TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Bareboat Sailing Course

Just starting to look into sailing courses, a friend and I would like to do a trip and take a sailing course. I have been to BVIs three times on a crewed charter and another on a bareboat with an experienced skipper, we've completed the ASA 101 course already.

Was wondering if BVI would be the best place for this type of course or should we consider another location?

Can anyone recommend a good instructor or company?

We would prefer taking the course on a monohull but as we gain experience, I think we we need to charter a cat for the comfort of our wives...taking that into consideration, should we take the course on a cat?

Thanks for any input!

I did my live aboard course with Rob Swain in Tortola. I felt it was a great course and have sailed the BVI every year for the past 10 years since the course. Taking the course in the BVI worked out for me because on my first charter, I had already been to most of the places with Rob. This made the first time out on my own much easier. Also, Rob anchors almost every night, so you get a lots of practice anchoring and you'll spend the night on a hook several times that week.
I'm sure there are a lot of good schools out there, but if I had to do it over again I would use Rob Swain again and would do it in Tortola.

I would highly suggest you consider what your near and long term bareboat sailing interests and destinations are before choosing a particular certification (ASA, US SAiling, ...).
If you are intending to do anything in Europe, like Croatia, Greece, etc they are becoming increasingly more strict on enforcing the EU sailing (and power) requirements. Requiring the "International Certificate of Competence". Also commonly referred to the major cert program "RYA Certificates of Competence". We were able to make an equivalency argument/documentation for my US Sailing (or ASA) certificates (via the Article 4 Paragraph 3 of The Ordinance on Boats and Yachts) for the Greek Ionian Sea area last year but it can be highly charter company specific as to what they'll accept. Sailing from Croatia from what I understand is getting extremely strict about needing the ICC. There is more emphasis on VHF skills, hands on demonstration of boats skills.
In short DO NOT assume that the Bareboat ASA 101-104 certs will accepted in Europe even if they say "bareboat". And do not rely on ASA or US Sailing saying they'll issue an ICC equivalent in the form of an "International Proficiency Certificate (IPC)". That IS NOT the same as the ICC. Some charters/countries will/may accept it and others will/may not. CHECK!!
Some charters will also let you do a local 1-day hands on "sea trial" course to certify you from an ASA104 to an ICC.
The other thing is finding an ICC cert program in the States is hard to find. Usually will have to go to someplace like Miami, Annapolis, Newport, Tortola, Bahamas.
NauticEd is a big ICC cert program worldwide using the RYA (British Royal Yachting Association) courses.
May be more of a hassle, cost a bit more but could save you time, money down the road.
Randy

My husband and I did a week long live aboard ASA course in the BVI's November 2014. We got through 101, 103, 104 and 114 on a 47' cat through Virgin Islands Sailing School. Loved doing it in the BVI's since that's where we intended to sail. Since sailing school, we Have chartered 3 times with our 4th trip coming up this spring. The only things we felt we didn't get enough experience with during the school week was docking and anchoring.

I can 2nd Rob Swain Sailing School. We now have our boat with them, but we took a course with Rob in Newport RI a few years ago with friends.

It is one of the reasons I reached out to them when we were looking at places to put our boat.

You make some excellent points. ASA basic/bareboat/coastal/offshore had ZERO value. Even my ownership of my own yacht..ZERO. The fact that I was raised on a family owned livery...ZERO again. in Greece. To some extent can be blamed on "protectionism" in the Greek Islands and Croatia.

for more in depth foreign rules, there are other sites for that conversation. About the only thing that is still relatively easy is renting a canal boat/barge.

Good info folks, I do plan on sailing mainly BVI so not too concerned about Europe.

We used Rob Swain for 103/104 over a week last April. Then in November we went out for our first charter on our own through Horizon and had a great time.

The only thing I would add is that some of the Swain boats feel dated and aren't in the best shape, so while the instruction was top notch, we were expecting a newer nicer boat so it was a bit of a disappointment. If you go in with the right expectations, I think you will have a blast.

First of to answer the OP questions. Take the courses where it is easiest for you. I also would take into account where you plan to sail. Learning on the Chesapeake for example will be a lot different than learning down here. Different conditions and different navigation issues, hazards, water depth, visibility wind speed etc.

There are lots of good options for this both in the US and down here. There are several good operations being run. Black Rock Sailing teaches on our boat at CYOA in the winter. I have sent people to Swain on Tortola and gotten good feed back. Virgin Islands Sailing school in Red Hook has gotten generally good reviews. One of their Instructors also works for us part time as a captain. Tortola Sailing School also seems to be getting good reviews.

As for the derail part of this thread the International Certificate of Competency. I went through this the year before last to do a Charter in Croatia. Despite having a US Coast Guard Masters I had to get one. If you have taken the necessary courses from ASA you can apply directly to ASA for a fee and they will issue the Certificate.

International Profficiency ASA

Jay

CaptainJay makes a great point: Take it where it is most convenient for you. GET IT DONE! Then put it to use. Sail Sail Sail.
Don't get your certification and then wait years before going on a bareboat cruise.

I'll vouch for Black Rock out of CYOA. Did the 103/104 course in April 2016. Great mix of "class" work and actual practice on the water. Trying steering a 50' Benetou with emergency tiller for an hour! Paul Sullivan was our instructor and had great local knowledge as well as very proficient in teaching.