What To Expect

Everything you will need during the course, except your personal items, is included in the cost. You will liveaboard Rocinante the entire course duration. You’ll be provided a bunk, bedding, coffee, food, instruction, lively camaraderie and an adventure! The price does not cover your transportation to and from the program, lodging on either end of the expedition, or your personal items. We will send a full information packet which includes details on travel, packing, etc.

Each crew member is expected to take part in all the daily responsibilities aboard including steering, navigating, standing watch, cooking, cleaning, and anchoring, etc. You will essentially be running the boat, as a team. Despite busy days of lessons, practical skills training, and drills, we often find time for a dip in the water at anchor, or a hike to stretch our legs when making landfall.

Often, sailors stay in the harbor when the weather is tough. We do not shy away from rain, wind, night travel, or fog — those are the ideal education opportunities. If dangerous weather is approaching, such as a hurricane or a squall, we will seek a secure anchorage, or dock — which will give you the opportunity to stand anchor watch in a crazy storm. But don’t let that discourage you either. Mid and higher latitude weather is so varied that we expect each course to be a mix of fair sunny days, fog, rain, strong wind, and light air.

Our courses are ideal for people of all levels who want to prepare for anything from liveaboard weekend trips to bareboat chartering to long term offshore cruising.  Every one of our expeditions is a challenging program no matter what route. Remember the coast is where all the action is: heavy commercial traffic, wind shifts, rocks, tides and currents. Our Maine expeditions were chosen because they are some of the most difficult areas to sail in the US, and on days when the weather doesn’t challenge you, we will “stir the pot” with a few drills and scenarios. Our international expeditions are perfect introductions to what passagemaking is truly like, where the lessons are more in the moment, but the educational moments are constant.

Some of what we’ll cover

Traditional & Electronic Navigation
Sail Plan Strategy
Sail Trim
Leadership
Essential Knots
Line Handling
Spinnaker and Pole Use
Hydrovane Steering
Anchor Techniques
Limited Visibility Sailing
Heavy Weather Techniques
Rules of the Road
VHF Communication
Weather
Route Planning
Tides & Currents
Engine & Systems
Seamanship
Boat Handling
Docking
Radar Navigation
Collision Avoidance
Safety Strategies (MOB, Fire, Abandon Ship)
Crew Management
Passagemaking
Emergency Planning