BVI Learn to Sail with US

ASA 101-BASIC KEELBOAT This is the starting point for anyone wishing to become ASA certified.
What does it gives me?
ASA 101 – Basic keelboat certificate of competence.
What does that let me do?
Take out a small keelboat 20 feet or more in length no eng in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. No auxiliary power or navigation skills required.
What do I need to do it?
Nothing! No experience required.
How many days do I need to complete the course?
We recommend a minimum of 2 days onboard to complete this course.
Which boats can I learn on?
ASA 101 must be taken on a monohull. We recommend the following yachts:

• Venturi: Fully battened mainsail and deeper keel for better sailing performance
• Jitterbug: Fully battened mainsail which provides good performance & a taste of the classic way of sailing
• Tola Sunrise: In mast furling & air conditioning

Got your ASA 101 already? Time for your ASA 103 – Coastal cruising!
What does it give me?
Your ASA 103 – Coastal Cruising certificate of competence.
What does that let me do?
This allows you to sail a boat up to 30ft in moderate wind and sea conditions, in local and regional waters during daylight hours.
What do I need to do it?
You need your ASA 101 certificate of competence.
How many days do I need to complete the course?
We recommend a minimum of 3 days onboard to complete this course.
Which boats can I learn on?
ASA 103 can be taken on a monohull or a catamaran. However, if you would like to take your ASA 101 & 103 in the same trip you must take both courses on a monohull. We recommend the following yachts:

• Calypso Express: Top-down furling spinnaker for some high-speed sailing
• Sempre Verde: Great view of the sail at all times & airconditioning
• Pegasus: Spacious 3 cabin with a skipper’s cabin & air-conditioning
• Arctic Fantasy: 4 cabins & 2 skipper’s cabin, with air-conditioning & great a helm position 

Got your ASA 103 already? Time for your ASA 104 -Bareboat Cruising.
What does it give me?
ASA 104- Bareboat Cruising certificate of Competence.
What does that let me do?
Along with sufficient experience, ASA 104 gives you the ability to bareboat charter. This advanced cruising standard is 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 level includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.
What do I need to do it?
You need your ASA 103 certificate of competence.
How many days do I need?
We recommend a minimum of 3 days onboard to complete this course.
Which boats can I learn on?
ASA 104 can be taken on a catamaran or a monohull. We recommend the following yachts:

• Rhythm & Blues: Top down furling spinnaker for high-speed sailing
• Cosette: 4 cabins & a skipper cabin with air conditioning
• Sunday Girl: 4 cabin layout & a skipper’s cabin, with air conditioning
• Carpe Diem: Great view of sail at all times & air conditioning 

Got your ASA 104 already? Time for your ASA 114 -Catamaran Cruising.
What does it give me?
ASA 114- Catamaran Cruising Certificate of Competence.
What does that let me do?
Along with sufficient experience, ASA 114 gives you the ability to bareboat charter a catamaran. Learn to skipper an auxiliary-powered sailing cruising catamaran of approximately 30-45′ feet in length during a multi-day liveaboard cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions.
What do I need to do it?
You need your ASA 104 certificate of competence.
How many days do I need?
We recommend a minimum of 2 days onboard to complete this course.
Which boats can I learn on?
ASA 114 must be taken on a catamaran. We recommend the following:

• Rope The Wind: Air conditioned, 4 cabins, with a skipper’s cabin and separate head
• Duality: Furling code zero & asymmetric spinnaker for high speed sailing, plus a great view of sail at all times & air conditioning
• Detour: Air conditioned, with 4 cabins, a skipper’s cabin and separate head
• Island Riff: Great helm position & air conditioning 

LEARN TO SAIL WEEK MONOHULL

Ready to start your sailing journey? Our monohull week covers ASA 101, Sailing Made Easy and ASA 103, Coastal Cruising. Whilst completing your courses around the BVI you can also enjoy a vacation in the sun, explore onshore bars and restaurants, snorkel our amazing coral reefs and discover white sand beaches!

This course is open to all levels of experience, no prior experience necessary. The maximum number of learning students onboard will be 6. You may also bring along friends and family who are not learning but would like to join the vacation!

