Do you dream of Chartering a new beautiful sailing yacht in the Caribbean or reaching south to Mexico and beyond aboard your own voyaging yacht? Since 1989, it’s been a reality for many of our students and it can be a reality for you too when you learn to sail from our experienced ASA Certified Sailing Instructors. Our sailing program is designed for those that are seeking the skills required to Bareboat Charter from an international company such as The Moorings or Sunsail; or are interested in private sailboat ownership. Through our private sailing program, you can become certified in sailing and expand your own sailing experience. Our sailing coaches are USCG licensed Yachtmasters and certified sailing instructors. We’ve all been to many charter bases around the world, both professionally and as customers. We can tell you firsthand about different locations and fleets around the world and help plan your dream bareboat charter, or give unbiased advice on acquiring a family sailing yacht.

If you fly to San Diego, an SDSA instructor will meet you at San Diego's Lindberg Field and bring you to Shelter Island Yacht Basin. Upon arrival, you’ll board one of our beautiful 30' sailboats. All are limited editions, specifically purchased and outfitted to teach the art of sailing. All running rigging is color coded and labeled. All of our yachts are equipped with all the gear sailors need to prepare for chartering, including Stackpac mainsail, roller furling headsails, rigid boom vangs, custom deck layouts, Yanmar inboard diesel engines, wheels, self-tailing winches, GPS, charts, navigation tools, propane stoves, and BBQ's. There are also full linens and towels aboard for your comfort. Just show up and sail. Unlike most other sailing schools, our private classes do not exceed two students.

The 7-day combination package 101/103/104 Basic Keelboat/Coastal Cruising/Bareboat Chartering Certification is our most popular program. A typical day might begin sailing a 15 mile close reach in the ocean from San Diego Bay to Mission Bay, or you may set sail for South San Diego Bay where a variety of destinations including Glorrietta Bay are located. You will learn new skills like piloting and sailing a yacht using the chart, the buoys, and the hand-bearing compass. You'll get practice at steering in waves and gybing in the ocean. Heaving to, reefing, man overboard recovery, docking under sail and power, and anchoring are all taught in this class. Students will practice planning a sailing trip on the spot with various wind and tide conditions, and pick the best locations for the day. Late in the afternoon, students will dock and the instructor departs the boat.

At the end of this class the students get to bareboat on their
own for 2 days. You’ll leave with an ASA Bareboat Chartering Certification, 2 days of logged bareboat time and a confidence that can only be gained through experience.