FAQ

Plan with Confidence – FAQs for Sailing in the Bahamas

YOUR BAHAMAS SAILING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of the most frequently asked questions about Bahamas sailing vacations so you can easily access the information you need. Our goal is simple: to provide you with all the sailing knowledge you’ll want before you arrive, so you can step aboard your Bahamas sailboat confident, prepared, and ready to learn. If you notice an important question missing from our Bahamas sailing FAQ, let us know! We’re always happy to provide answers and update our resources to make your trip planning as smooth as possible.

Sailing Itineraries

The first day of your Bahamas sailing vacation with Go Sail will begin in Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands. Your ASA instructor will meet you at the marina in the afternoon and show you around the boat. From there, you can grab a drink as a crew, get to know each other, and plan your itinerary! We generally like to set sail northward first. This gives you the opportunity to explore the unique boat building heritage of Man-O-War Cay, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Hope Town. After a few days in the northern Abaco Islands, we recommend heading south to Little Harbour, Lynyard Cay, and Treasure Cay. On the last day of your trip, you’ll head back to Marsh Harbour to say your goodbyes! Learn more about our full Abaco Islands sailing itinerary here.
There are generally 4 cabins on the Bahamas sailing yachts we use for ASA courses. One cabin is for your ASA instructor, one cabin is for you, and the other two cabins are for other students. In general, there are between 3-6 students in each course.
If you’d prefer to set sail with only people you know, you can book out an entire sailing yacht in the Bahamas for your ASA courses. Learn more about our private ASA courses in the Bahamas here.
The price of each week-long sailboat vacation is listed transparently on the “courses” page of our website. For ASA course discounts follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram) or send us a message to sign up for our monthly newsletter!
Every Bahamas sailing itinerary we create is tailor-made just for you. While the weather at sea may occasionally guide our course, your trip is always shaped by your interests and dreams. Explore a hidden cove, linger in a favorite bay, or stay at a different mooring every night— this is your vacation! Your captain will work with you every step of the journey to ensure your sailing experience is exactly what you imagined and more.
The anchorages we stay at are dependent on where you would like to explore during your Bahamas sailing vacation! One of the most remarkable things about cruising in the Abaco is how many anchoring options we have. Because the waters here are generally shallow—often just 5 to 15 feet (about 1.5 to 4.5 meters) deep—we can comfortably drop anchor in countless protected bays and harbors. These shallow banks are the legacy of ancient coral reefs, which over millions of years transformed into limestone islands. The cays are nestled close together, sometimes only a mile apart, creating a network of sheltered spots perfect for exploration. When we anchor, we always choose sandy bottoms well away from coral and sea grass. This helps protect the fragile marine ecosystem, ensuring our anchor and chain don’t cause damage.
There are so many amazing sailing locations in the Abaco Islands, it is hard to name just a few! When you sail with Go Sail Bahamas we will take you to a few of our favorite hidden gem locations in the Bahamas as well as some of the more popular spots in the Abacos. Check out a sample sailing itinerary of the Abaco Islands on our itinerary page.
We have a long list of amazing restaurants in the Abaco Islands that we like to share with sailors! Here are a few we may visit on your Bahamas sailing vacation:
1. Snappas Bar and Grill is the restaurant at the dock where we board the boat! They often have a DJ with dance music. The menu has some great local flare with conch fritters, shrimp and tuna!
2. Big O’s Bar and Restaurant is truly a one of a kind restaurant. Have you ever eaten a meal surrounded by swimming pigs? You can do it here!
3. Nippers Beach Bar and Grill is famous for “the nipper” drink– a potent fruit punch! It’s surrounded by the clear turquoise waters of Great Guana Cay and a three mile long sandy beach!

