British Virgin Island (BVI) Sailing Courses
Learn to sail in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), St. Martin, St. Barths and other Caribbean Islands
Contact Us to register for sailing courses on Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Basic Keelboat/Learn to Sail
US Sailing Basic Keelboat; ASA Basic Keelboat (101)
 The Boats
RSSS teaches on IC24s. These boats are a converted J24s (24'). It's one of the most popular keelboats for day sailing in the world (5,200 hulls have been built). The conversion sports a new cockpit much longer and wider than the original, over two hundred pounds were removed from below decks, and an extra bulkhead and keel reinforcements were added to strengthen the hull. The hull, mast, and sail plan are the same. These modifications manifest themselves in a boat that is safe, swift, sturdy and spacious.
The sail plan is generous, yet forgiving. This boat goes well in both light and heavier breezes and is easily handled by two people. It is tiller steered as opposed to wheel steered which greatly enhances the boat's reaction time to a person's movement of the tiller. This is of paramount importance when learning how to sail, i.e. the faster a boat reacts to your action, the quicker you will know that what you did was correct. Click here to view more images of the IC24.
 Course Structure
Our three day Basic Keelboat course is structured around a schedule which challenges every level of person and rewards each with the objective and subjective know how to command a boat of this size. This course is offered weekly, Tuesday-Thursday or Wednesday-Friday. The format combines classroom time and on the water training each day. The classroom portion is one hour concentrating on terminology, parts of the boat, knots and theory. This time is also spent focusing on translating what you have read in the book into the simple dynamics of sailing.
On the water you will spend three and one half to four hours each day practicing what you have read and what you have been taught.
Course Curriculum
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Classroom
- Parts of the boat
- Bowline, cleating,clove hitch
- Points of sail
- Standing and running rigging
- Tacks and jibes
- Basic sail trim
- Irons(how to go in, how to get out)
- Mooring balls
- Rights of way
- Commands
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On The Water
- PFD's and safety gear
- Outboard operation
- Dock line and fender handling
- Sail raising and leaving dock/anchorage
- Using tell tales
- Going head to wind, bearing away
- Tacks and jibes
- Sail to dock
- ID all standing and running rigging
- Straight line steering
- Points of sail
- Proper boat put down
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Classroom
- Square knot,slip knot,rolling hitch, stopper knot
- Apparent and true wind. Headers and lifts. Veers and backs
- Sail shape and sail trim (bias,warp, fill)
- Sail controls (backstay,vang, Cunningham, sheets, halyard, outhaul etc.)
- Reefing
- Slot effect (Bernoulli principal)
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On the Water
- Windward Leewards
- Zig zags with sail trim (heading up, falling off)
- Mooring balls under sail
- MOBS
- Heave to
- Reefing
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Classroom
- Hull speed
- Navigation
- Wing on wing
- Preventer
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On The Water
- Compass course
- Spinnaker
- Anchoring
- Rudderless sailing
- Emergency procedures
- Performance sailing
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Classroom
- Test (ASA) if applicable
- Test (RSSS)
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On The Water
- (Practice) practice sail
- Surprise MOBS
- "What if" discussions
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Season
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Tuition*
(Per Person) |
Accommodations
(6 nights)**
(Rate may be prorated for preferred # of nights.)
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US Sailing or ASA Certification* |
| November 1 - May 31 |
$595.00 |
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Single
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Double
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$1074.00
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$1264.00
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$75.00 |
| June 1 - October 31 |
$595.00 |
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$75.00 |
*Sailing Fundamentals text, log book, one year membership to the US Sailing Association included in cost of tuition
**Rate includes 17% hotel tax
Contact Us for Private Course Rates
View Availability and special rates on Group Courses
A minimum deposit of 50% of total package is due at the time of the booking. Balance is due 60 days prior to the course start date.
Cancellation/Change Policy:
All cancellations must be received in writing. A $200 per person processing fee is charged on all cancellations. No refunds or transfers allowed for defaults, and cancellations less than 60 days prior to start date of the course.
Contact Us to register for courses.
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