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.