Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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!

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.

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.

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:

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.

Credit card charges: Charges will appear on your statement as “FH* Go Sail

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!