Planning Your Bahamas Vacation

ASA students choose Go Sail Bahamas because they want their sailing experience to be nothing less than exceptional. We provide our ASA students with reliable, well-maintained boats, top-notch instruction from experienced captains, and consistent, clear communication from the moment you book your Bahamas sailing vacation. Every detail is handled with care so you can focus on learning how to sail, exploring the Abaco Islands, and enjoying the journey. Our goal is simple: to do everything in our power to make your trip a true 5-star experience!
Bahamas sailing offers warm turquoise waters, steady trade winds, and hundreds of islands to explore at your own pace. The Abaco Islands in the Bahamas take those dream sailing conditions to another level. Known as the “sailing capital” of the Bahamas, the Abacos offer sheltered waters protected by an outer barrier reef, making them ideal for smooth, comfortable passages between cays.Many of the islands are just a mile or two apart so you can hop from one picturesque harbor to the next without long open-ocean crossings.
Pack for your Bahamas sailing vacation like you would for any other vacation! Here are a few additional items that you might not normally pack for a vacation that you’ll want while sailing in the Abaco Islands:
- Hats
- Sun-Shirts
- Sailing gloves (if you already have them)
- Wind-breakers
- Light long sleeve shirts for nighttime
- Non-restricting pants
- Clean deck shoes
You’re welcome to wear shoes on deck, as long as they’re clean and have never been worn outside. That said, most guests find it more comfortable (and grippy) to go barefoot while on board.
Generally, we recommend packing light and only bringing one carry-on–sized bag per person. You’re welcome to bring larger suitcases, but fitting them comfortably in your cabin may take a bit more effort. Soft-sided bags are ideal, as they’re easier to store on board.
Generally, we recommend packing light and only bringing one carry-on–sized bag per person. You’re welcome to bring larger suitcases, but fitting them comfortably in your cabin may take a bit more effort. Soft-sided bags are ideal, as they’re easier to store on board.
We stock each of our Bahamas luxury yachts with the essentials so you can start your trip comfortably and focus on enjoying your time on the water. Your provisions include:
- Bedding & Linens: Towels, blankets, pillows, and sheets
- Personal Essentials: Toilet paper, hand soap
- Galley & Cleaning Supplies: One roll of paper towels, one package of trash bags (15 tall kitchen bags), one bottle of dish soap, one sponge, one pack of hand wipes, and toilet cleaner
- Extras for Comfort: One bottle of wine, bug repellent, Lysol spray, and three boxes of matches
- Onboard Equipment:
- Watermaker
- Generator
- Air conditioning
- Coffee maker
- Toaster
Check with your carrier but most sailors report having great cell service and access to GPS throughout the Abaco Islands!
WiFi is available on most of our luxury yachts in the Bahamas for $150 per trip. Your cell signal may also be strong enough to use it as a hot spot, if you would prefer not to pay for the WiFi on your Bahamas sailing vacation.
We operate our Bahamas sailing season from November through May. Like most tropical destinations, the Bahamas has two main seasons: a wet season and a dry season. Our sailing months in the Abaco Islands fall during the drier season, which avoids the peak of hurricane season. This means you can expect more comfortable weather, gentler winds, and plenty of sunny days for your Bahamas learn-to-sail vacation!
Our Bahamas sailing courses book up fast so we recommend booking 3-6 months in advance. This will ensure you get the best yacht and can sail on your preferred dates.

Traveling to Marsh Harbour

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.
Taxi rides are about $25 from the Marsh Harbour airport to the marina for one to two people. Expect a $3 charge for each additional person. You can pay for your cab ride (and just about everything else) in US dollars. Make sure you have cash on hand, the taxis don’t accept credit cards!
Of course! There is a well-stocked, small grocery store that’s only a 5 minute walk from the marina. However, if you’d like to pick up more than you can comfortably carry, ask your taxi driver to stop there on the way. They can also bring you to a larger grocery store that’s a bit further away ($10 for two people round-trip from the marina). The taxi driver has an hourly rate they charge while they wait for you. Alternatively, you can get their phone number and call them when you are ready to be picked up.
If you would like to spend an extra day or two in the Abaco Islands before or after your Bahamas sailing vacation, we recommend staying at The Conch Inn or Island Breezes Hotel.The Conch Inn is at the marina where you’ll set sail with us. The Island Breezes hotel is a bit less expensive but not quite as close, although you’ll still have great accessibility to the marina and restaurants.
We want you to feel confident and cared for as you plan your sailing adventure. Because travel can be unpredictable, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. It ensures that if the unexpected happens—whether it’s a missed flight, an illness, or a change in plans—you’re protected and can focus on enjoying your trip.

Our cancellation policy applies to every booking, so your Bahamas travel insurance is the best way to safeguard your investment. A good policy should include:
- Trip cancellation
- Medical coverage
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Baggage loss
- Cancel-for-any-reason coverage (for extra peace of mind)
Think of your Bahamas travel insurance as a safety net that travels with you, covering the things we can’t control. While we rarely need to cancel a course, if we do so without reason, you’ll receive a full refund of any payments made.
Once you book your Bahamas sailing trip, we’ll send you an email with your exact arrival time at the marina for the first day of your ASA course. You’ll spend that first night aboard the sailboat at the marina, so there’s no need to worry if your travel plans bring you in later in the day. We kindly ask that you do not arrive early, as our captains need time to prepare the boat for your trip.

On the final day of your course, the boat must be returned by 10:00 a.m. Since you’ll want to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight, we recommend booking a late-afternoon departure to ensure a smooth and stress-free travel day.

