Abaco: Solo Traveler Premium Catamaran Course

Solo Sailor – You want to learn to sail and are looking to get ASA International Bareboat Certified so you can rent a bareboat charter on your next sailing vacation. You want a single occupancy = 1 adult in a queen cabin with en-suite head on a group course.

We will sail in the Abaco Islands Bahamas while learning how to operate the catamaran on a crew-centered adaptable itinerary. We want to schedule time for sailing skills, island hopping, snorkeling and beach time. We will always discuss and consider wind and weather factors.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY: MARSH HARBOUR Conch Inn Marina Board the yacht. Sleep aboard on the dock.
DAY 2: MAN-O-WAR CAY
DAY 3: HOPE TOWN
DAY 4: GREEN TURTLE CAY
DAY 5: TREASURE CAY
DAY 6: GREAT GUANA CAY
DAY 7: MARSH HARBOUR

Sleep aboard starts at 5 PM on the day of your booking at the marina where the catamaran is docked at Conch Inn Marsh Harbour Bahamas. Once you are settled, the first crew meeting begins with introductions. Then the captain will show you around the vessel and do a short boat orientation. We will recommend some great dinner spots off the vessel for the first night.

• 7 AM daily, breakfast, coffee, and/or tea will be available.
• Every morning at 8 AM we will spend about an hour at the galley table (classroom), discussing topics like exam review (1 each day), theory, boat systems, and navigation, and the sailing skills for the day and plans for our desired anchorages.
• Sailing Daily after the morning class session and operate the catamaran until around 4-5 PM, stopping for a midday lunch break, with swimming and snorkeling options.
• We will anchor or moor every evening around 4-5 PM. We will have time for knot tying, swimming, debriefing, free time, island exploring, preparing dinner aboard and/or going ashore.

The final day is for verifying all the certifications, logbooks, and sea-time forms. Then we will set sail to the marina. At the dock you will have time for vessel clean up and packing for a 10 AM departure. We can help you arrange a taxi to pick you up.

Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example of what a week-long sailing journey aboard a Learn to Sail Vacation on a Bahamas Yacht Charter, exploring the breathtaking Abaco Islands Bahamas, may entail. However, it is important to note that the captain may adjust the schedule to ensure optimal sailing conditions and the best possible experience for guests.

BASIC KEELBOAT SAILING (ASA 101)

BASIC COASTAL CRUISING (ASA 103)

BAREBOAT CRUISING (ASA 104)

CRUISING CATAMARAN (ASA 114)

Experienced Advanced Instructors with local Virgin Island knowledge will regale the tales of adventures at sea. These fun hands-on lessons will prepare you for any sailing adventure, anywhere.

Basics: sailing terminology, parts of a sailboat, and how to safely get where you need to go with confidence.

Wind and Weather: It is crucial to understand wind direction and learn to assess weather conditions and make informed decisions based on wind patterns.

Points of Sail: Sailboats move through points of sail and the art of sailing is using this to your advantage.

Sail Trim: Proper sail trim is essential for efficient sailing.

Sailing Maneuvers and Boat Handling: Operating the boat in tight places and Tacking, Jibing, Heave-to, Sail in Reverse will give you confidence. Momentum is the key concept for understanding how to stop, stall, start and reverse.

Anchoring and Mooring: Sleep comfortably at night with Air conditioning and no stress.

Safety Procedures: Boat maintenance, PFD, VHF, Crew overboard (MOB), and what to do in emergencies.

Knots and Line Handling: Bowline, cleat hitch, square knot, round turn and 2 half hitches.

Navigation and Nav Rules: Learn to navigate a boat with GPS and Charts while underway using the proper US Coast Guard COLREGS.

Bareboat Charter: Boat systems and terminology relevant to cruising sailboats. How to bareboat charter, plan a vacation, provision, and plan your itinerary.

The International Proficiency Certificate which is an IPC from American Sailing, which will certify you to bareboat charter in several European countries. (Belarus, Croatia, France, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey).

We provide all meals aboard, this includes 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 2 dinners prepared by you.

The provisions arrive on the day of your arrival. You (the students/guests) will prepare food for the crew. The captain will help coordinate duties, so it is an equal share. Each student will be assigned a role, day, and/or meal preparation duty. The refrigerator/freezer will be stocked upon arrival with breakfast food (eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, yogurt, fruit, pastries, granola), lunch food (turkey, cheese, mayo, mustard, bread, wraps, burgers, tacos), dinner (Fish, rice vegetables, Chicken, pasta, salad).

We can also easily accommodate vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free, dairy free or any other special dietary restrictions or food allergies, just let us know if you would like a modified menu when you book.

Breakfast is served daily at 8 AM, Lunch around 12 noon and dinner about 6:30 PM. When we go ashore for dinner, we will usually make a dinner reservation for 7 PM. Dinner options in the Abacos are dependent on the course we take in the week. These factors are variable and change with the weather and guests’ preferences.

We ask if you would like snacks, mixers, soda, booze, beer, wine, or specialty items, you purchase them on the way to the marina. Most of our guests are not here for a “booze cruise” but we can appreciate a nice rum drink, cold beer, or glass of vino after a long day on the sea once the boat is secure for the night.

Catamaran which has Air-Conditioned 4 Queen beds en-suite cabins (private bathroom (head) with warm fresh water, bunk, linens, towels).

The instructor will take one cabin and the students fill the other three cabins.

• Single Cabins will have 1 student/guests with a private cabin.
• Double Cabins will have 2 students/guests sharing a cabin.
• Entire vessel has 3 double cabins available for up to 6 students/guests sharing three cabins.

