Do I need prior sailing experience?

No prior sailing experience is required, but basic familiarity with boats is helpful.

What should I bring to the course?

Bring weather-appropriate clothing, writing materials, and any personal navigational tools if you have them.

Participants should bring their own meals and water, with some courses offering options for nearby dining.

What is the class size?

Class sizes are limited to ensure personalized instruction, typically between 8-12 students.

Is there a certification at the end?

Yes, successful participants earn a US Sailing Coastal Navigation certification.

Can this course be taken over a weekend?

The standard length is three consecutive days, but check for special weekend offerings.

Coastal Navigation Course at The Bluewater Academy

Situated along the scenic coast, The Bluewater Academy offers a highly practical and immersive US Sailing Coastal Navigation (105) course designed for both novice and experienced sailors. Over three days, participants gain essential skills for navigating coastal waters safely and confidently. The course covers a broad range of navigation techniques, from reading nautical charts and understanding tides to plotting accurate courses using traditional methods and electronic systems. Located in a region renowned for its diverse maritime environments, the academy provides a perfect setting for hands-on practice, with expert instructors guiding students through real-world scenarios. What makes this course particularly valuable is its focus on certification, ensuring sailors leave with the credentials needed for safe and legal navigation along coastlines. The blue waters, prominent lighthouses, and rocky shoreline provide an authentic maritime atmosphere, making learning engaging and relevant. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes safety and environmental stewardship, promoting responsible navigation best practices. Whether you're preparing for coastal adventures or boosting your seamanship credentials, this program at The Bluewater Academy stands out as a comprehensive, practical choice for adventure travelers seeking maritime mastery. You'll wind through scenic coves and open waters as you develop vital navigation skills that serve as the backbone of safe sailing. It's more than just an educational experience—it's a chance to deepen your connection with the sea and build confidence on the water. For avid sailors, beginners, or those simply eager to learn more about coastal navigation, this course offers a rewarding and crucial skill set that enhances any future voyage along the coastline.

About The Bluewater Academy

The Bluewater Academy is a professional sailing school that delivers US Sailing and NauticEd certification courses aboard modern cruising yachts. The academy offers a structured curriculum spanning basic keelboat skills through coastal passage making and large keelboat skipper training. Students train on Beneteau Oceanis models and the Excess 11 catamaran, gaining hands-on experience in sail handling, navigation, anchoring, docking, and crew management.

Courses include US Sailing Basic Keelboat (US 101), Coastal Navigation (US 105), Bareboat Cruising (US 104), combined certification options such as US 103/104 and the intensive US 101/103/104 combo, plus catamaran-specific training (US 114). NauticEd programs include Skipper Large Keelboat and the SLC international assessment for bareboat charter credentials. Program lengths range from two to six days, and training culminates in practical on‑water assessments and recognized certifications.

Instruction emphasizes safety, seamanship, and real‑world decision making. Professional instructors lead each course with clear learning objectives, hands-on drills, and supervised passage plans. Small crew sizes allow individualized feedback and accelerated skill acquisition. The Bluewater Academy focuses on practical competence so graduates can confidently skipper coastal cruising vessels and evaluate charter readiness.

The academy maintains industry-standard vessels and follows established US Sailing and NauticEd syllabi for standardized assessment. Prospective students can select single courses or multi-course combos to build toward charter qualifications efficiently. Several multi-course combos include live-aboard training nights aboard the Beneteau Oceanis 40.1, giving trainees practical experience with overnight passages, provisioning, watch systems, and extended passage planning. Final assessments verify competence for chartering and leadership and safety decision-making consistently.