Abaco: Solo Traveler Premium Catamaran Course

We sail in the Northern Abaco Bahamian Islands 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 – OPEN DAY
Day 8: Disembark from the vessel
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example of what a week-long sailing journey. 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.

Abacos Itinerary*:
ARRIVAL DAY: MARSH HARBOUR

The third largest settlement in The Bahamas, Marsh Harbour is the commercial hub for the Abacos. With an airport (MHH) served by international flights and a ferry service which allows island hopping the Abaco Cays. Visit the Neem farm and the Abaco National Park which features blue holes and the Abaco Parrot.

MAN-O-WAR CAY

After boat check-ins and Navigation Brief for the week, Discover the boat building capital of The Bahamas. The Albury family (who operate the Albury Ferry service) are still in the boat building business today, Joe Albury builds handcrafted boats from his workshop. On our 2023 Flotilla, this was the only business that had recovered from Hurricane Dorian in 2021. Note: Due to the entrance to Man-O-War Cay, it is the most likely destination to be scratched by weather considerations

HOPE TOWN

Settled by British Loyalists in 1785, the quaint Hope Town has a unique history and picturesque architecture like no other in the Abacos. Overlooked by the red and white stripes of the Elbow Reef Lighthouse, Hope Town is best explored on foot. Talk with us if you have a picture of your own boat. There is a talented artist in Hope Town who can paint your boat into an existing painting with the lighthouse in the background. He does not like to ship anything so prior planning is essential!

GREEN TURTLE CAY

Home to a population of around 450, New Plymouth is the main settlement on the island where you will find the Albert Lowe Museum and Loyalist Heritage Sculpture Garden. Tour New Plymouth historical village, a small, sleepy 18th century village by the sea, with several restaurants, galleries, and gift shops, a museum and a few historical sites. The architecture of the older homes that make up much of the village is largely unique to the Bahamas. Green Turtle Cay has some great diving and snorkeling sites along its outer reef. A fantastic base for discovering the Abacos’ unique marine life, it is within close proximity to the stingrays and sharks found on the north end of Manjack Cay as well as the swimming pigs and Beach Bar to the south at No Name Cay. (Pigs have tusks.)

TREASURE CAY

Adorned with a stunning three and a half mile-long white sand beach with a beautiful backdrop of turquoise blue ocean. Treasure Cay is a small island resort destination. It used to have a full-service marina which has not been rebuilt by December 2024! This is the home of Florence’s Cafe and Bakery. Her husband, Shorty, a cruise ship pilot, is a wealth of local knowledge. Florence turned us onto her friend, a Local lobster fisherman, who prepared and sold us lobsters “ready to bake.”

GREAT GUANA CAY

Beautiful beaches, a picturesque settlement, spectacular sunsets and world-class sailing are the highlights of Great Guana Cay. Nippers Beach Bar and Grill is a renowned beach hangout, particularly on Sundays when they have their pig roast buffet. Beautiful does not adequately describe the beaches of the Bahamas. They are legendary!

MARSH HARBOUR – OPEN DAY

The first night is designed to be a “sleep aboard” you may board at 5 PM with the Captain. The boat will be on the dock the first night and we will depart the dock the following day between 10-12 AM.

The Essentials

Many of the things you’ll want to bring to your Bahamas ASA certification course are the same things you’d want to bring on any other, similar length vacation in paradise.

• Swimsuit,
• Comfortable clothes for the daytime, long sleeve SPF shirts, shorts, summer dress, quick dry is the best.
• Hat for sun protection,
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen (Preferably no spray on and reef safe)
• Optional footwear for on the boat: Non-marking deck shoes OR NO SHOES (we are usually barefoot or wearing Crocs)
• Footwear for land: flip flops and tennis shoes for hiking
• Reusable water bottle
• Small waterproof bag
• Personal toiletries- travel size
• Medications (please let us know if you have any health issues we should know about)
• Phones, laptops, kindles, USB and 110 outlets available
• Personal hotspot for WIFI. – We do not have Wi-Fi on the boat because we have good to great AT&T cell phone service pretty much anywhere we go. When I need Wi-Fi, I use a hotspot on my phone. Verizon and T-Mobile are not quite as strong, but do work in some places.
• CPAP machine if you would like. (we will run the generator at night to run your machine)
• Previous Students and Guests suggest bringing cash for taxis, tips and small purchases. ATMs are available but have a fee. Most restaurants take credit cards.
• Sailing Specific Gear We usually go barefoot on the boat and wear light beach sandals off the boat. You can bring a pair of deck shoes and maybe even consider a pair of sailing gloves. Additionally, seasickness medications are always worth having on hand, even if you don’t have a history of motion sickness.
• The Fun Stuff
  Stop by the store on the way to the marina for snacks, booze, beer, specially items. Make sure to check your reservation for the marina location.

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

• Towel, Duvet, sheets or pillows
• PFD (personal floatation device) We provide all federally required safety equipment and much more! You can bring your type V self inflating one.
• Snorkeling gear unless you have a favorite mask, all the gear is provided!

Group courses – This is an adult only course 18+.

Not suitable for people with severely impaired mobility.

Booking, Payment, & Communication
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 GSB.
• 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. We will send you online prep courses 101/103 with the confirmation email so you can start studying right away. 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 full 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 at the marina at 5 PM.

Neither Party shall be liable for the non-performance, in whole or in part, of its obligations under this Contract if such non-performance or delay in its contractual obligations is due to an event of Force Majeure, such as, but not limited to, governmental decision, law (obligation of maritime assistance), war (whether a state of war is formally declared or not or whether it is a civil war), threat to personal safety (such as hostage taking, kidnapping, assassination, bombing, suicide attack, boarding, acts of piracy), explosion, civil unrest, act of terrorism, uprising, insurrection or coup d’état, sabotage, fire, flood, drought, monsoon, natural disaster, cyclone, particularly tropical cyclone, named meteorological phenomenon, epidemic, quarantine, confinement, disruptions to sources of supply (particularly of energy, raw materials, etc.) or transport, blockage of transport routes (canal, port access, port congestion), strike, lock-out, or any other event beyond its control.
13.2 The affected Party shall notify the other Party by any available means as soon as possible of the occurrence of an event of Force Majeure.
13.3 In the event of delay or failure to perform based on an event described above that does not permit charter as scheduled:

• All charter payments will be credited towards future charters.
• Go Sail Partners will make proposals to the Client to enable him to book a new charter, at a new location or on new dates, or both, depending on the Client’s availability and preference.
•  Go Sail Partners shall not be liable for any additional costs incurred by the Client as a result of changes to its charter due to a Force Majeure event.