidly in fluffy robes and crank up the AC while simultaneously flipping channels on the TV.

We connect every device we own to the wifi. Just because we can.

It is glorious.

The search for sustenance

But eventually, we realize the hotel doesn’t have room service. So we at least have to leave the room for provisions (that’s sailor talk for food).

Too tired for a real dinner, we settle in at the bar for sunset cocktails and appetizers.

The Blue Lagoon Resort is also a marina and the home base for two other charter companies. It’s fun to see all the boats and watch the charter guests come and go.

Soon we may be two of those charter guests heading off into the sunset somewhere around the world!

The next day we sleep in and relax by the pool (which we have all to ourselves). We refuse to read a single thing or tie even one knot.

And God help Carl if someone throws him overboard again. He’s on his own.

It’s bliss.

We watch one last incredible sunset tonight and finally start to feel like this is a vacation!

So, at this point, you might be wondering…

Is a Caribbean sailing school the best way to learn how to sail?

There’s no doubt that a 7-day liveaboard sailing course is the most intensive way to gain an abundance of sailing knowledge in a short amount of time. And the glittering Caribbean certainly beats the pants off any classroom setting.

But be prepared for the work involved if you want to succeed.

The bottom line: If you want to learn how to sail, by all means, learn how to sail. It’s more than just a terrific pastime, it can become a way of life.

Just don’t mistake a “ learn to sail course ” for a vacation.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of marvelous moments interwoven into our grueling week. Sailing with dolphins, nightly sunset anchor beers, and one pretty incredible lobster dinner.

And even the nights we had dinner on the boat were fun. I could close my eyes and picture cooking a romantic dinner for two on our own sailboat someday after anchoring in an exotic locale. Or island hopping around the Caribbean’s best islands.

Read More: 10 Best Caribbean Islands to Visit Right Now (& Why You’ll Love Them!)

But, all in all, learning to sail while completing four intensive ASA sailing courses in a single week is far more work than play.

As it should be. There’s a LOT to learn.

Over the course of the week, Joel continuously emphasized the importance of safety on the water. And those man overboard drills, while we hated them, could save a life someday (perhaps our own).

Looking back, I would do it all over again. There’s no better way to learn to sail than to get out there and just do it.

Day after day, for an entire week.

The next chapter…

By the time our course is complete, we are also able to celebrate the next chapter in our boating life. Our offer to buy the 46’ powerboat we looked at before arriving in the Caribbean was accepted!

We close as soon as we get home.

So, very soon we will officially be boat owners!

And though it’s not a sailboat, thanks to these sailing courses we are far more knowledgeable about boats in general. And feeling much more comfortable about our new, floating, second home.

Big thanks to the Barefoot Offshore Sailing School, our excellent instructor Joel and fellow students, Alyssa and Nick. This has certainly been a week we will never forget.

Here’s to years of boating adventures in our future.

Next time with a lot less homework and a lot more anchor beers!

20 Comments

I rarely take the time to read blog posts anymore but this was so interesting, funny, and well-written I stayed for the whole thing. Loved all the details and the pictures. As someone looking to go on a similar adventure this was super helpful!

Thanks, Craig! It was definitely an adventure but I would happily recommend the experience to anyone who wants to learn how to sail.

Hi Marissa and Happy New Year 2022! (What a great article written here, I was laughing most of the reading time).

Currently, I am enrolled in a March course and already paid the deposit. Just wanted to know what are the SVG restrictions, in order to get to Saint Vincent. Are the courses still ongoing? Any suggestions on what to pack?

Stay safe and hope to see you all soon! Irvin

Thanks for reading, I’m so glad the post was helpful! I would check with the folks at Barefoot Sailing School directly regarding entry requirement for SVG and the status of courses. Things change so frequently these days with Covid that it’s hard for me to keep up! They’ll have the most current and accurate information. As far as packing, I would recommend that you pack as light as possible. And a duffel bag is best rather than a traditional rolling suitcase since you can fold it up once you unpack in your cabin. There isn’t much space on the boat for a suitcase. Sunscreen, hats, sailing gloves, and lightweight clothing are all good things to pack. Hope you enjoy your course, it’s definitely a challenging but very rewarding experience!

