Virgin Islands Sailing Academy

Virgin Islands Location, Classes, and Prices

Beginning students should start with either ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing, or our combination ASA101 Basic Keelboat/ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising class, or our combination ASA101 Basic Keelboat/ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising/ASA104 Bareboat Cruising class. Our nine day ASA101/103/104 is our biggest selling class.

ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing: 3 Day all on the water, live aboard, beginner level sailing class. ASA101 provides all you need to get started sailing, including sailing vocabulary, principles of sailing, sail trim, steering, required safety equipment, proper commands for tacks and jibes, crew overboard recovery, and much more, while day sailing near Red Hook in Pillsbury Sound for the first two days, and then spending one night in Saint John. You will be able to sail on a basic level after completing ASA101. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: None. Price includes Sailing Made Easy by ASA, ASA membership, ASA Test, and ASA Certification. Price: $999. Price includes on board breakfast and lunches. Dinners are eaten in local restaurants. If no restaurant is available then dinner on the boat is included. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge.

ASA101/103 Combination: 6 day all on the water live aboard program. Students learn all the major sailing concepts as shown in the ASA101 description above and in the ASA103 description below, while day sailing near Red Hook in Pillsbury Sound the first two days, and then sailing to various locations in Saint John, Jost van Dyke, and Tortolla, and return. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: None. Price: $1998 for singles. Price includes everything described in the ASA101 and ASA103 descriptions. Couples get an 10% off both spaces and pay just $3596. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge.

ASA101/103/104 Combination: 9 day all on the water live aboard program. Students go from beginner to competent sailor in nine days. Students learn all the major sailing concepts listed in the individual descriptions for ASA101, ASA103, and ASA104. Students learn from a patient and competent captain while sailing to destinations in Saint John and the BVI including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, Cruz Bay and more. Pricing includes everything described in the ASA101, ASA103, and ASA104 descriptions. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: None. Price: $2,699. Price includes 10% off for taking all three classes in combination. Couples can get an additional 10% off both spaces and pay only $4,859. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge.
ASA 101/103 Combo Class
Class Descriptions and Prices:
ASA 106 Adv. Coastal Cruising
ASA106 Advanced Coastal Cruising: Students can also go on ocean passages and get 106 certification instead of ASA108 certification if they already have ASA101-105. 6-9 day all on the water, live aboard program. ASA106 is our most advanced class other than Ocean Passage Making, and requires night time sailing, advanced navigation skills, and many challenging situations in terms of weather, wind and sea conditions. Students learn advanced sailing techniques and seamanship skills. Price includes sleeping on board all nights, The Annapolis Book of Sailing and Seamanship Textbook by John Rousmaniere, ASA Test, and ASA Certification. Price includes all on board food and beverages. Class size: 2-4. Prerequisites: ASA101, ASA103, ASA104, ASA105. Sailors with significant experience but no ASA certifications can take this class without getting certified, just to gain the experience. See ASA108 description. Price: $2499 for just ASA106. Combination ASA106/108 $2,999. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class starts and sleep on board at no additional charge. Students who take ASA106 or ASA106/108 on an ocean passage will go over the 106 material each day. See the course description for ASA108 and the Ocean Passage Making brochure for more information on the ASA108 curriculum.
We operate out of Red Hook in Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
      Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands
     American Yacht Harbor, Red Hook
Red Hook is on the east side of St. Thomas.
ASA 101/103/104 Combo Class
ASA104 Bareboat Cruising Class: 3 Day all on the water, live aboard program. After students complete ASA101 and ASA103, students can sign up for ASA104 Bareboat Cruising course and master the navigation, maintenance, and seamanship skills required in order to safely handle a 30-50 foot sailboat. Students learn sailing and seamanship skills while sailing to destinations in Saint John and the BVI typically including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, and Cruz Bay. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. After completing ASA104 you should be able to charter and handle a similar sized sailboat on your own. Prerequisites: ASA101 and ASA103. Price includes sleeping on board all nights and includes on board breakfast and lunches. Dinners are eaten in local restaurants. If no restaurant is available then dinner on the boat is included. Price also includes Bareboat Cruising Made Easy Textbook by ASA, ASA Test, and ASA Certification. Price: $999. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class starts and sleep on board at no additional charge. Couples get 10% off and pay just $1,798.00.

ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising/ASA104 Bareboat Charter combination class: 6 day all on the water live aboard program. Students who have completed ASA101, or students with experience who feel they can challenge ASA101 successfully, can jump start their sailing education by taking our combination ASA103/ASA104 class. Students complete the basic sailing concepts listed above in the ASA103 class and learn navigation, maintenance, and seamanship skills required to handle a 30 - 50 foot sailboat as described above in the ASA104 description. Students learn from a patient and competent captain while sailing to destinations in Saint John and the BVI typically including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, and Cruz Bay. Pricing includes sleeping on board all nights, on board beverages and meals as described in the ASA103 and ASA104 descriptions, Coastal Cruising Made Easy Textbook by ASA, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy textbook by ASA, ASA logbook, ASA Tests, and ASA Certifications. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: ASA101. $1998.00 for singles. Couples get 10% off and pay only $3596.00. Challenging ASA101 is $199. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge.
ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising
ASA101 Basic Keelboat
Students, who have already taken ASA101, or students with experience who feel they can challenge ASA101 successfully, can take either ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising, or our combination ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising/ASA104 Bareboat Charter class.

ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising: 3 day all on the water live aboard program. ASA103 provides training in the remaining sailing concepts that are not covered in ASA101 including more on gear and equipment, safety, duties of skipper and crew, seamanship, boat handling, docking, anchoring, reefing, and heaving to. Students complete the basic sailing concepts while sailing to destinations in Saint John and the BVI typically including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, and Cruz Bay. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: ASA101. Price includes on board breakfast and lunches. Dinners are eaten in local restaurants. If no restaurant is available then dinner on the boat is included. Also included is the Coastal Cruising Made Easy Textbook by ASA, ASA Test, and ASA Certification. Price: $999. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge. Couples get 10% off and pay just $1,798.00.

ASA103 Basic Coastal Cruising/ASA104 Bareboat Charter combination class: 6 day all on the water live aboard program. Students who have completed ASA101, or students with experience who feel they can challenge ASA101 successfully, can jump start their sailing education by taking our combination ASA103/ASA104 class. Students complete the basic sailing concepts listed above in the ASA103 class and learn navigation, maintenance, and seamanship skills required to handle a 30-50 foot sailboat as described below. Students learn from a patient and competent captain while sailing to destinations in Saint John and the BVI typically including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, and Cruz Bay. Pricing includes sleeping on board all nights, on board beverages and meals as described in the ASA103 and ASA104 descriptions, Coastal Cruising Made Easy Textbook by ASA, Bareboat Cruising Made Easy textbook by ASA, ASA Tests, and ASA Certifications. Class size: 3-4 typically with maximum of five allowed. Prerequisites: ASA101. $1998 for ASA103/104. Challenging ASA101 is $199. Students are invited to arrive the evening before their class begins and sleep on board at no additional charge. Couples get 10% off and pay only $3596.00.
ASA 103/104 Combo Class
Virgin Islands Sailing Academy sailing classes combine learning with vacation. Learn to sail to ASA standards during the day and then immerse yourself in island life in the late afternoons and evenings while you enjoy the golden sunshine and crystal clear turquoise water in the US, British, and Spanish Virgin Islands. Enjoy relaxing or go swimming and snorkeling near tropical reefs or visit an exotic restaurant as you explore one or more of the islands we will visit. Destinations for ASA101/103/104 classes include exotic locations in St. Thomas, St. John, and the BVI including Jost van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Sopers Hole, and Cruz Bay. 10% off for couples. Please scroll down the page to see Class Descriptions and Prices below, and visit our Schedule and How to Sign Up page to complete the process of signing up for classes.
ASA 108 Ocean Passage
Learn skills required to safely sail offshore for an extended period. 9-13 day, live aboard classes, which provide students with an understanding of yacht preparation for ocean sailing, course planning, working a watch schedule, use of celestial navigation, weather analysis, storm avoidance, heavy weather sailing techniques including use of drogue and storm jib, use of radar, techniques for crossing the Gulf Stream, and other elements involved in ocean passage making. ASA106 and ASA107 are prerequisites for certification to ASA108 but this class is also of interest to sailors who just want the experience and not the ASA108 certification. All classes taught by an ASA certified and USCG licensed captain. Three destinations and times to choose from as follows:

St. Thomas to West Palm Beach, FL-970 nautical miles, 9 days, April 10-19, 2020, Captain Mike Brown
West Palm Beach, FL to Norfolk, VA to Rock Hall, MD, 760 nautical miles, 9 Days, April 26-May 5, 2020, Captain Mike Brown SOLD OUT!
Norfolk, VA to Bermuda, 680 nautical miles, 6 days, November 1-7, 2020, Captain Mike Brown, $2499
Bermuda to St. Thomas, 850 nautical miles, 8 Days, November 13-21, 2020, Captain Mike Brown, $2499
St. Thomas to West Palm Beach, FL- 970 nautical miles, 9 days, April 10-19, 2021, Captain Mike Brown, $2499
West Palm Beach, FL to Norfolk, VA to Rock Hall, MD, 760 nautical miles, 9 Days, April 28-May 5, 2021, Captain Mike Brown, $2499

Price includes all on board food and beverages for passages. Same price with or without ASA certification. No discounts apply to ocean passages. Prerequisites for ASA108 are ASA101- ASA107. Students who have ASA101-ASA105 but not ASA107 can get certified to ASA106 Advanced Coastal Cruising or they can also take ASA107 and receive both ASA106 and ASA108 certification.

