Virgin Islands Sailing School Itinerary

Welcome to Fair Wind Sailing School! We meet at the yacht Saturday afternoon in Red Hook, St Thomas.  After introductions, we’ll work to fully understand your goals and objectives. Then we'll begin teaching trip preparation, route planning and conduct a few fun exercises to introduce you to the boat and its safety gear. Finally, we’ll provision the boat for our voyage, get you settled into your berths and still have time to enjoy the evening in Red Hook, one of St Thomas’ charming Caribbean towns with many restaurants, bars and strolling up and down the docks. Enjoy your first night aboard.

We go sailing!

First Night at Leinster Bay, St John

After our morning safety at sea lecture, we'll complete our final boat checks and set out on our first voyage.  We will perform drills under power, raise the sails and do our first trade-wind sailing as we cross Pillsbury Sound and head to a quiet anchorage on St John’s.  After a full day on the water learning the helm and proper sail trim, we’ll pick up our first mooring ball and enjoy the deserted beaches, fine swimming and countless stars in the quiet anchorage of Francis Bay, St John's.

At Anchor in
the USVI

We begin the day by heading to West End, Tortola, BVI where you’ll learn how to clear customs from a private yacht, raise the “Q” and courtesy flags, and other international yachting customs.  Next, it's over to Norman Island.  On the way, we’ll sail through the various points of sail, begin our tacking practice, hold lectures on rules of the road, the lateral buoy system and sail trim. With luck, we’ll have time for a once in a lifetime snorkel at the Indians or The Caves.  Finally, we’ll celebrate passing the ASA 101 certification test with a drink and maybe dinner at the legendary Willy Tee’s floating pirate ship bar and restaurant.

We sail up the Francis Drake Channel.  Lots of tacking practice, man-over-board drills and navigation practice fill the day as we round Tortola and head to Marina Cay or Lee Bay.  If conditions are right, this is the perfect time to practice putting reefs in the sails and shaking them out.  We’ll pick up another mooring ball – a skill that you'll know well by now.  Our nice long sail up the channel will be followed by a relaxing night with an evening lecture on plumbing and electrcial systems. There's time for a swim on the protected beach or a sunset drink at one of  the most picturesque locations in the Caribbean.

Today’s lectures focus on preparing for and preventing sea sickness, minor engine repairs and anchoring challenges.  Then we set off on a quick sail to Monkey Point for an unforgettable snorkel that you’ll talk about for years.  Next, its down-wind sailing day with practice reaching, running and gybing.  We’ll heave-to for lunch outside Sandy Spit and then finish the day’s sailing at Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke with more anchoring practice.  Finally, we celebrate passing our ASA 103 exam at the world-famous Foxy’s!

Engine Repair Lecture

Students celebrate with Foxy

We'll begin with an early lecture on VHF radio operation, weather and dinghy safety. Then we set sail, performing quick stop man over board drills and more down wind sailing drills on our way to Cruz Bay, St John’s. We’ll clear customs back into the U.S. in St John’s and have another chance to practice our anchor sets.  Then it's more sailing drills on the way to Great St James Island and Christmas Cove.  Yet another anchor set is rewarded by some great snorkeling and protected swimming from the boat.  We'll enjoy a relaxing night onboard, practice some knot tying, and review for the final exam as we count shooting stars and enjoy the seclusion of Christmas Cove!

Knot Tying

We begin day seven with final sailing drills followed by docking practice as we sail West and head back to Red Hook for our final review and exam.  Congratulations are in order as you pass your ASA 104 exam and earn the right to do your own bareboat charter!  As we wrap up, it will be difficult to say good-bye to new friends, but you'll leave with the confidence that you have become a capable sailor and the knowledge that your next trip will be as Captain!

Docking Practice

ASA 104 Exam--We Passed !!