American Sailing Courses in the Bahamas

Every sailor has their own reasons for taking ASA courses and becoming an ASA-certified sailor. For many, the top motivation is earning the International Proficiency Certificate (IPC), which allows them to charter a bareboat with confidence anywhere in the world. Others see ASA sailing courses in the Bahamas as the perfect blend of learning and adventure—building new skills while surrounded by turquoise waters, vibrant reefs, and the beauty of the Abaco Islands. Sailing is also a great hands-on skill to learn at any age!
Go Sail Bahamas’ ASA sailing courses are designed to meet you where you are as a sailor and help you grow in both confidence and skill. You’ll spend your time at sea practicing essential, hands-on sailing techniques and building confidence as you tack, jibe, moor, anchor, heave-to, and more aboard a cruising sailboat in the Bahamas. By the end of your ASA sailing course in the Abacos, you’ll be ready to take your ASA exams and charter a sailboat on your own. We’re confident that after so much real-world sailing experience, you’ll feel fully prepared with the skills and knowledge needed to skipper a sailboat around the world.
Yes! Many of our students arrive for their Series 1 beginner ASA sailing courses having never stepped foot on a sailboat before. These brand-new sailors quickly discover that a week long live-aboard experience with Go Sail Bahamas is just as rewarding for them as it is for more seasoned students. With hands-on instruction and daily practice in the beautiful waters of the Bahamas, beginners gain confidence fast—and by the end of the week, it’s often hard to tell who started with sailing experience and who didn’t!
We offer the following ASA courses in the Bahamas:

Series 1 beginner sailing courses:
Series 2 advanced sailing courses
We recommend completing a bareboat charter trip or two before moving on to Series 2 advanced ASA sailing courses in the Bahamas. These advanced courses are designed for sailors who have already built a strong foundation of skills and are ready to refine specific areas with the guidance of an experienced ASA instructor in the Bahamas. They’re also an excellent choice for ASA students who want to expand their sailing knowledge and confidence before embarking on longer trips or offshore passages.
Once you book your ASA sailing courses in the Abaco Islands with Go Sail Bahamas, we’ll ship your ASA textbooks and logbook directly to the address you provide. The cost of your textbooks, along with shipping, is already included in the price of your Bahamas sailing vacation.
After finishing up ASA 104 (bareboat cruising) on an Abaco Islands sailing vacation with Go Sail Bahamas, we’ll submit your IPC application to ASA for free on your behalf. Once you receive your International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) you can bareboat charter just about anywhere in the world!
The International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) opens up most of the world to you for sailing. For example, if you plan to bareboat charter in Europe or beyond, some countries require you to present an IPC to legally operate a sailboat. Currently, those countries include:
- France
- Italy
- Greece
- Croatia
- Portugal
- Spain
- Turkey
- Belarus
- Poland
Earning your ASA certifications and IPC ensures you can charter with confidence in these destinations and meet all local sailing requirements.
For your ASA learn-to-sail vacation, we recommend bringing a few “school supplies” to help you get the most out of your training. These supplies aren’t required but if you plan on sailing after your ASA courses, they’ll be essentials. It’s great to have them sooner rather than later!
- Navigation tools (parallel rulers and dividers)
- Hand-bearing compass
- Charts for the sailing area
- A cruising guide – specifically The Guide to the Abaco Bahamas 2025 by Steve Dodge, Jeff Dodge, and John Dodge.
This guide is a must-have when sailing in the Bahamas. The Abacos are known for their narrow navigation routes and very shallow waters, including some anchorages. Having the guide in hand will not only make your learning experience easier, but also ensure safer, more confident cruising.

Bahamas Safety and Sailing Safety Equipment

Most of the concerns you may hear about crime in the Bahamas are centered around Nassau and Freeport. These are larger cities where issues like petty theft or violent crime can occur, as in many urban areas. Go Sail Bahamas does not operate in these areas and only sails in areas of the Bahamas that are not only deemed safe but stress-free too!
Yes, the Abaco Islands are safe for tourists and sailors alike! The Abacos are a chain of smaller islands and cays with close-knit communities that welcome sailors warmly. Crime here is rare, and most sailors’ concerns have far more to do with seamanship than safety on land. The real “dangers” of the Abacos are natural ones—narrow channels, shallow waters, and coral reefs that require attentive navigation. That’s why it’s so important to take sailing lessons in the Bahamas before you set sail on your own!
Sailing in the Bahamas isn’t a dangerous, extreme sport. It’s a fun, laid back one! The risks of renting a car on a vacation are far greater than the risks of being out at sea with a knowledgeable and experienced ASA sailing instructor. At Go Sail Bahamas, we carefully monitor conditions and will never send you out on a sailing vacation if the weather is unsafe. Our instructors are highly trained to handle changing conditions, navigate the shallow Abaco Islands waters, provide clear instruction, and ensure you feel confident and secure on the water.
Yes, people do sail in the Bahamas during hurricane season. However, we operate from November to May and advise all sailors to sail well within their ability level when sailing outside this time frame.
Every sailboat is fully equipped with all federally required safety equipment, along with additional ASA-recommended safety gear. During your boat briefing (which is a part of all of our learn to sail vacation in the Bahamas), we highly recommend taking the time to familiarize yourself with the location of each item so you’ll feel confident and prepared while sailing in the Bahamas.

