Basic & Bareboat Cruising

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OSS 103 / 104

Feel the Excitement of Big Boat Sailing on a Monohull Cruising Yacht

The Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Courses 103/104 are the next step up from Learn to Sail 101. This 6-day program is for those who have 101 certification or experience and skills equivalent to those gained in the Offshore Sailing School Learn to Sail course. There is great benefit in gaining your Bareboat Cruising Certification on one of our 43′-50′ cruising monohulls. In the OSS 103/104 Monohull Live Aboard Course at our Florida and British Virgin Island campuses you quickly learn how to control and capture the wind on all points of sail, while feeling the sensation of steering and handling a large cruising yacht, far more than on a catamaran. Protect your investment with Travel Insurance. View coverage options here.

Or Learn on a Spacious Catamaran Cruising Yacht

Catamarans are the choice of many new cruising sailors because they have more room, and will not heel (lean over) in windy conditions.  If you opt for the Catamaran Live Aboard Cruising experience, OSS 114 is added to your certifications for handling a twin-hulled cruising boat with two engines under sail and power.  Our catamaran fleet ranges from 40′ to 45′ depending on location. Learn more about the Offshore Sailing School fleet, and act fast! We teach a maximum of four students per week in either the monohull or catamaran cruising course, unless you choose a “Buy the Boat” option to learn with family or friends. So don’t wait to reserve a cabin on one of our cruising sailboats and earn your cruising certification!

“Our instructor’s knowledge, calmness, and ability to teach and connect was unparalleled. He truly taught us more in a week than we thought we’d learn in a year.”

Taylor Lizzardo

Downers Grove, IL
OSS 103/104 - Basic & Bareboat Cruising

How the Live Aboard Cruising Course Works

During this six-day live aboard sailing lessons program, you gain incredible confidence, knowledge and skills that qualify you for chartering and sailing big cruising boats without a hired captain or mate. You learn the mechanics of running a big yacht under sail and power; how to maneuver, dock, anchor and pick up moorings in crowded marinas and harbors. You learn how to act quickly in heavy weather and reduce sail area for comfortable sailing in big seas.  Among the many drills and techniques you experience, is the fun of cooking and dining aboard – preparing meals and cleaning up with your crewmates, just like you would if you were bareboat chartering (skippering the boat without hired crew). Offshore provisions your yacht with breakfast and lunch items, as well as food for most dinners aboard. You and your crewmates do the meal preps as learning to cook aboard is part of the Live Aboard Cruising course experience.

Extend Your Experiential Sailing Vacation with a Resort Stay

All Live Aboard Cruising Courses are based at great vacation and sailing destinations. If you would like to relax ashore a day or two before the course starts or after it ends, we will make those arrangements for you. You can also opt to take this course while sleeping ashore at the resort each night. The content and skills you learn are the same as what you learn in the Live Aboard Cruising Course format. You sail all day, but return to resort base late afternoons.  Contact us today to learn more about our monohull cruising yacht and catamaran sailing lessons.

A Cruising Course for Sailors Who Want to Own or Charter Cruising Yachts

The Live Aboard Cruising course assumes you already have US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification and are ready to learn the techniques and skills for handling larger sailboats and bareboat cruising (chartering without a hired skipper). If you do not have US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification but do have equivalent experience on sailboats of at least 26 feet with skippering and crewing experience. you must take the US Sailing Basic Keelboat test (additional fee to added to your package when you sign up) prior to taking the US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising tests during the course.

I have taken all US Sailing courses with Offshore Sailing School. Just finished the Catamaran Live Aboard Cruising Course 103/104/114 (that’s me in the green shirt). It’s been an awesome adventure and experience. Instructors are awesome!! Lots of knowledge and experience where you can’t find anywhere in books. Our instructor had so much knowledge  I thought I was a brand new student, talking to Jedi Master YODA!!

Sam Hahn

New York, NY
OSS 103/104 - Basic & Bareboat Cruising

One on One Training, Maximum Four Cabins Available Per Week

Because of the popularity of our live aboard sailing courses, and because we teach a maximum of four per week per cruising boat availability, please have several dates in mind when you contact us to book this sailboat cruising course. If you are interested in “Buy the Boat” live aboard family or friends sailing packages, you can add up to 2 more for a total of six.

Exclusive Sailing School for The Most Renowned Worldwide Charter Company

Offshore Sailing School has been the exclusive sailing school for The Moorings, the most prominent charter company in the world since 1988. Offshore Sailing School cruising course graduates become immediate “Captains” in The Moorings preferred charter program and enjoy discounts up to 15% when booking a charter. If you take this course in the British Virgin Islands with family or friends, why not continue your cruising adventure with a bareboat charter vacation right after you graduate?

“Our family completed the live aboard course and received our Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, and Catamaran Supplement certifications in the BVI. Our experience, from start to finish, was just fantastic! I was a little worried about having our two children (ages 8 and 10) with us due to the intensive nature of the course. However, our incredible instructor didn’t bat an eye. He was wonderful about including them in the learning and making sure that everyone had a good time onboard! Colgate Offshore Sailing School provided us with the perfect opportunity to experience cruising as a family, and for my husband and I to build our knowledge, skills, and confidence with offshore sailing!”

Lauren Bloch and Eric Ansley

Honeoye Falls, NY
OSS 103/104 - Basic & Bareboat Cruising

International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) for Chartering Overseas

If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification credentials and an IPC, International Proficiency Certificate. US Sailing, the governing body of sailing in the United States, will issue this certificate for a nominal fee for U.S. citizens who have achieved US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, and  Bareboat Cruising Certifications. For more information, click here.

A Note About Night Sailing

Most charter agencies do not allow night sailing and require that you are anchored, docked or on a mooring before sunset. Night sailing is covered in  Advanced Cruising and Offshore Passage Making courses, the ultimate next steps in your learning process.

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