Upcoming dates:

• May 18^th -24^th 2025

This course starts at 5pm on Sunday and finishes at midday the following Saturday.

The cost of each of these courses is $2995 for a single cabin, $4990 for a double cabin.

This includes:

• Accommodation onboard for 6 nights, 6 days.
• Experienced ASA Instructor
• Onboard meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners)
• Fuel and water
• National Park fees
• Cruising permits
• ASA logbook completed and signed by your instructor
• ASA certification stickers

This does not include:

• Travel costs to arrive and depart from Nanny Cay marina, BVI (flights, taxis, hotels etc)
• Personal insurance
• Meals ashore (3 dinners)
• Alcoholic beverages onboard
• Instructor gratuity

LEARN TO SAIL WEEK CATAMARAN

Ready to progress on your sailing journey? Our catamaran week covers ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising and ASA 114, Catamaran Cruising. Whilst completing your courses around the BVI you can also enjoy a vacation in the sun, explore onshore bars and restaurants, snorkel our amazing coral reefs and discover white sand beaches!

This course is open to students who are previously certified ASA 101 and ASA 103 or have equivalent experience level (80 hours of on water experience and knowledge of the following topics). We also recommend this course to students that are already certified and want more time on water before bareboating. The maximum number of learning students onboard will be 6. You may also bring along friends and family who are not learning but would like to join the vacation!

Upcoming dates:

• May 25^th – 31^st 2025

This course starts at 5pm on Sunday and finishes at midday the following Saturday.

The cost of this course is $3295 for a single cabin, $5590 for a double cabin.

This includes:

• Accommodation onboard for 6 nights, 6 days.
• Experienced ASA Instructor
• Onboard meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners)
• Fuel and water
• National Park fees
• Cruising permits
• ASA logbook completed and signed by your instructor
• ASA certification stickers

This does not include:

• Travel costs to arrive and depart from Nanny Cay marina, BVI (flights, taxis, hotels etc)
• Personal insurance
• Meals ashore (3 dinners)
• Alcoholic beverages onboard
• Instructor gratuity

LENNY SHABES SAILING FESTIVAL 15-21 June, hosted by American Sailing

 

THE FLOTILLA

A flotilla is a group of boats sailing together from destination to destination, sharing the joy of being on the water and the excitement of what’s ashore. In this flotilla, we anticipate 10-20 boats made up of  incredible individuals from around the world, coming together for one amazing week. Book your cabin with American Sailing and you’ll have your own skipper, a luxury catamaran, and a dream sailing vacation waiting for you.

 

 

THE ITINERARY STARTING: June 15th

Sunday

• Arrive at Marina in the early afternoon
• Get settled on the boat
• Welcome party

 

Monday

• Sail to Norman
• Snorkeling at the Indians
• Willy T Glow Party

 

Tuesday

• Sail to Spanish Town
• Explore the Baths
• Experience a Coco Maya Dinner

 

Wednesday

• Sail to the North Sound
• Beach Day at the Bitter End Yacht Club
• Hobie Cat Regatta
• Sundowners at Saba Rock

 

Thursday

• Anegada Regatta
• Beach day at Anegada
• Beach Bonfire

 

Friday

• Sail to Jost Van Dyke
• Beach day at Soggy Dollar
• Foxy’s for sundowners

 

Saturday

• Sail from JVD to Marina
• Boat checkout by late morning
• Departure

 

*Itineraries are subject to change due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Luxury cabin onboard a 42′ catamaran, including private head/shower.
• Provisions for 6 days – Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Water
• Fuel
• Skipper / Instructor

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Dinners
• Alcoholic Drinks
• Snorkel Equipment / Water Sports
• Shoreside Activities
• Skipper Gratuity
• BVI Tourist Tax
• Travel Insurance

 

Prices start at $4,998 USD per cabin. Limit 2 sailors per cabin

 

Deposits

An initial Deposit of 40% secures your cabin.

Payment Due Dates

All registrations must be paid in full by March 14th, 2025.

Refunds / Cancellations

Payments/Deposits will be refunded in full if a reservation is canceled before March 14th, 2025. Cancellations after March 14th, 2025 are non-refundable.