Best – Jenny

Thanks so much for such a detailed review! It was very helpful! My boyfriend and I just booked this course for March 2022. We currently live on our power boat in Rhode Island and have been thinking of switching to the catamaran lifestyle and moving to warmer waters. I think we will be staying in the area for 3 nights after our course (mostly because of limited return flight option but also to relax and explore). I was wondering if you had any recommendations of where to stay either on Saint Vincent or over on Bequia (open to other islands with ferry service as well). Looking for something nice but reasonable maybe $200-$300 per night, and will definitely need a hair dryer!! ☺️

Hi Nicole! Thanks for reading, I’m so glad it was helpful. For hotels, we did like the Blue Lagoon Resort ( https://www.booking.com/hotel/vc/blue-lagoon-and-marina-ltd.en.html?aid=848545&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2 ) where we stayed after the course. It was pretty affordable, around $150/night. For Bequia, try Sugar Reef Bequia ( https://www.booking.com/hotel/vc/sugar-reef.en.html?aid=848545&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2 ), it’s an adults only property with gorgeous water views and it’s $200-300 a night. Honestly, either will feel like the Taj Mahal after a week on a catamaran, ha!! Enjoy the course, I’m sure you will love it!

What a Wonderful and fun article to read. Loved your writing and I was able to picture mysel in one of these courses. I’ve been in the powerboats for 30+ years but, Sailing is Sailing!!! Currently, I am planning to take them soon and Thanks to your stories, I will be doing it sooner than expected. So, see you in the waters, Sailors! God Bless you All!!!

Thanks so much, Irvin! Good luck with your sailing courses, it’s quite an adventure!

A lovely post. Thank you for sharing your adventures! We loved having you join the school and hope to see you back in the islands again sometime! Congratulations on your new boat! I am sure you are both confident and competent boat captains now. Philip, Marissa and the Barefoot team and family.

Thanks for the article. Laughed out loud at most of the posts and now excited about the adventure. We are taking this class in April-June timeframe, whenever we settle on a date, with Covid, etc. The study books arrived today! We are considering taking the 101, in advance, as you suggested. Please contact me on what we can do beforehand, what to pack, not pack, etc., to make the trip a success.

Hi Lynn! It’s definitely a plus that you’ll have lots of time to study before you go. I wish we had studied more, it would have been a lot less stressful! You’ll want to pack as light as you can and try to use just a duffle bag since there’s very little room for storage on the boat. Bring anything you might need for seasickness, we had a few rough days out there (our captain had some ginger which helped me). If you can do 101 in advance it’s a huge help. And buy some line to practice knots before you go. Just having all the terminology down and not having to practice knots as you go will make the whole experience easier and more fun. I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t been so stressed about the coursework! With that said, they do a great job and the Grenadines are incredibly beautiful to explore. I hope you guys have a wonderful time!

Thank you for this awesome blog! How ironic, that we are also from Seattle….just sold our Bayliner 4087 and are looking to take this course this October. This was very helpful and we appreciate your insight! ~ Scott and Ally

Hi Ally, glad it was helpful! Such a small world. We are actually getting ready to sell our 3988 in Bremerton. We love it so much but with COVID now we haven’t been able to get out there in months so sadly it’s just been sitting empty. It’s such a great boat I feel like someone should get to use it so we decided to list it. Plus my husband now has his heart set on a future catamaran purchase, ha! Good luck with the course, it’s definitely a one-of-a-kind experience!

Thank you for reporting on your adventure. I have wanted to do this for years and now have a better idea what to expect…guess I better do the homework prior. Thanks again Mark Charlotte. NC

You’re welcome, Mark! Yes, the more you study in advance, the more you will enjoy the experience. (I wish I had studied more!) Hope you have a great time!

Thank you for writing about your experience. It’s very helpful to know what to expect. I was wondering when did you take this course? What month and year? Thanks.

You’re so welcome, Liz! We took the course in February of 2017. It was definitely intense but we learned a lot. It helps a ton if you read the workbooks and study a lot in advance. I wish I had studied more than I did before we left. Good luck, hope you enjoy it!!

This trip looks so epic! Such a beautiful part of the world. You are so lucky having the opportunity to explore this beautiful places! Amazing captures! Awesome post.. Thank you so much for sharing this post!

Its really amazing post for travelers with fabulous pictures. It seems interesting as well as excellent. Really want to visit this place in future. Great article. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Wow! Some absolutely stunning pictures!

