It's cold and dreary outside and the holiday bustle is upon
us, but the sun is shining and the warm winds are blowing in
the Virgin Islands! Airfares are low, and your vessel
awaits.
The Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship offers beginning
to intermediate level sailing courses in the Caribbean from
December through April, and there is a spot here for you.
During your cruise you will live aboard our ocean going yacht,
the Island Packet 440
CELESTIAL,
pictured here, with three or four other students plus the
instructor for eight days.
The primary emphasis in your training will be the hands-on
skills needed to safely and competently operate sailing
vessels. For those seeking certification, up to two
levels of ASA Certification (ASA 101 and 103 or ASA 103 and
104) are available. For students with adequate experience, you
can challenge ASA 101, and take ASA 103 and 104 to earn your
ASA bareboat certificate.
Occasionally, Virgin Island participants are not interested in
certification and, often with couples, only one is interested
in instruction. As long as the spouse enjoys sun and
water, this is fine with us. Just let us know that you
are interested in more leisure than learning!
All of our Instructors are USCG licensed captains and ASA
certified instructors who also teach our Chesapeake Bay and
ocean training cruises. Our instructors are handpicked
for their knowledge, skills and teaching abilities, and meet
the highest standards in the industry.

Our
yachts are docked at
Crown
Bay Marina in St Thomas, USVI. Students arrive on the day
prior to the first class day and settle in to the yacht and
island life before departing for a week of sailing
instruction, mixed with a generous portion of relaxation and
island life. The students and captain decide on
the cruise itinerary including various harbors in US and
British Virgin Islands, with stops at a few ports to have
meals ashore and explore the islands.
The cost per person for the 8 day training cruise is $2200.
The tuition includes on-board food, study materials, testing
and optional ASA Certification. Students are responsible
for transportation and meals taken ashore. ASA membership
($39) is also required for ASA 101 students.