Here are the key pieces of safety equipment you’ll want to locate onboard before setting sail:
- Type II PFDs (life jackets) for everyone on board
- Three B I type fire extinguishers
- Smoke distress flares (for day or night use)
- Distress flares for night use
- A distress flag
- A whistle
- Navigation lights, side lights, stern lights, and a masthead light
- Placards for discharge of oil, MARPOL discharge of garbage, and waste management
- USCG Navigation Rules
- The hull numbers, certificate, and documentation numbers for your sailboat
ASA recommended safety gear aboard your Bahamas luxury yacht:
- A knife
- Flashlights
- Extra lines
- Fenders
- A compass
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Gloves
- Tools: a screw driver, pliers, wrench, razor blade, and a hammer.
If you’re 13 years or older, you do not need to bring your own life jacket on your Bahamas learn to sail vacation. Every sailboat comes equipped with USCG-approved Type II PFDs for all guests on board.

For children, U.S. Coast Guard law requires that anyone 12 years old or younger wear a life jacket at all times while the vessel is underway. While we do provide life jackets, we recommend bringing a properly sized kids’ PFD for the best fit and comfort.

We do not provide Type V (self-inflating) PFDs on our Bahamas sailing vacations. If you prefer this style, you are welcome to bring your own. Be sure to review the TSA guidelines for bringing self-inflating life jackets as carry-on items.

Bahamas Sailing Weather

Weather happens! We aren’t going to sail in the Bahamas if it isn’t safe to do so. The best way to protect your trip against cancellations is by purchasing traveler’s insurance.
We are only going to take you sailing in the Bahamas if it is safe to do so. If we ever need to cancel your booking due to a Force Majeure event (such as a natural disaster), we’ll notify you right away and apply your payment as a credit toward a future trip. We’ll work closely with you to reschedule your vacation for a date that fits your availability and preferences. The alternative date must be confirmed within three months of your original travel date. Go Sail Bahamas is not responsible for any additional costs you incur due to changes (such as flights, transfers, or accommodations). However, if you purchase travel insurance these costs may potentially all be covered!
Force Majeure is a legal term describing an unforeseen circumstance beyond anyone’s control that prevents us from safely or reasonably operating your sailing trip. These events include:

-Governmental decisions

-Law (obligation of maritime assistance)

-Weather events (fire, flood, drought, monsoon, natural disaster, cyclone, particularly tropical cyclone, named meteorological phenomenon, etc.)

-War, explosions, acts of terrorism, uprisings, sabotage, insurrection, coup d’état, civil unrest, etc.

-Threat to personal safety (such as hostage taking, kidnapping, assassination, bombing, suicide attack, boarding, acts of piracy)

-Epidemic, quarantine, or 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.
Yes, your trip could potentially change depending on weather or other factors, like mooring availability. However, a change in plans doesn’t mean a loss of adventure! The Abaco Islands offer countless beautiful anchorages, charming towns, and hidden coves. We always have fantastic alternative options ready! Whether we adjust course to explore a new island, tuck into a more protected harbor, or find a more secluded area to anchor, your trip will still be every bit as fun, memorable, and unique.

Sailing Policies and Forms

The terms and conditions for your Abaco Islands sailing vacation with Go Sail Bahamas can be found here. We will also email you a form to sign with these terms and conditions outlined before your learn to sail vacation in the Bahamas!
You may cancel your ASA sailing course at any time; however, cancellation penalties apply based on how close you are to your trip:
- 60+ days prior to departure: You are responsible for 10% of the payment collected, plus the cost of textbooks, logbook, and shipping.
- 30–60 days prior to departure: 50% of the total course fee, plus the cost of textbooks, logbook, and shipping.
- Less than 30 days prior to departure: No refunds or rescheduling are available. This includes cancellations due to illness or injury before departure. However, check with your travel insurance policy about what refunds they may be able to provide.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing, either by email or by mail. Penalties are calculated from the date we receive your cancellation notice.
Yes! Your Bahamas sailing trip qualifies as sea time toward your captain’s license. Your captain will be happy to sign a CG-719 Small Vessel Sea Service Form for the days you’ve logged at sea as you learn to sail in the Abaco Islands. This form will be provided along with your exams, just present it to your captain at the end of your trip for their signature!