catamaran sailing course

Our Sailing Schools:
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Virgin Islands
St. Maarten
Newport, RI

Catamaran Sailing Courses - Blue Water Sailing School

Our Cruising Catamaran sailing course (Course A Plus Catamaran) is a weeklong live-aboard catamaran cruising course, offered at the Fort Lauderdale base and the St Maarten base. The sailing course combines the Basic Sailing (ASA 101), Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA103), Bareboat Chartering (ASA 104), and Cruising Catamaran (ASA 114) levels of the ASA curriculum.

We are also one of the only sailing schools to offer a course in advanced catamaran sailing (Course C+ Cat: Advanced Catamaran Skipper) . During this weeklong live-aboard Advanced Catamaran (ASA 114, 106) cruising course you’ll sail from Fort Lauderdale, across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas, and back again. Along the way, you’ll gain the hands-on experience you need to pass the Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA 106), and Cruising Catamaran (ASA 114) ASA certification levels.

Please see ASA Course Descriptions for details on each certification standard.

You can find information about all Blue Water Sailing School courses in our course catalog . For course availability and dates, please see our schedule .

Catamaran Sales

Well Suited , The Catamaran Company's new team concept in brokerage design, is made up of three Yacht Brokers, a Charter Broker, a Yacht Administrator and a Service Manager who all work together to insure that our Buyers, Sellers and Renters have the best possible experience. Our top priority is to insure that the catamaran you bring home with you is well suited for your lifestyle, not only for today but one that strategically fits into your long term goals.

The concept truly is cutting edge in that it focuses on the strength of the team, customer service and long term repeat business. We typically find that a yacht owner buys a new boat every three to five years. Well Suited takes the necessary time and devotes the human resources to assist in your long term plans. What you need/want today ... what you are looking to grow into or downsize after realizing a dream ... proper market placement ... resale value, etc.

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We actually went somewhere (Key Largo), rather than returning to the dock each evening. The course was made to be an adventure, as well as simply instructional. The weather was “made to order” — sun and gentle breeze Saturday through Wednesday, then Force 8 for our ‘foul weather instruction’ on Thursday.

I thought it was an excellent, challenging course. It definitely wasn’t a “cruise.” The instructor expected a lot from the students. I like that.

I have nothing but the utmost praise for your entire operation and the quality of the instruction that I received. Al Hatch is a consummate instructor and brings to this activity a love and a passion that is genuine and expansive. I hope to be able to return to Blue Water to experience some of the higher-level courses of instruction, and I certainly would have no trouble at all recommending your company to anyone.

ASA Sailing School for Catamaran Cruisers & Liveaboards

Build sailing techniques & prepare for the sailing lifestyle.

catamaran sailing school and liveaboard training

ASA sailing school & Live-Aboard Instructors

A catamaran sailing school was unheard of years ago. In the early days of Catamaran Guru, catamaran experts, Stephen & Estelle Cockcroft kept their cruising kitty going by teaching American Sailing Association courses and offered liveaboard orientation experiences aboard their monohull and later their catamarans. They know by experience that a liveaboard seaschool is the best way to learn to sail.

Though no longer offering instruction or liveaboard orientation experiences themselves, their passion to help others follow their nautical dreams of yacht ownership has kept them involved in sail training and hands-on cruising lifestyle experiences.

Why catamaran sailing school is important

The ASA sail training courses provide a good grounding for all new sailors and advanced courses increase competency and confidence. While learning to sail monohulls will provide many useful basics of sailing knowledge, instruction aboard a catamaran, and even better aboard your catamaran or a similar model is the best possible scenario.

Getting yacht insurance , especially a policy you can afford, requires proven related boating experience. The only way to get that experience safely is with a catamaran sailing school that offers liveaboard hands-on experiences.

Another vital role sea school plays for cruisers is getting the enthusiasm and confidence of the first mate up. While not always the case, often one partner in a sailing duo is the driving force of the cruising life dream while the other is often reluctant. Here are our tips on overcoming the reluctance of a catamaran cruising partner .

The top tip is to participate in a liveaboard experience with a seaschool even before you buy a boat.

Weeklong liveaboard sailing school is invaluable for anyone who plans to own their own boat, but especially those who plan to be full-time cruisers. During these hands-on sailing experiences, your seaschool instructor combines our real-life practical methods with the most up-to-date sailing theory courses. These experiences set you up to enjoy a stress-free cruising lifestyle. Especially when you can train aboard your own boat, you can become comfortable with your equipment and configurations for operation and safety.

You not only learn how to be a team as you sail, anchor, trim sails, and navigate safely from point A to point B, you also get your questions answered by experienced liveaboard sailors about how to downsize, provision for long cruises, and mostly, how to enjoy watching the sunset in a gorgeous anchorage with your favorite beverage in hand.

CATAMARAN SAILING SCHOOLS & LIVEABOARD EXPERIENCES

Sail with us to learn.

Week-Long Liveaboard Courses Rare RYA Classes & Certifications

Catamaran Guru’s real-life practical methods combined with up-to-date sailing theory in lessons aboard recent model catamarans…or your own boat!

