Sail Training
Learn to Sail in the World's Best Sailing Waters.
Swain Sailing School offers sailing courses for sailors of all levels. Training ranges from Basic Keelboat to Bareboat Cruising to Passage Making and Delivery courses.
If you are interested in looking at our training yachts, click here.
Intro to Sailing
Prerequisite: None
Non-Certification
Tuition: US$130 per person
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
Three hour hands on experience aboard our IC24 with an instructor.
Intro to Cruising or Cruising Day Sail
Prerequisite: None
Non certification
Tuition: US$180 pp
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
Half day (3 hours) hands on training on a Beneteau 40.
Full day (six hours) aboard our Beneteau 40, combining hands on training while enjoying the beautiful cruising grounds of the BVI with the option of a stop for lunch and snorkeling. Rather be sailed? We offer non instructional day sails as well, with a stop for lunch and snorkeling.
Basic Keelboat
Prerequisite: None
Certification Available: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
Duration: 2 or 3 days, 10 - 3:30 daily
Tuition: US$550 pp + you $115 ASA 101 exam fee
Training Boat: IC24
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
Our two day Basic Keelboat course is structured around a schedule which challenges every level of ability and rewards each with the objective and subjective know how to command a boat of this size. This course is offered every weekend as well as weekly classes: Tuesday & Wednesday or Thursday & Friday.
Fast Track to Bareboating
Monohull or Catamaran
Prerequisite: None
Certifications: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat; 103 Basic Cruising; 104 Bareboat Cruising; and 114 if training on a catamaran.
Duration: 8 days; group courses run Monday- Saturday (Sunday arrival; finishing by noon on Saturday). Private courses have flexible start and finish days.
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island, Antigua, USVI
Group Tuition:
May 15 - November 15: Monohull US$3,095pp; Catamaran US$3,695pp
November 16- May 14: Monohull US$3,395pp; Catamaran US $3,995pp
Maximum of four training.
Private Tuition:
Please email us for a private tuition quote.
Training Boats:
IC24; monohull or catamaran
Monohulls 40- 54 feet
Catamarans 40- 52 feet
Bareboat Cruising / Live Aboard Monohull Cruising
Prerequisite: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
Certifications: ASA 104* Bareboat Cruising
*ASA 103 Basic Cruising will be included for those who haven't completed the 103 level
Duration: 6 days; group courses run Monday- Saturday (Sunday arrival; finishing by noon on Saturday). Private courses have flexible start and finish days.
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island, Antigua, USVI
Group Tuition:
May 15 - November 15: US $2595pp
November 15- May 15: US $2,795pp
Maximum of four training.
Inclusions: Night of arrival sleep aboard, provisioning on board: breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, starter kit; ASA course book(s) and certification(s) fee.
Private Tuition:
Please email us for a private tuition quote.
Training Boats: Monohulls 40 - 54 feet
Catamaran Cruising Supplement
Prerequisite: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
Certification: ASA 114 Catamaran Cruising
Tuition options:
1 day course (10 am - 5 pm); for those with catamaran experience and no formal certification: $800pp
2 day course (live aboard format; 10 am start on day 1; finishing by 4:00 p.m. on day two). Prerequisite: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising: $1650pp
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
Private Tuition:
Please email us for your private tuition quote.
Training Boats: Catamarans 40 - 46 feet.
Live Aboard Catamaran Cruising
Prerequisite: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
Certifications: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising, ASA 114 Catamaran Cruising
*ASA 103 Basic Cruising will be included for those who haven't completed the 103 level.
Duration: 6 days; group courses run Monday- Saturday (Sunday arrival; finishing by noon on Saturday). Private courses have flexible start and finish days.
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island, Antigua, USVI
Group Tuition:
May 16 - November 15: US$3,095pp.
November 16- May 15: US$3,295pp.
Maximum of four training.
Inclusions: Night of arrival sleep aboard, provisioning on board: breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, starter kit; ASA course book(s) and certification(s) fee.
Private Tuition:
Please email us for a private tuition quote.
Training Boats: Catamarans 39- 52 feet
Coastal Navigation
Prerequisite: None
Certification: ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
Duration: 2 days (10-3:30 daily)
Tuition: US$495pp
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
The Coastal Navigation graduate will have demonstrated the art of traditional navigation techniques and the ability to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan.
We also offer an online home study option!
We offer ASA 105 as an online self-paced course with instructor interaction: if you would like to read more on it and register for the online course, click here.
Coastal Passage Making
Monohull or Catamaran
Prerequisites: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising and ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
Certification: ASA 106 Coastal Passage Making
*ASA 105 Coastal Navigation may be added as supplement.
Duration: 6 days
Dates Offered: December - April. Courses run Monday- Saturday (Sunday arrival; finishing by noon on Saturday). Private courses have flexible start and finish days.
Locations: BVI, Rhode Island
Group Tuition:
Monohull US$2,795pp; Catamaran US$2,995pp
Maximum of four training.
Private Tuition:
Please email us for your private tuition quote.
Training Boats:
Monohull: Hanse 548
Catamaran: Astrea 42 or Isla 40
Offshore Passage Making
Monohull or Catamaran
Prerequisites: ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising and ASA 107 Celestial Navigation or 117 Celestial Endorsement
Certification: ASA 108 Offshore Passage Making
*ASA 107/117 Practice included.
Duration: Plan 10-12 days.
Dates Offered: May and November
Locations: BVI to Rhode Island (May), Rhode island to BVI (Nov.)
Tuition: US$3,495 per person
Training Boats:
Catamaran: Astrea 42, Elba 45 3c/3h, Elba 45 4c/4h, Lagoon 50
Celestial Navigation
Prerequisite: None
Certification: ASA 117 (Celestial Endorsement)
Format:
Learn to navigate with the Sun and Stars online in this virtual instructor led class which will be using GoToTraining video conferencing software. All content will be provided on screen with live audio interaction between the instructor and students just as in a classroom setting. Total class time is 10 hours broken into 5 weekly sessions with a final exam and review on the last day.
Duration: 10 hours
Dates Offered: Year round.
Tuition: $397
International Bareboat Skipper Certification
Prerequisite: ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
As a training affiliate of the American Sailing Association, Swain trainees successfully completing their Bareboat Cruising, Advanced Coastal Cruising or Passage Making certifications are qualified to apply for the International Proficiency Certificate (IPC). No additional exam or training required. The fee is only US$49.
The IPC is recommended if chartering in the Mediterranean as well as the inland waterways of Europe and northern Europe. As countries differ in their requirements, travelers should always check with their destination prior to attempting to charter.
VHF Certification
Prerequisite: None
Tuition: US$195 pp
Course Overview:
A six to eight hour course offered in one day, covering general rules for the use and operation of VHF radios, SARTs, and EPIRBs. Every crew member needs to know how to operate a marine radio as well as what to do in case of an emergency. This course also covers an introduction to other marine communications. Students qualify to test for the VHF Radio Operator and Communications Certificate.