Liveaboard sail training
Our 100% liveaboard sail training and cruising prep program is for people of all levels who want to prepare for cruising, including weekend sails, long-term cruising, and ocean passage making. Our expeditions are structured for sailors who want valuable miles, the taste of responsibility, and a reason to develop their seamanship skills. Learn more about our training vessel Rocinante.
Greek Islands and Ionian Sea
Our 2027 sailing schedule will start in the Greek Islands. We are offering two Greece/Albania coastal expeditions (270 & 271). The first expedition begins outside of Athens on the Euboean Gulf and explores the islands near Athens, before heading West towards the Ionian Sea. The second expedition explores the beautiful and sheltered waters of the Ionian Sea.
If you are following the American Sailing curriculum, we offer 104 certifications on our coastal expeditions (270 & 271). This is an optional certification for participants who have previously completed ASA 101 and 103.
| 270 | Coastal Cruising Passage: Athens – Corfu Athens, Greece to Sarandë, Albania (ASA 104 available) | April 1-9 | 9 Days 350nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $5,950 | 3 Available | info |
| 271 | Cruising: Coastal Ionian w/ Overnight Sail Sarandë, Albania to Corfu, Greece (ASA 104 available) | April 12-17 | 6 Days 200nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $3,950 | 3 Available | info |
Passagemaking across the Mediterranean Sea
Morse Alpha’s offshore passages are designed to give sailors real hands-on experience. You will be standing watch, troubleshooting challenges, navigating, adjusting and reefing sails, analyzing weather forecasts, checking on board systems, and implementing shipboard safety protocols. Offshore sailing is about preparation, sound judgment, communication, endurance, and routines. You learn how to exist in an unnatural environment. You experience the flow of big weather systems and the effects they have on wind and sea over weeks, not days. You’ll learn how sail choices and course adjustments are often not made for speed, but for comfort, or managing fatigue. These are valuable ocean miles.
| 272 | Passagemaking: Greece-Tunisia Corfu, Greece – Bizerte, Tunisia. | April 26–May 4 | 9 Days 600 nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $5,950 | 5 Available | info |
| 273 | Passagemaking: Tunisia-Spain Bizerte, Tunisia – Valencia, Spain | May 8–16 | 9 Days 600 nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $5,950 | 5 Available | info |
| 274 | Passagemaking: Spain-Morocco Valencia, Spain – Tangier, Morocco | May 21–29 | 9 Days 550 nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $5,950 | 5 Available | info |
Atlantic Ocean Passagemaking
| 275 | Ocean Passage: Straits of Gibraltar to Azores Tangier, Morocco to Sao Miguel, Portugal | June 16–18 | 13 Days 1000 nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $8600 | 5 Available | info |
| 276 | Ocean Passage: Azores to England Sao Miguel, Portugal to Falmouth, England | June 23–July 6 | 14 Days 1250 nm | Crew: Ben & Courtney | $9450 | 4 Available | info |
Sailing Course Descriptions
We base each expedition on these broad goals, but please note, our program is subject to change due to weather, illness, safety, or other unforeseen circumstances.
270 • Coastal Cruising Passage: Athens – Corfu (Sarandë, Albania)
Set sail from the eastern shores of Athens amongst the Greek islands where secluded coves, charming harbors, ancient ruins, and clear turquoise waters make the perfect backdrop for sail training. After passing through the historic Corinth Canal, we’ll continue west into the Ionian Sea, before arriving in beautiful Corfu. As time permits, we’ll try to find stops along the way to rest, explore, and soak in the history, culture and cuisine. This program is the perfect balance of evening anchorages and overnight sails. This will be the perfect combination of real Med cruising, and short passage making. (Please note this expedition officially ends in Sarandë, Albania, a short ferry ride away from Corfu where the airport is.)
9 Days • 270 • April 1-9 • 350nm • $5950
271 • Cruising: Coastal Ionian Sea w/ Overnight Sail
In this course, which begins near Corfu in Sarandë, Albania, you will spend your days gaining hands-on experience, building confidence at the helm, and learning to adapt and respond to changing conditions. The trip is structured to balance technical instruction with the joy of exploration, allowing you to apply your new skills in real-time. Our days could include lessons, planning, navigation, sailing drills, watchkeeping and fun. The final night is a challenging and rewarding overnight sail back to Corfu. This passage serves as the ultimate graduation, honing your navigation and night-sailing skills.
