Black Rock Sailing School provides individuals and families with instructional charters, captained charters, and flotilla opportunities both locally and world-wide! Pick a location to find information on what we are currently offering, and specific dates for “specialty” trips. We can create customized sailing vacations that can combine adventures afloat, ashore, and in/under the sea.
SPECIAL VIRGIN ISLAND CHARTERS
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Black Rock Sailing School also offers ASA certification courses out of the US, British, and Spanish Virgin Islands November 30th through the third Sunday in April each year! Our primary teaching boats are a 2015 Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 catamaran & a mint 2008 Beneteau 46 3-cabin – although our partnership with CYOA Yacht Charters gives us access to their beautiful fleet on catamarans and monohulls when needed as well!
We have exceptional local knowledge of these islands – having lived, taught, and sailed these islands extensively since 1995. Every week is a bit different since students have varying goals and desires, so we can anchor out in remote areas and cook aboard most nights, or mingle with the charter boat “herd” in more touristy locations and eat ashore at some awesome beach restaurant/bars most nights. In either case, you will gain an incredible amount of local knowledge, anchor in many locations, and learn the in and outs of the Virgin Islands so that you can return on your own.
Earn one ASA certification and enjoy a short sailing vacation during one of our seven day trips. We offer ASA 104 and ASA 106 in this format. Going for only one certification allows the instructor to spread lectures out over the week and allow for more time to go hiking, snorkeling, and exploring.
Earn two ASA certifications (a more rigorous course load) during one of our eight day trips. We offer ASA 101/103, ASA 103/104, ASA 104/114 combo courses in this format. These “combo courses” are our most popular option, but you need to expect much longer days as we crisscross the island chain. We typically start lectures around 8:30am and end sailing between 6pm and 8pm depending on how hard-core the group is, or if we stop to snorkel or explore that day.
All of our ASA certification courses provide approximately a day of overlap to the pre-requisite course, so taking two courses within a week really reinforces key skills before continuing onto more advanced topics/skills.
Be wary of any schools that offer three or more certifications within a week! These schools are doing a serious disservice to their students by attempting to cram information into a week – or skip most details entirely. “Fast track” is definitely the WRONG track!
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Join our staff on a Black Rock Sailing School graduate flotilla in December or April! We think of these weeks as sailing adventure camp for adults! Get a truly local experience and enjoy the adventures that we used to do on our days off back when we lived in these islands full-time!
If multiple boats, our instructors can rotate through the boats to share their experience with each crew. We will have all sorts of adventures and social events planned throughout the week. Visit a different island each night, and hit all of the “must see” hotspots – both commercial and off the beaten path! Any Black Rock Sailing School graduate is welcome to join – and even bring friends or family!
We have been providing captained charters in the Virgin Islands since 1995. Gather a group of friends or family and let our experienced captains guide you on the vacation of a lifetime! Four to six crew per boat. Catamarans and monohulls are available! Option to earn your ASA 114 Catamaran certification if you book a trip aboard a catamaran!
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Grab a bunch of friends and/or family and book a captained charter during this peak week! Our local knowledge is as good as it gets, and we will guide you through the islands while taking you to the best beaches & snorkel spots, showing you the best hikes, shopping areas, and restaurant/bars. You will “create your own adventure” and we will make it all happen!
Call or email for pricing. This will be peak-season pricing, but in some cases, this is the only time families can go.
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From Culebra to St. John and Anegada – we have it all covered!:
Grab a bunch of friends and/or family and book a captained charter during this off-peak week! There will be a lot less boat traffic during this week and the islands will be ours!
Our local knowledge is as good as it gets, and we will guide you through the islands while taking you to the most remote beaches, snorkel spots, and anchorages – with a goal of cooking aboard each night and avoiding the hot spots if you wish.
Call or email for pricing – it will be less than our standard rate due to time of year!
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Grab a bunch of friends and/or family and book a captained charter during this off-peak week! There will be a lot less boat traffic during this week and the islands will be ours!
Our local knowledge is as good as it gets, and we will show you the best of islands – both on land and at sea. We will plan a early morning and/or evening hike at each island we visit. These hikes will start with a stretching session and will be relatively strenuous – but they will provide the most amazing views.
During the day, we will hit multiple snorkel spots and beaches to provide plenty of swimming opportunities and long walks in the sand.
Call or email for pricing – it will be less than our standard rate due to time of year!
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(TBD late March/early April)
Grab a bunch of friends and/or family and book a captained charter during this peak race week! Learn race strategy and tactics while being an active crew in a multi-day regatta!This week will be all about training for, and participating in the regatta. Therefore, we won’t be exploring a majority of the islands, BUT we will have a TON of fun and experience some insane parties.
There will be some time to hit multiple snorkel spots and beaches.
SPECIAL NEW ENGLAND CHARTERS
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Our New England locations are amazing places to visit! Book a “vacation week” and earn two ASA sailing certifications while getting 10% off of each course! You can sleep aboard our larger cruising boats at the dock (if available), or we can suggest places to stay ashore! This format is available every week between May 1 and October 15th.
Your first course will run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 10am to 6pm. You will have Thursday off to explore local sites and/or practice sailing aboard our sailing club boats. Your second course will run Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10am to 6pm. If your second course is ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising, your second course will begin at 10am on Thursday (no day off).
All of our ASA certification courses provide approximately a day of overlap to the pre-requisite course, so taking two courses within a week really reinforces key skills before continuing onto more advanced topics/skills.
Be wary of any schools that offer up to three certifications within a week. These schools are doing a serious disservice to their students by attempting to cram information into a week – or skip most details entirely.
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We offer “Adventure Cruising” experiences throughout New England each month. Our expert instructors will be in “coaching mode,” while they help the crew plan their itinerary, provision, and explore. If you have specific skills that you would like to work on along the way, this is your chance! Liveaboard one of our larger cruising yachts and visit numerous ports along the way.