Comments are closed.

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Primorsky krai (Primorye) is located in the south of the Far East. It is bordered by in the north, China in the west, North Korea in the south-west, and is washed by the Japan Sea in the south and east. The maximum extent of the region makes about 900 km. The greatest width is about 280 km. The total length of the region's borders makes 3000 km including about 1500 km of sea borders. The central and eastern parts of the region are covered by Sikhote-Alin Mountains. Ussuri and Prikhankai lowlands lie in the west. The spurs of the Manchurian-Korean Mountains spread along the southern borders with China. The highest peak of the region is 1933 m Anik Mountain located in the north-east of the region, near the border with Khabarovsk Krai. Among many attractions of this region is the Pacific coast and the striking beauty of its landscapes deserves special attention.  Vladivostok (founded in 1860, population 605,049 in 2019) 165,900 km (64,100 sq mi) in total1,913,037 in 2018, there are more than 160 ethnic groups living in Primorye. 92.5% of inhabitants are Russians, 2.8% Ukrainians, 1% Koreans, 0.2% Chinese, others 1.5%. The strong influence of the ocean, as well as the fact that Primorye is located in a place where the world biggest ocean meets the world largest continent, in general, provide a specific kind of weather. The climate of Primorye is temperate monsoon. Spring is long, often windy and cloudy. Summer and autumn in the region come late, due to the influence of the ocean. Winter is cold for such low latitudes, due to the influence of the winter monsoon which brings the cold air from the depths of the continent. The main peculiarity - lots of precipitation and fog in summer. Summer is the period of typhoons. The average temperature in July is about plus 17-21 degrees Celsius, in January - minus 8-23 degrees Celsius. The first people settled in the region more than 30 thousand years ago. According to ancient legends, the coastal line was densely inhabited. In the Middle Ages, there were three empires on the territory of Primorye, which successively replaced each other: Bohai (698-926), Jin (1115-1234), Eastern Xia (1215-1233). an area of 390,184 hectares (4,016 km²) and 2,900 hectares offshore the northern part of Primorsky Krai The Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve was founded in 1935. The reserve was originally established to protect sable populations that were on the verge of extinction. About 97% of the territory of the reserve is occupied by forests, the main wealth of which is Korean cedar. Sable, Himalayan and brown bears, the Amur tiger and lynx get along well on one territory. Spotted seals live on the reserved coast of the Sea of Japan. The reserve is included in the system of international biosphere reserves and in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2015, the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, the only one in Russia and the second in the world, received a CATS certificate proving the importance of this territory for the preservation of the rarest cat on the planet - the Amur tiger. 280,000 hectares    the southwest region of Primorye (the Khasansky, Nadezdinsky, Ussuriysky districts) The southwest region of Primorye is a unique area in terms of biodiversity: it is home to bears ungulates, lynx, and the Far Eastern forest cat (or Amur leopard cat). Here, you can also find ancient relic plants as well as species of tropical fauna. Yet, the most important animal here is the leopard. The distribution of the Far Eastern Leopards decreased dramatically over the past two decades, but population of this species reached its critically low level and estimates 30 individuals in the southwest of Primorsky krai. The main purpose is to protect and restore the population of the Far Eastern leopard for that the park covers all the territories where a rare animal lives, and supports leopards with a special regime that helps them to survive. The first ecological tunnel in Russia, Narvinsky, is located on the territory of the national park. This facility was built specifically for the safety of wild animals: migrating from one part of the national park to another, deer and leopards can cross the track on top without leaving the roadway. The flora of the national park is very rich - more than 1,600 species of plants and about 2,000 species of fungi. For such a small area, these are great numbers. And if we take into account the fact that there is a considerable number of relict plant forms in the park, its value increases even more. 83,384 hectares (834 km ) 100 km northeast of Vladivostok The aims of the «Zov Tigra» national park are establishing are preservation and restoration of the natural complexes, environmental monitoring, and creating conditions for tourism. Many rare and valuable species of mammals of the south of the Far East live in the Park. The territory has no equals in Russia in its species diversity of rare predators and ungulates. The predators of the Park are the Amur tiger, the Amur leopard cat, lynx, mink, brown and Himalayan black bear, etc. Cloven-hoofed animals living in the park are wild boar, red deer, sika deer, roe deer, goat antelope, musk deer. 6 species of mammals are listed on the Red Book. One of them is the “master of the taiga”, the Amur tiger. 