• All boat operating expenses: mooring fees, fuel, water, cruising permits and national park fees.
• 7 glorious days sailing with your USCG Captain/ ASA Sailing Instructor and first mate.
• Drinking Water, all breakfasts, all lunches and 2 dinners aboard.
• Queen bed en-suite cabins (private bathroom (head) and shower (warm fresh water), bunk, linens, towels)
• Course Textbooks 106 /114, and certificates upon successful completion of knowledge 100 % skills and 80% exam scores.
• International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)
• CG -719s SMALL VESSEL SEA SERVICE FORM signed by the captain for your time at Sea.

• Any meals ashore
• Any alcohol/soda/mixers/snacks you may wish to bring on board.
• Optional customary gratuity (15-20% of your charter)
• Flight and taxi transportation to and from the vessel departure/return location.

You’ll want to fly into Marsh Harbour (MHH) in the Bahamas for your Abacos sailing trip. Marsh Harbor is only about an hour from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. If you have a connecting flight, we often suggest staying overnight in Miami and then flying to Marsh Harbour the next day so you don’t feel rushed on the first day of your Bahamas sailing vacation! An alternative is to arrive a day early in Marsh Harbour and stay a night in a hotel on Great Abaco Island.

Booking is very easy click through and book online or give us a call.

Booking details need:

– Names and email address for each person aboard

– American Sailing Student ID if you have one. We can also create one for you when we process the certifications.

– USPS Mailing address for books and shirts

– Passport numbers and expiration date with more than 6 months after the last day of your trip for entrance into BVI.

– Shirt sizes for UPF shirts

– Let us know if you have any medical conditions or dietary restrictions/allergies. We are happy to accommodate a customized menu.

– When you pay the 50% deposit your boat and spot is reserved this includes ASA 114 Catamaran and ASA 106 Advanced Cruising textbooks. Depending on your prior knowledge, you might need 10-15 hours of study time. The textbooks will be sent shortly after booking with your free shirt/s.

– Further communication to be sent to you on this schedule.

We will send you a reminder email 63 days before your trip to remind you of the charge to the credit card on file for the remaining 50%. The payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Once the remaining 50% payment is sent we will email you a receipt.

14 days prior reminder

14 days exams to download

7 days prior reminder

10 days before your trip we will call you to check in and make sure travel and provision orders are sorted. We will also send a Captain Introduction email.

3 days before reminder

Day of arrival reminder

Call the Captain when you arrive to the marina at 5 PM.

WE WILL NOT RESCHEDULE OR REFUND IF YOU ARE INJURED OR SICK PRE-DEPARTURE.

Our cancellation policy applies in every instance and there will be no exceptions for any reason. By making the deposit payment you agree with the policy, terms, and conditions.

You may cancel your course at any time subject to the following penalties:

Any cancellations:

1. More than 60 days prior to the departure date the penalties are 10% of the deposit collected plus the cost of any items shipped.
2. Between 60 days and the end of the trip, the penalties are the total payment collected.

Cancellations must be notified to us in writing by email. The penalties will be calculated from the date we receive your cancellation and confirmed by our staff.

We highly recommend travel insurance. You are responsible for ensuring that you have travel insurance, which will cover any issue that may arise.

We may need to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or natural events outside the control of Go Sail LLC including but not limited to hurricanes and hurricane affected areas. No refunds will be issued but an alternative date will be offered.

We reserve the right to cancel a course at any time without reason. If we cancel without reason, we shall return all collected payments paid by you.

Go Sail LLC will not issue any refund or reschedule any booking for not being able to attend, changing the number of participants, arriving late, or leaving a trip early, whether voluntary or caused by other circumstances.

Go Sail LLC is not responsible for any expenses incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations, injury, illness, or fear of travel. Go Sail LLC assumes no financial responsibility for personal injury, emergency evacuation, or personal equipment lost or damaged in any way.

Returns and Exchanges for logbooks, textbooks, and clothing shirts/ hats/ gear items. Returns will only be accepted up to 30 days after your purchase. If it’s been more than 30 days since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange for logbooks, textbooks, and clothing shirts/ hats/ gear items.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. Please note that we will gladly exchange any items that are clearly defective or arrived damaged.

To complete your return, simply contact us by email to [email protected]

Shipping for logbooks, textbooks, and clothing shirts/ hats/gear items

Please note that you will be responsible for the shipping costs associated with returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. In the event that you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund amount.

Cancellations must be notified to us in writing by post or email. The penalties will be calculated from the date we receive your cancellation.

We highly recommend travel insurance. Our cancellation policy applies in every instance and there will be no exceptions for any reason. Go Sail Partners will not issue any refund for not being able to attend, changing the number of participants, arriving late, or leaving a trip early, whether voluntary or caused by other circumstances.  Go Sail LLC is not responsible for any expenses incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations, injury, or illness, or fear of travel. Go Sail LLC assumes no financial responsibility for personal injury, emergency evacuation, or personal equipment lost or damaged in any way.

We may need to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or natural events outside the control of Go Sail LLC including but not limited to hurricanes and hurricane affected areas. No refunds will be issued but an alternative date will be offered. Several companies provide travel insurance, including some credit card companies. We are not affiliated with any of them.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have travel insurance, which will cover any issue that may arise.

Allianz Travel

Travel Guard

We reserve the right to cancel a course at any time without reason. If we cancel without reason, we shall return all collected payments paid by you.