Basic Cruising
$851
- 4-day, 24-hour course
- US Sailing certification available
- Get started cruising around Boston Harbor and the harbor Islands on 30′ boats
- Introduction to mechanical systems and maneuvering under auxiliary power
- Practice docking, mooring, anchoring, and navigation underway
Description
Are you planning on purchasing your own cruising sailboat (or sailing ours!) or chartering in the Caribbean someday? In this basic cruising course, we apply the fundamentals of sailing to bigger boats (up to 35′ in length) with inboard diesel engines. We cover the basics of navigation and introduce the tools needed to sail longer distances. Big boats sail just like small boats, but have more systems to learn and more techniques to master. Although 24 hours isn’t enough to prepare you for every challenge a cruising boat can present, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know the outer harbor and develop comfort around big boat basics.
Graduates may test for their US Sailing Basic Cruising certification, which is a useful step for those looking to charter sailboats. This course will also cover information you need to know to pass the theoretical portion of the Green Flag test.
Don’t see a course that fits your schedule?
Skills and Concepts Covered
- Docking and leaving the dock under power
- Crew overboard recovery
- Anchoring and mooring
- Reefing and using the roller-furler to shorten sail
- Navigation: compass use, establishing a 2-3 point fix, using danger bearings, identifying aids to navigation, GPS use, and navigation apps
Prerequisites
- Learn to Sail Complete or equivalent
Course Structure
4-to-1 Instruction: In our traditional format, 4 students and 1 instructor sail together, allowing for plenty of personalized attention and teamwork. Basic Cruising is held over the course of 4 six-hour days, consisting of two back-to-back weekend days on two consecutive weekends.
Recommended Next Steps
US Sailing Basic Cruising Certification
Many course participants choose to test for their US Sailing Basic Cruising certification, which signifies that you have sufficient skills and knowledge to safely and confidently skipper an auxiliary powered cruising sailboat up to 32’ in length in moderate weather.
We cannot reschedule lessons within two weeks of their start date unless we are able to fill the spot with another student. For more information on our refund policy, click here.