64,316 hectares (63,000 of which is water area) the western part of the Japan Sea, occupies 10% of the Peter the Great′s Gulf′s territory. The east area of the reserve is a zone of the strict reservation conditions, where subtraction and introduction of any organisms are prohibited. The conduction of the academic-research works related to the marine communities conservation and restoration, monitoring and inventorying of marine population is allowed in the southern and western areas of the reserve. The northern area is an excursion zone, where are working museum «Nature of the sea and its protection» and the Center of Ecological Awareness. The Far Eastern State Marine Biosphere Reserve′s water area is the richest in Russia by its species diversity. It is inhabited by more than 2130 species of animals and plants. The reservation preserves 40% of plants known in Primorye. The full list of birds of the Reserve numbers 370 species, 223 of which (colonial seabirds, breeding and migrating birds) can be watched directly within Reserve. Common minke whales, killer whales, and dolphins come to the Reserve′s waters. Species of tropical fishes such as tuna, swordfish, highly toxic takifugu, sargassum fish, and tiger shark can be referred to the exotic inhabitants. on Russky Island is one of the largest scientific and educational complexes in the world. The aquarium resembles an open white mollusk shell. While visiting this large shell, you may find yourself in the tropics, meet dinosaurs, count a crocodile's teeth and walk past 135 aquariums with over 500 inhabitants from all the oceans and climatic zones of the planet. The complex also houses a 70-meter underwater tunnel and a dolphinarium with an arena pool. The program includes a show with the participation of the Oceanarium's marine inhabitants, dances with stingrays and feeding Baikal seals and penguins. is the highest peak of Primorsky Krai. Along the way to it you will find pyramids, dolmens, altars and dungeon entrances. Some visitors reach the summit in one day, but it is better to choose a two-day tour. From the top of , tourists can see a beautiful panoramic view. , which means «a large elongated mountain», attracts visitors with its stories of lost expeditions, mysterious caves and endless branching labyrinths. not only has a memorable name, but also a unique terrain, gorgeous views and interesting history. Cliffs and buttes resembling ancient castles tower along the ravine's slopes, and rocky stairs go all the way down to the river. in Ussuriysk and the famous 800-year-old stone turtle will introduce you to the history of this city. At the end of summer, tourists come to see the city's . In winter, you can enjoy a swim in an outdoor pool, surrounded by snowy fir trees. There is a historical park of everyday life and customs of the Russian people called located 5 km away from the city. Various events are held here, including the celebration of Kupala Night, jousting tournaments, Christmas and Maslenitsa festivities, etc. used to be a military defense facility. Today, its exhibits present the naval history of Vladivostok in its entirety. Currently the museum holds Vladivostok: Vremya Kreposti (Vladivostok: Age of Fortresses) exposition, which tells about the fortress as an engineering and architectural phenomenon, about its role in the history of the city and the country and how it has changed the lives of the Russian people. is one of the largest and most famous meteorites to have ever fallen not only in the Far East but on the planet. In 1947 specialists discovered 106 craters and holes with a diameter of three to 92 feet and a depth of six feet. It was determined that the Sikhote-Alin meteorite weighed about 100 tons. is considered to have been one of the biggest that people were able to observe. It weighed 564 pounds. On October 18, 1916, there was a powerful explosion 3 miles from the Boguslavka village. A large cavity formed on the location of the fall, which later became a lake. The body of water does not exist anymore, but the contours of the lake can clearly be seen today. founded in 1876, it reckons among the oldest lighthouses in the Far East. For over one hundred years it serves not only as the main landmark for seamen who enter the Port of Vladivostok, but also as one of its key attractions, which is always included in the tourists' must-visit lists. The Egersheld Lighthouse and its beach is Vladivostok's residents' favourite recreation place, particularly in summer. The tourists come here in the first place to admire breathtaking views that open from the lighthouse: there are Russky Island and the Port of Vladivostok on the left, and the incredibly beautiful sea merging with empyrean dome to the right. was officially opened in 2012 and it is the world's largest cable-stayed bridge, built across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait and connects Vladivostok with Russky Island. It has been compared to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.  “ China’s border with Russia spans over 4000 kilometres in length. Before it reaches the Pacific Ocean it skirts Primorsky Krai, the southernmost region of the Russian Far East, where much of the eastern Russian population is concentrated. Primorsky Krai is also a melting pot, where Russian and Eastern Asian cultures and traditions coalesce. Start your perfect day in Vladivostok with a coffee and pastry in any café of the Lakomka bakery chain owned by Vladkhleb. Established in 1903, this is one of the oldest companies in the city. Locals love the breakfast to go, and here you can enjoy the authentic smell of bread before later in the day diving into the delicious world of seafood.

