Take the helm!
Take advantage of your time aboard by learning the ropes, sign up for American Sailing courses with your charter and gain certifications as you go! Courses will have you learning and living hands on with licensed Captain and ASC Certified Sailing Instructors. Throughout a typical week charter guests can complete up to three courses gaining any or all of the following American Sailing certifications; 101-Basic Keelboat Sailing, 103-Basic Coastal Cruising and 104-Bareboat Cruising. By day gain knowledge and experience sailing, navigating, anchoring, and docking all while exploring the captivating Sea of Abaco. The completion of 104 certifies a sailor for future bareboat chartering, imagine having the knowledge and experience to bareboat charter anywhere! We also offer 114 Catamaran certification giving you twin engine skills and multihull experience. Abaco truly offers a perfect playground for sailors to get their feet wet and here at Cruise Abaco we have some of the best instructors in the business! Check out below for detailed course descriptions and to learn more about American Sailing courses!!
Private American Sailing classes and instruction are offered on any of our sailboats.
Our unique “Captain by day, Bareboat by night” concept allows the best of both worlds while earning your American Sailing certifications. The Captain / Instructor is with you during the day, sailing, teaching and stopping to snorkel or take in sights and explore. Each evening leaves you safely moored, anchored or docked (your preference) and you have the privacy of the vessel to yourselves with a RIB dingy and outboard to go ashore to restaurants, beach comb, swim and explore. The following morning your Captain returns and off you go to another location and destination, each night in a different spot.
Course Descriptions
We offer American Sailing courses 101, 103, 104 and 114. We also offer the advanced course of American Sailing 105, please contact us for the details. Each course cost is per student and will be added to your charter rate. Please note American Sailing course cost includes all study materials and certifications.
Basic Keelboat (American Sailing 101)
Prerequisites: None
General Description: Able to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. A preparatory standard with no auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
Basic Coastal Cruising (American Sailing 103)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing
General Description: Able to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 20 to 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.
Bareboat Chartering (American Sailing 104)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising
General Description: An advanced cruising standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as skipper or crew of a 30 – 50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures. Completion of this class will qualify you to captain your bareboat charter or your own boat.
Cruising Catamaran (American Sailing 114)
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Chartering
General Description: An advanced cruising standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as skipper and crew of a 30-50 foot multihull sailboat by day in coastal waters. The standard includes those skills unique to a 30-50 foot multihull.
Our American Sailing Certified Sailing Instructors
American Sailing reviews feedback from their students every year and then selects the top 1.5 percent from the thousands of American Sailing instructors world-wide. We are proud that each of the American Sailing instructor-certified Captains at Cruise Abaco has coveted this prestigious “ASA Outstanding Instructor” award.
Meet the Captains
Captain Mark Gonsalves
American Sailing Instructor
Captain Joe Cetner
American Sailing Instructor
Captain Aaron Benbow
American Sailing Instructor
Captain Audrey Allgood
USCG Licensed Master Captain
