Offshore Passage Making
Even if you live within sight of the sea, it is easy to forget that our world is mostly water. The open ocean – that vast expanse of international waters – begins just a few miles out and spreads across three-quarters of the globe. It is a place that remains radically free, exciting, breathtakingly beautiful and most unforgiving if you don’t know what you are doing.
Since you must have Celestial Navgation training to take this course, and few do, we combine it with the Offshore Passsage Making course to give you Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making. Please see What You Learn in our Courses for details on each of these courses.
Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making
This combination gives you four days of Celestial Navigation training ashore just prior to boarding your Offshore Passage Making boat for six days of non-stop sailing – an incredibly comprehensive training adventure.Plan to arrive Tuesday and depart Sunday the following week.
Offshore Passage Making is taught by two expert Offshore Sailing School instructors aboard with you throughout the journey. You will learn with a maximum of five other students, divided into two watches working in four-hour shifts, each led by one of the instructors aboard. Berths are shared. While one watch is on deck, the other is sleeping, eating or relaxing below.
You may take Celestial Navigation alone if that's all you want to learn. You may also take Offshore Pasage Making alone if you have Celestial Navigation credentials. However, with just six available slots in Offshore Passage Making, preference will be given to those in the Fast Track program.
An all-inclusive package
The total package course per person for Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making is currently $6990 and includes the following. :
- Four-day Celestial Navigation Course (Wednesday-Saturday)
- One-day safety at sea classroom in preparation for Offshore Passage (Sunday)
- Offshore Passage Making Course (Sunday through Saturday morning)
- Two expert Offshore Sailing School instructors aboard throughout the passage
- All books and materials
- US SAILING Certification testing for Celestial Navigation and Offshore Passage Making Courses
- All meals aboard Monday through Saturday morning
- Five nights/six days of sailing on a Moorings 51.5 or other yacht of that size
- Cruising taxes
- Six nights in a private room at Ft. Burt Hotel, Mariner Inn or another hotel chosen by Offshore for the group
- Graduation celebration
- Exclusive benefit from The Sailing Company - your choice of a year's subscription to Cruising World or Sailing World magazine
Prerequisites for Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making
To participate in this course you must have Coastal Passage Making Certification, plus valid US SAILING recognized CPR and First Aid Certification.
The Offshore Passage Making journey
Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making is designed for experienced sailors who want to build skills, knowledge and confidence in preparation for long passages in open waters. If you are indeed moving towards a long passage over vast ocean stretches, your first offshore passage sailing experience could make or break your desire to pursue that goal. Choose your training wisely.
In this course your journey takes you from Tortola through the Anegada Passage and out to sea, logging 600 miles (at least 250 of those 50 miles away from shore) before you return to Tortola on the sixth day of your trip. Your instructors are certified at the highest US SAILING instructor certification level to teach Celestial Navigation and Offshore Passage Making courses. They will both be aboard during your passage, with three students assigned to each instructor/watch captain. Each watch will be in charge while "on" – crewing, navigating and steering in four hour shifts, rotating throughout this thrilling ocean voyage with the other team of four.
Locations and dates for Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making
South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Florida
March 23-April 2, 2011
Jersey City, New Jersey to South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Florida
November 3-20, 2011
Celestial Navigation alone
March 23-27, 2011
November 3-7, 2011
Offshore Passage Making alone
March 28-April 2, 2011
November 8-13, 2011 - Leg 1
November 15-20, 2011 - Leg 2
Click here to get a quote and more details or call 888-454-7015 to talk to one of our friendly sailing advisors.