THU	(19.09, morning)	4 / 2
THU	(19.09, day)	12 / 10
THU	(19.09, evening)	9 / 7
FRI	(19.09, night)	5 / 3

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Bolshoy Kamen Demography

Information on the people and the population of Bolshoy Kamen.

Bolshoy Kamen Population	39,447 inhabitants
Bolshoy Kamen Population Density	986.2 /km² (2,554.2 /sq mi)

Bolshoy Kamen Geography

Geographic Information regarding City of Bolshoy Kamen .

Bolshoy Kamen Geographical coordinates	Latitude: , Longitude: 43° 7′ 0″ North, 132° 21′ 0″ East
Bolshoy Kamen Area	4,000 hectares 40.00 km² (15.44 sq mi)
Bolshoy Kamen Altitude	33 m (108 ft)
Bolshoy Kamen Climate	Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dwb)

Bolshoy Kamen Distance

Distance (in kilometers) between Bolshoy Kamen and the biggest cities of Russia.

Bolshoy Kamen Map

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Bolshoy Kamen Nearby cities and villages

Bolshoy Kamen Zone

Time zone of Bolshoy Kamen.

Bolshoy Kamen Local time
Bolshoy Kamen Time zone	+10:00 (Asia/Vladivostok)

Bolshoy Kamen Weather

Weather forecast for the next coming days and current time of Bolshoy Kamen.

Bolshoy Kamen Sunrise and sunset

Find below the times of sunrise and sunset calculated 7 days to Bolshoy Kamen.

Day	Sunrise and sunset	Twilight	Nautical twilight	Astronomical twilight
17 September	22:52 - 05:05 - 11:17	22:24 - 11:45	21:50 - 12:19	21:16 - 12:54
18 September	22:53 - 05:04 - 11:15	22:25 - 11:44	21:51 - 12:17	21:17 - 12:52
19 September	22:54 - 05:04 - 11:13	22:26 - 11:42	21:52 - 12:15	21:18 - 12:50
20 September	22:55 - 05:03 - 11:12	22:27 - 11:40	21:54 - 12:13	21:19 - 12:48
21 September	22:56 - 05:03 - 11:10	22:28 - 11:38	21:55 - 12:11	21:21 - 12:46
22 September	22:58 - 05:03 - 11:08	22:29 - 11:36	21:56 - 12:10	21:22 - 12:44
23 September	22:59 - 05:02 - 11:06	22:30 - 11:34	21:57 - 12:08	21:23 - 12:42

Bolshoy Kamen Hotel

Our team has selected for you a list of hotel in Bolshoy Kamen classified by value for money. Book your hotel room at the best price.

	An indoor swimming pool, a sauna and free private parking are offered at this baroque-style hotel, located in the northern suburbs of Vladivostok. Rooms include air conditioning and free Wi-Fi...	from
	Located in the centre of Artem, just 700 metres from the central Kirova Street, this hotel features a 24-hour front desk. Vladivostok International Airport is 7 km from Raitex Hotel...	from
	Situated a 10-minute walk from Vladivostok's Botanical Gardens, Mini Hotel Kedrovaya Pad offers a sauna, massages and a Turkish steam room. Air-conditioned rooms include a flat-screen TV...	from
	A 10-minute drive to Knevichi Airport in Vladivostok, Hinotel is located in in Artem in the same building with a car repair centre. Free parking is available. The Japanese Sea and the border with China are within 3 hours’ drive away...	from
	Located in a scenic park, this hotel is a 20-minute drive from central Vladivostok and 300 metres from Sanatornaya Beach. It offers an international restaurant and rooms with satellite TV...	from

Bolshoy Kamen Nearby

Below is a list of activities and point of interest in Bolshoy Kamen and its surroundings.

Bolshoy Kamen Page

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