Prepare for certifications or take the first step aboard to embark on your dream life of boat ownership or cruising

Classes in S Florida and the Bahamas.

Our Seaschool Students Excel As Sailors & Cruisers

We are very proud of our former seaschool students. Most of them have embraced yachting, sailing, and cruising in some way or another. Many of our graduates have successfully own their own boats. Some are long-term cruisers or charter boat owners and some have even done successful circumnavigations. Others have done long-term sabbaticals and several liveaboard school graduates have even moved on to successful careers in the marine industry as yacht brokers, charter yacht operators, and charter management.

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Estelle Cockcroft

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For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you.

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Go From Beginner to Cruiser — Learn Big Cruising Boat Skills and Techniques

Picture yourself at the helm of a yacht you can live on, cruising with family and friends in the Caribbean, Greek Islands, South Pacific, and Croatia. Imagine the thrill of confidently taking family and friends for a sail on your own spacious cruising catamaran or monohull. If you are not yet a sailor, we have a course that takes you from “couch to the Captain’s chair!” If you already have basic sailing skills you’re ready to gain the knowledge and techniques to get into cruising. All these exciting sailing adventures can be yours to enjoy, when you Learn to Cruise on Offshore Sailing School’s liveaboard sailboats.

Learn to Take Command of a 40-50′ Yacht

Offshore Sailing School learn to cruise courses – OSS 103, 104 and 114 – are taught on 40’ to 50’ monohulls and catamarans. This is the next step after completing Offshore Sailing School’s Basic Keelboat 101 sailing lessons on a 26′ Colgate 26 keelboat. On a cruising monohull or catamaran you spend 5 days gaining skills and knowledge to competently and confidently handle large monohulls and catamarans under sail and power – returning to the host resort each evening to sleep in an air-conditioned room and dine at local fun eateries, or living, cooking, and sleeping aboard during the 5-day period with one or two evenings at a restaurant as you cruise and learn. In those five days, you earn US Sailing Basic Cruising Certification and US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification, ready to skipper a yacht up to 50′.

OSS 101/103/104 and OSS 114 – Fast Track to Cruising® Courses

If you are not yet a sailor or have minimal experience, Fast Track to Cruising® courses start with two days of sailing lessons on a Colgate 26 while staying ashore at night, then five or six days on a 44’ to 50’ monohull (OSS 101/103/104) or 40′ to 45′ catamaran (OSS 101/103/104/114) – learning how to handle big sailing yachts.

Stay Ashore or Live Aboard Schedule Options

While most students opt for the immersive Fast Track to Cruising® live-aboard experience, a stay-ashore version of the cruising course is available in certain locations. Some students prefer the stay-ashore version in late summer when the water and air can be very warm, and an air-conditioned room is the perfect end to each day of the course. If you are traveling with family or friends who just want to enjoy the resort and not participate in sailing lessons, the stay-ashore schedule works well for all in your party. Call 888-454-7015 for stay-ashore date and location availability.

If You Have Basic Sailing Experience Equivalent to OSS 101 Certification

You may be able to test-out of the first two days of the Fast Track to Cruising® course if you have basic skills and are comfortable steering and maneuvering sailboats (keelboats with jib and mainsail) at least 20’ in length. Ask your Sales Associate for details.

Family Fast Track® to Cruising Package

Our special family Fast Track® to Live Aboard Cruising Course is available for two adults and two family kids* between the ages of 12 and 25 learning together. This family sailing adventure is a perfect opportunity to reunite family members. learn the skills to bareboat charter together, and enjoy countless boating vacations in the future! Call 888-454-7015 for availability and pricing.

*Fifth family child between age 12 and 25 may be added for additional fee.

OSS 103/104 Basic Cruising and Bareboat Charter Cruising Certification Courses

These two courses are offered together in one week, taking you from the basics of cruising through the skills needed to skipper a large cruising yacht. If you prefer to sleep ashore in a hotel room each night, consider one of the Bareboat Cruising Certification Courses at our catamaran sailing school or monohull sailing school.

Live Aboard Cruising Courses provide total immersion in the cruising lifestyle. You sleep on the boat for your live aboard sailing lessons, while sharing all the tasks with your classmates, and learn while sailing to different destinations each day.

Navigation Courses and Passage Making Courses

The next step after learning to cruise sailboats is learning to sail far from land. OSS 105/106 Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making is an 8-day journey that starts with two days of Coastal Navigation instruction while staying ashore, then six days learning the nuances of sailing longer distances but not too far off shore. The final step in the Fast Track program is OSS 107/108 Fast Track to Offshore Passage Making – a 10-day program that starts with four days of Celestial Navigation while staying ashore, then six days heading off shore and out of sight of land.

Join a Colgate Sailing Adventures® Flotilla Cruise

Offshore Sailing School organizes flotilla cruises all over the world, for our graduates and competent sailors who love to explore under sail. These hassle free sailing vacation adventure cruises are lead by our experienced team – Nate and Heather Atwater.

Get Your International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) for Charter Cruising Overseas

If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification credentials and an International Proficiency Certificate. The IPC is issued by US Sailing for a nominal fee, once you have obtained US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, and Bareboat Cruising certifications. For more information, view details on US Sailing organization’s website here.

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