Click here to download a flyer that describes our Ocean Passage Making Class.
ASA 103/104 Combo Class
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Welcome
Links
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Virgin Islands Location, Classes, and Prices
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Instructors
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Our Teaching Vessel
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Schedule and
How to SIgn Up?
ASA 107 Celestial Navigation
            Home Study
ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
              Home Study
ASA105 Coastal Navigation & Piloting: Home Study Program. Learn the navigational skills required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. Includes chart symbols, publications, chart scaling, navigation rules, tide and current tables, List of lights, converting courses between true, magnetic, and compass, hand bearing compass, navigation tools, compass deviation, plotting a dead reckoning course using speed, time, and course to steer, understanding current and leeway and its effect on your estimated position, determining what course to steer taking into account current and leeway, two bearing fix, three bearing fix, estimated position, running fix, danger bearing, characteristics of lighted navigation aids, understanding the buoyage system, and more. Learn at home and then take the test when you arrive for our ASA104 or ASA106 classes. Prerequisites: None. Price includes Coastal Navigation and Piloting Textbook by Tom Tursi, Solutions Workbook, Practice chart, Dividers, and Parallel Rules. Price: $299.
ASA107 Celestial Navigation Home Study: Learn at home and then take the written test when you arrive for our ASA108 Ocean Passage Making Classes. Students who successfully complete the program will receive certification to the ASA107 standard. ASA107 is required for those planning on getting certified to the ASA108 Ocean Passage Making standard. Learn the parts, principals, and operation of a marine sextant, basic terms and theory of celestial navigation, including time conversion between Standard and Greenwich Mean Time, calculation of zone time at a given longitude, determination of time for sunrise, sunset, and civil twilight given your position. Students get to try out the school's Cassens & Plath Horizon Ultra sextant as part of the ASA108 standard. Students learn how to determine latitude using Polaris, and how to use the Sun at Local Apparent Noon to find latitude and an approximate longitude. Students learn about the celestial triangle, and learn how to use work forms to find a line of position using all celestial bodies normally used for celestial navigation, including the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Use of the Rude Star Finder, which allows students to identify stars and planets, is also part of the home study program. Prerequisites: None from ASA but students should already be familiar with coastal navigation techniques including Estimated Position, Running Fix, and Dead Reckoning. Students should have their own parallel rules and dividers. Prices include Celestial Navigation Textbook, Practice Plotting sheets, Rude Star Finder ASA test, and ASA certification. Price ASA107 $299.
In ASA101, ASA103, ASA104, and ASA106 classes students eat all or nearly all breakfasts and lunches on board. Dinners are eaten off of the boat in local restaurants unless there is no restaurant available. In the event that our boat stays overnight at anchor or on a mooring ball where local shore-based dinner is unavailable, dinner will be planned, provisioned and provided by the school. Students are responsible for purchase of any meals in local restaurants.
Add a home study ASA105 Coastal Navigation Class to your ASA104 or ASA106 class, or add a home study ASA107 Celestial Navigation Class to your ASA108 class and get your ASA105 or ASA107 cert for just $299 more.
Families should consider doing a Captained charter with ASA sailing instruction. Please visit our Captained Charter page for more details. Excellent rates are available.
Classes go forward with a minimum of 2 students. Most classes have 2-4 students. with maximum of five allowed. Students should not book flights until the they have confirmed that there are sufficient students for the class to go forward.
Give the Sailor in your life a Sailing Class:

Please consider giving the sailor in your life a course for Christmas, birthdays, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. We will mail out the course materials in a box suitable for wrapping. After your loved one receives their present, they can contact us to schedule their class.
NOTE: ASA 101 Challenge- Students with significant experience are welcome to challenge ASA101 and sign up for an ASA103 or ASA103/ASA104 Combination class. Challenging ASA101 requires the student to pass the ASA101 written test with an 80%, and demonstrate the on-the-water skills required for the ASA101 standard. Although a separate on-the-water test can be arranged, demonstrating the on-the-water skills typically happens while the student takes an ASA103 or ASA103/ASA104 Combination class. Price: $199. Price includes Sailing Made Easy Textbook, ASA Membership, ASA logbook, ASA Test, and ASA 101 Certification.
Common Questions
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Contact
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Captained Charters
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Captain In You Sailing Schools, Inc.
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Testamonials
ASA119 Marine Weather Endorsement is available as home study only and is for those who want to understand the proper use of weather information in planning and adapting navigation during voyages. Course includes a description of basic weather concepts, pressure and wind, global winds and currents, strong wind systems, clouds fog and sea state, wind and terrain, weather maps, sources of marine weather, on board forecasting and tactics, and southern hemisphere weather. Prerequisites: None. Price: $299 for home study.
ASA 119 Marine Weather Home Study