The Experience

Living aboard a sailing yacht means we do everything just a little bit different. Cabins and the salon are assigned according to gender so everyone has his or her own space and the boat becomes home. The people with whom you are sharing the voyage quickly become a close-knit team, and how we make everything work spontaneously is what makes each group unique. In fact, it is the intense teamwork and newfound friendships that students find to be most challenging and rewarding. In this idyllic setting, with lots to learn and so many things to do, you will wake each morning looking forward to the new day.  

Idyllic Setting

Powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and sheltered harbors dotted with yachts characterize the BVI. Take a deep breath and let the sun melt into your skin. You are in one of the world’s most pristine environments and the adventure's about to begin.

What a Wonderful World

Make a difference in someone else's life. Learn about the culture of the Caribbean and meet people who live a different life in this tropical paradise. Through outreach programs with local groups, we will arrange for community service. You'll come to appreciate cultural differences and understand the adage "when you go, leave behind only a footprint in the sand."  

Discover Your Strengths

It often comes as a surprise to new sailors to realize that the art of sailing is the practical application of many concepts and subjects they’ve already touched on in the classroom during the school year. Mastery of sailing requires an understanding of varying wind and sea conditions (science), as well as knowledge of the sailboat’s structure and equipment (engineering). Plotting a course combines basic math, a bit of algebra and geometry.

Bringing it all together toward a common goal under the summer sun makes the crew realize just how much they already know. This realization – that you’ve got what it takes to surmount anything that comes your way -- is a fact. You’ll know it deep down and can carry that certainty with you forever. Even if you have no idea what I’m talking about and have never set foot on a sailboat before, once underway, you and your crewmates will be having a blast, thrilled to be harnessing the wind and in control of your next maneuver.

Under the Sea

Your captain will guide your discovery of another world just below the water's surface. The pristine waters of the BVI are rich with marine life and reefs that are easy to explore with standard snorkeling gear. Experienced divers and beginners both enjoy the underwater experience.

On Shore Excursions

The adventure continues when we all go ashore. You will delight in the little pastel-colored houses and tiny make-shift shops, the wild goats and chickens that roam many of the islands. Each island has its own colorful personality and we’ll be moored at a new location almost every day. You might want to bring a journal to keep track of it all. The rock formations at The Baths on the island of Virgin Gorda are a natural wonder, and you can hike to elevations that offer you a panoramic view of the BVI.    

Phone  516-767-SAIL

  American Sailing Association