Yacht Charter Skippers

Captain Dom – BVI Skipper and ASA Instructor

Hi, I’m Dom, a skipper for Horizon.

I’m from the UK but since starting working on yachts at 18 I haven’t looked back. I have spent my time on boats from South Africa to the Mediterranean and most recently, the BVI.

I am RYA Yachtmaster Ocean qualified, completing my training in the UK and in South Africa. My resume includes work on multiple superyachts in the Mediterranean, so I’m no stranger to excellent service, an Atlantic crossing, which gave me plenty of time to fine-tune my sailing skills and Captain on a 22m yacht based in Monaco which I safely navigated across France, Spain and Italy.

I have a range of skills from yacht maintenance to water sports and I pride myself on always giving guests a great experience in all aspects of their trip.

Testimonial April 2023 from Nathan McElmurry: “Captain Dom is the greatest! As is all the staff at Horizon. We had to alter our dates last-minute due to a death in the family and everyone was very sympathetic and accommodating. Even prior to that incident, the whole Horizon family made our trip a breeze (no pun intended) and ensured that we had everything we needed as first-timers. Highly recommend this company.”

Testimonial March 2024 from Steven Blaine who completed his 104 on Maverick:
“Dom is probably the best instructor (of any type, from golf to school sports, to pickleball, including sailing) that I have encountered in my 67 years. Is a true gem and you are I’m sure you know very lucky to have him as part of your team. Thanks again! Fair winds!”

Testimonial July 2024 from Melvin Díaz: “I took a Catamaran (Arctic Fantasy 2) with my family from July 19 until the 25th. We had another captain, but I would like to share some good things about Captain Dom Hutchinson who was the captain of the other family traveling together with us in Rendevous. I noticed that he is a very hard worker and a great captain who exceeded by far the captain duties all along the week with the other family and ours. We were very grateful having him with us. I’m planning in chartering again next year and definitely we will ask for Dom to be our captain.” 

Testimonial July 2024 from Lewis Collins: “You need to keep Dom at all costs. He was AMAZING! His professionalism , knowledge and people skills were superior. When we come back he will be out Captain!”

Testimonial from October 2024 from Thomas Decker aboard Detour: “Thank you again for all the help leading up to the trip. Further Dom was remarkable; two of us learn & work in a very similar way which I think was similar to how he operates, but I was impressed with how he was able to communicate with our third person as well, one that I didn’t really think would actually go through with any certifications. You guys have a great program going there, a mindless vacation for a couple people and a learning adventure for the rest of us, wouldn’t have changed a thing except for more time!”

“Many thanks for an unforgettable week onboard Cosette! Thank for your patience and wisdom as we made our way to sailing proficiency and nailing ASA 101, 103 and 104! I will happily recommend Horizon to anyone who is into doing the same thing” – Nick Sullivan

“Thank you so much for an amazing week of sailing! I am significantly more comfortable heeling and anchoring. I hope to be down again for my 114!” – Vicki

“It was a great week – the perfect balance of theory, practice and fun. I learned a lot! It was also a real confidence builder which I think I need almost more than the instruction.” – Janet and Michael

“Many thanks for an unforgettable week onboard Cosette! Thank for your patience and wisdom as we made our way to sailing proficiency and nailing ASA 101, 103 and 104! I will happily recommend Horizon to anyone who is into doing the same thing.” – Nick Sullivan 

“It was a wonderful experience and learned a lot. I think getting certifications while staying on the boat is the best way to really immerse yourself on staying / potentially living on a sailboat. I would highly recommend this experience.” – Bethany Spinney

“We recently concluded a 10-day charter through Horizon with the aim of acquiring ASA certifications. A large highlight of the trip was our skipper, Cara. She is an EXTREMLY competent sailor and amazing instructor. For 10 days we watched her 100% practice what she preached. As a student this was highly beneficial to not only see in action all I had been reading in the ASA books, but also to witness the correct attitude of being a skipper. She made the best company, which we quickly missed and picking up a mooring ball is soooo easy now!.” – Justin Tucker