Bareboat Sailing Certification Courses — OSS 103/104/114
Earn Bareboat Certification While Staying at a Destination Resort
During this four-day Bareboat Charter Certification Course you gain the same incredible knowledge and skills covered in the Live Aboard Cruising Course, with the added benefit of a lot more docking practice since you return to base after each on-water bareboat cruising session. Note, the stay-ashore course version may not be available at all locations year-round.
The course was fantastic. So much information in a very
short period of time. It’s a great course to get your feet “wet.” Rick is a fantastic instructor. Didn’t want it to end. Rick has the patience of JOB, the wisdom and knowledge of SOLOMON, and the attitude which encourages students in a positive, and clear way. Plus, he makes learning fun.
Michael and Mari Piscitelli – Lumberton, NJ
Why Live Ashore
During a Bareboat Sailing School Course
- You enjoy the privacy of your own air-conditioned hotel room each night, especially nice during hot summer months
- You gain a lot of docking practice, so valuable for those who plan to purchase a yacht
- Non-sailing family and friends can vacation with you and share non-sailing time
- Best program for families with teens and tweens moving on to cruising certification
“My overall experience was excellent. This was the perfect balance of classroom and on the water instruction.”
Dawn Bedlivy – Catonsville, MD
Qualify for Sailboat Charters and Big Boat Cruising
When you enroll in our bareboat sailing school, you may choose to take the Bareboat Charter Cruising Course (learning while staying at the resort throughout*) on a monohull or catamaran in the British Virgin Islands or Florida. Please call early and have several dates in mind, as this bareboat charter sailing course fills up fast. US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising textbooks are sent in advance to study (see the Offshore Sailing School Bookstore for other available books.) Close, personalized instruction for your bareboat sailing certification is provided by an expert Offshore Sailing School instructor, with Coast Guard license and US Sailing Instructor Certification at the Bareboat Cruising level or higher. Please see the tabs below for what you learn in our Florida bareboat charters courses and Caribbean bareboat charters courses. *Note: Accommodations are NOT included in Key West. Students must make own arrangements.
“Excellent experience. Colgate is truly the best of the best
sailing school. Everything is first class. Colgate delivers a value proposition – an excellent value for the price paid and instruction (and instructional environment) received. The books, the instructor, the hotel classroom, the location in St. Petersburg, FL and the CatalinaMorgan 44’ sailboat were all first class! And well worth the money and time spent.”
Thomas Bisanz – Frisco, TX
International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) for Chartering Overseas
If you plan to charter in Europe or other areas overseas, you may be required to show your certification credentials and an International Proficiency Certificate. The IPC is issued by US Sailing for a nominal fee, once you have obtained US Sailing Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, and Bareboat Cruising certifications. For more information, view details on US Sailing organization’s website here.
A Bareboat Charter Certification Course – whether on a monohull or catamaran – prepares you to sail your own big boat and charter cruising boats on your own, without professional captain and crew aboard (called Bareboat Cruising by charter companies). Depending on weather conditions and the learning pace of all in your class (maximum four per boat per instructor unless you opt for a Private Course), the following knowledge and skills are learned and practiced. Here is more information about what you learn in OSS 103/104 Florida bareboat charter courses.
- Planning a cruise
- Familiarization with boat layout and sail plan
- Operation of engine, stove and head
- Routine engine maintenance
- Fueling techniques
- Use and conservation of battery and charging systems
- Water use and conservation
- Use and location of thru-hull fittings
- Maneuvering under power and sail with emphasis on windage considerations and close quarters
- Big boat docking and anchoring techniques
- Proper and safe handling of halyards and lines
- Proper and safe use of winches
- Apparent wind and sail selection
- Sail shape and trim
- Inter-crew communication when trimming sails, docking and anchoring
- Genoa roller furling use
- Overboard recovery procedures
- Big boat heavy weather and reefing techniques
- Heaving-to
- Sailing wing and wing on bigger boats
- Use of jennaker if available
- Boom preventer use
- More knots and their applications
- Log procedures
- Piloting techniques including set, drift and leeway calculations
- GPS navigation
- Rules of the Road
- Danger bearings
- Coast Guard requirements
- VHF use
- Courtesy using lights and sound signals
- Use of safety harness
- Emergency tiller use
- Distress signals
If you are learning on a catamaran, your training also includes:
- Multiple scenarios related to wind direction and current while docking and anchoring
- Close quarters maneuvering on a catamaran versus a monohull
- Windage considerations
- Spring lines and other dock lines configurations for catamarans
- Reefing by wind strength
- All covered in Catamaran Endorsement OSS 114
Pre-requisite for Bareboat Charter Cruising Courses: US Sailing Basic Keelboat (OSS 101) or equivalent experience is required to take this course. US Sailing Basic Cruising (OSS 103) and Bareboat Cruising Certification(OSS 104) and OSS 114 if learning on a catamaran, are included in your course package (normally a $150 extra charge). Unless you would prefer not to take the tests for certification, the US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboating textbooks are sent in advance in addition to Colgate’s Fast Track to
Resort Locations
At all locations where this course is offered, your course package includes:
- Bareboat Charter Course tuition and US Sailing textbooks
- Five night’s accommodations ashore at the resort*
- Daily resort fee, per person or per room depending on location, allowing you to use all the amenities, WiFi, etc. at the resort*
- Taxes on accommodations and resort fee*
- Practice test mini-cruise at course end without instructor aboard, or onboard as silent observer
- US Sailing Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certifications
- Colgate Logbook (or course log page if you are a returning Offshore Sailing School graduate with a logbook)
- Certification stickers
- Course diploma
- Eligibility to participate in Offshore Sailing Adventures® Flotilla Cruises
- Exclusive subscription benefit from Cruising World and Sailing World magazines
- Discount charter benefits from The Moorings
- *Note, accommodations are NOT included in Key West. Students must make their own arrangements.