6 Days • April 12-17 • 200nm • $3950
272 • Passagemaking: Corfu, Greece – Tunisia: Sailing the Odyssey
Leg 1 of the Mediterranean Crossing, Sailing the Odyssey: We begin in Corfu — by legend, home of the Phaeacians, where Odysseus washed ashore and was welcomed by Princess Nausicaa and King Alcinous. As we prep, we’ll take in the stunning cliffs, coves, and hillsides that many believe match Homer’s descriptions. We’ll spend a night or two amongst the Ionian Islands, practicing our skills before setting off on a 350nm passage toward Malta/Sicily — where Odysseus was held captive by the nymph Calypso for seven years. Depending on winds and weather, we may stop for an anchorage or press on toward Pantelleria — the volcanic island with black lava cliffs, rugged coves, and brilliantly clear water. Our final destination is Bizerte, Tunisia, sailing past Djerba — by some accounts the land of the Lotus-Eaters, where the sweet fruit made Odysseus’ crew forget their homeland. The temptation to linger is real. In Bizerte, colorful fishing boats line the harbor alongside cafés and seafood restaurants, and the Old Port and Kasbah reflect the city’s Phoenician, Ottoman, and French-colonial past — a fitting end to a leg that follows the oldest sailing story in the Western world.
9 Days • April 26 – May 4 • 600nm • $5950
273 • Passagemaking: Tunisia – Valencia, Spain: 12 Parsecs: Tunisia to the Balearics
Leg 2 of the Mediterranean Crossing: 12 Parsecs: Tunisia to the Balearics Leg 2 begins in the culturally diverse, history-rich city of Bizerte — café-lined quays, a kasbah, and centuries of Phoenician, Ottoman, and French-colonial past. A proper North African port, and a worthy jumping-off point in its own right. (Wondering about that Star Wars desert-planet connection? The filming locations are all far to the south — see the “come early” notes below.) We’ll set off directly for Sardinia, an overnight sail. Plans are fluid, and weather will dictate our moves, but exploring ashore when possible is always a goal. Then we’ll plan the big jump to the Balearics together, monitoring weather trends and CAPE, with plenty of commercial traffic to keep us on our toes. Aboard Rocinante (named after a spaceship in a Rush song) with her dinghy Tantive IV (named after Princess Leia’s escape pod) we can’t promise you a galaxy far, far away. What we can promise: serious miles, real decisions, and one of the great crossings of the Mediterranean. Han Solo made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. We’ll cross the Middle Sea in about 36 picoparsecs. Try not to be impressed.
Come Early to visit Tatooine: Dream of walking the desert planet? Tunisia’s Star Wars filming locations are a multi-day side trip from Bizerte — arrive a few days early and plan your own adventure. We’ll connect you with shipmates making the same pilgrimage. Just bring your stories back to the dock; Capt Ben will want to hear them all.
9 Days • May 8-16 • 600nm • $5950
274 • Passagemaking: Valencia, Spain – Tangier, Morocco
Leg 3 of the Mediterranean Crossing departs the birthplace of paella and heads to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands for a quick stop and rest before pushing on towards Morocco. We have miles to make, so this won’t be a leisurely cruise. But we’ll be sailing the best of the Western Med, while honing your navigation and seamanship skills as we make our way towards the gateway to the Mediterranean, and the busy straits of Gibraltar. After checking into Morocco we’ll head to the Kasbah for some Mint Tea and Tajin, while we soak in the history and culture of this amazing city.
9 Days • May 21-29 • 600nm • $5950
275 • Ocean Passage: Tangier Morocco – Sao Miguel, Azores
Atlantic Passage Leg 1: After sipping the mint tea and exploring The Medina and Kasbah of Tangier Morocco, we’ll head for the Strait of Gibraltar and out into the Atlantic. Hone your offshore sailing skills on this challenging 1000nm passage, which we expect will be upwind for part of the time. Gain experience standing watches, using a sextant and navigating our way to the culturally rich Portuguese archipelago of volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, known for dramatic calderas, crater lakes, lush mountains, black-sand coasts, geothermal springs, and traditions shaped by the sea and island life.
13 Days • June 6-18 • 1000nm • $8600
276 • Ocean Passage: Sao Miguel, Azores – Falmouth, England
Atlantic Passage Leg 2:
We will leave the dramatic volcanic island of São Miguel, and initially head north-northeast rather than steering directly toward England. This is a classic North Atlantic passage but the area is capable of producing fast-moving lows, rough seas, and long periods of calms. It is a beautiful but serious blue-water passage: long enough to feel like a genuine ocean crossing, often rewarding with dolphins, seabirds, spectacular skies, and fast sailing—but with a distinctly cooler, and less predictable character. As weather permits, celestial navigation will be a part of the offshore curriculum.
14 Days • June 23 – July 6 • 1250nm • $9250
Who will my instructors be?
Our team is comprised of excellent sailors, who are also superior educators. Ben is the primary captain and leads 85% of the expeditions. Teresa has been staying home with Haven, our 7 year old. Our primary mates are Courtney and Haley. They have worked with us since 2021. They are both USCG licensed captains, and educators through and through. We also have an alternate captain, John Calogero, who leads a few trips each summer. John is another seasoned sailor and educator, whom we trust to lead a quality expedition and take care of Rocinante! You can read about our team here.
Other Offerings:
We also offer trainings and deliveries on your boat in special cases. If you don’t see an expedition here that fits your schedule or needs, please contact us to inquire about our other offerings.