Please visit Our Locations for Bareboat Charter Cruise Course packages. Rates vary by season, location, the boat you learn on, and include all the elements listed below. Not included are meals, travel and other expenses you may incur.
Sample schedules, may vary by location, sent to you upon enrollment.
Resort Locations
Sunday – Arrival Day
No instruction
Monday – Wednesday – Days 1 – 3
9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. – Classroom lecture, followed by on-water instruction
1:00-2:00 p.m. – Lunch break (or may pick up lunches in morning and lunch underway or at anchor)
2:00- 5:00 p.m. – On-water instruction
Thursday – Day 4
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lecture and on-water instruction aboard cruising boat
1:00-3:00 p.m. – Lunch break, written test on board, and student test sail
Friday – Day 5 – Departure day
Call 888-454-7015 to confirm open locations as Southwest Florida resort marinas are under repair from Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
Offshore Sailing School knows we cannot thrive without great employees and products. All graduates are asked to fill out an evaluation at the end of the course. The following testimonials come from those evaluations and individual correspondence with recent graduates of the Bareboat Charter Cruising Course. Many are happy to correspond by email or phone with you. If you would like us to put you in touch with anyone below, please call 888-454-7015 or email sail@OffshoreSailing.com. Here’s what our Bareboat Charter Cruising graduates have to say:
Fantastic experience!! From classroom to sea, gusts to gale conditions, I couldn’t have asked for a better “classroom” to get prepared for bareboat cruising. Captiva is an idyllic locale, the people friendly and the seafood superb.
Tom Brazelton – Verona, WI
Our instructor Brian was great. His patience level was fantastic and he made the experience a low stress environment. Would highly recommend this course to anybody looking to bareboat in the future.
Jim Richey – Winter Springs, FL
Wonderful experience. It was exciting to learn new things. Joelle was extremely knowledgeable and capable. She had excellent stories that brought to life the points she was making. She was upbeat and full of energy every day and also did a good job of repeating and summarizing information so that we could learn it.
Coral Jeffries – Asheville, NC
All our instructors were ‘sailors’ and ‘teachers.’ They made learning easy, sailing fun, and the experience great.
Terry Brabb – Louisville, KY
Garren was excellent at balancing instruction and patience. This gave me the extra confidence I needed to skipper a catamaran bareboat charter in the BVI with friends.
Chuck Lane – Northbrook, IL
The overall experience was superb. I would recommend the Offshore Sailing School to anyone at any level with an interest in improving their sailing skills and enjoyment.
Chad Montgomery – Knoxville, TN
Great way to spend a week with the family, actually learning a new skill that’s a lot of fun. It’s something we can all do together.
Stephen Nicolia – Collierville, TN
Our instructor gave us confidence without feeling as if we couldn’t make a mistake. My husband and I are going to book a bareboat charter next summer.
Judy Purinton – Blue Jay, CA
My overall experience was excellent. This was the perfect balance of classroom and on the water instruction. I learned a tremendous amount and was very prepared to take the tests. Brian was an excellent instructor – very knowledgeable, knew just when to give us instruction and how much, very patient.
Dawn Bedlivy – Catonsville, MD
Very enjoyable course. Excellent facilities, leaving with a volume of knowledge and experience. Coming back!
Nelson Corbin – Parkton, NC
Top 10 experience – it takes a lot to rattle my feathers, so I pick my words wisely. I needed to learn so much in a short time. It was a blast. The facility, the people, and most important my instructor, Garren.
Rodger Ames – Arvada, CO
