Sailboat cruising with crew on bow in open ocean, sunlight

Earn US Sailing & NauticEd Certifications Aboard Modern Cruisers

Hands-on courses from beginner keelboat to coastal passage making with live-aboard options and recognized certifications.

Sailing Courses & Certifications

US Sailing and NauticEd programs from 2–6 days, including catamaran and live‑aboard combo options.

Charleston

Sailing Adventure at Bluewater Academy: US 103/104 Combo

Join Bluewater Academy for a five-day live-aboard sailing course that transforms beginners into confident skippers. Master essential skills and earn recognized certifications, all while enjoying the coastal scenery.

Sailing Adventure at Bluewater Academy: US 103/104 Combo

boat charters

water activities

Charleston, South Carolina

Tampa

Coastal Navigation Course at The Bluewater Academy

Learn vital coastal navigation skills over three days with The Bluewater Academy’s expert-led course. Perfect for sailors eager to master traditional and electronic techniques and earn certification.

Coastal Navigation Course at The Bluewater Academy

Palmetto

US 101 Basic Keelboat Course by The Bluewater Academy

Learn to sail confidently on a modern Beneteau with The Bluewater Academy’s US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification. This 3-day hands-on course in Palmetto, Florida prepares beginners and refreshers for real-world keelboat handling and certification.

US 101 Basic Keelboat Course by The Bluewater Academy

Palmetto

Bareboat Cruising Certification with The Bluewater Academy

Master advanced sailing skills aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 with The Bluewater Academy's 3-day Bareboat Cruising Certification. Gain confidence and earn a certification recognized worldwide.

Bareboat Cruising Certification with The Bluewater Academy

boat charters

Palmetto

Sailing Certification Course with The Bluewater Academy

Earn three US Sailing certifications in six days aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 with The Bluewater Academy near Palmetto, Florida. This immersive course blends hands-on training and onboard living for confident coastal cruising.

Sailing Certification Course with The Bluewater Academy

Palmetto

Catamaran Cruising Certification with The Bluewater Academy

Take your sailing skills up a notch with The Bluewater Academy’s US Sailing Cruising Catamaran Certification. Spend two days onboard a spacious Excess 11 in Florida’s coastal waters and qualify to charter cruising catamarans up to 45 feet.

Catamaran Cruising Certification with The Bluewater Academy

Palmetto

Master Sailing with NauticEd's 3-Day Skipper Large Keelboat Course in Palmetto, Florida

Refine your sailing mastery aboard a Beneteau Oceanis in Palmetto, Florida with NauticEd's detailed 3-day Skipper Large Keelboat course—perfect for advancing your skills and leadership on the water. Dive into weather routing, navigation, and crew management in a dynamic coastal setting.

Palmetto

Master Coastal Passage Making with U.S. Sailing’s 5-Day Certification Course in Florida

Embark on a transformational 5-day sailing certification course from Palmetto, Florida, aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1. Learn real-world coastal navigation, emergency skills, and leadership needed to confidently skipper multi-day passages.

Palmetto

Master the Seas: Earn Your International Sailing License with NauticEd in Palmetto, Florida

Elevate your sailing skills with NauticEd’s intensive 3-day International Sailing License assessment in Palmetto, Florida. This program combines practical seamanship with proven theory, preparing you for global bareboat charters.

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.

Couple steering sailboat near coastal hills on sunny day

Aerial view of catamaran sailing over deep blue ocean water

The Bluewater Academy: Certified Sailing Courses

Comprehensive US Sailing and NauticEd Training

The Bluewater Academy delivers classroom and on‑water training focused on US Sailing and NauticEd certification pathways. Courses range from beginner keelboat lessons to advanced bareboat and coastal passage making. Training emphasizes practical seamanship, navigation, safety, and crew management aboard modern cruising yachts.

Flagship Courses and Certifications

US Sailing Basic Keelboat (US 101) — Three day course on the Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 covering sail handling, docking, and basic rules of the road.
US 105 Coastal Navigation — Three day navigation course teaching chart work, tides, and electronic navigation.
US 104 Bareboat Cruising — Three day advanced seamanship training on the Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 for independent skipper skills.
US 103 / 104 Combo — Five day live‑aboard program combining basic and bareboat elements with certification outcomes.
US 101 / 103 / 104 Combo — Six day immersive live‑aboard program earning three US Sailing certifications.
US 114 Catamaran Cruising — Two day multihull certification aboard the Excess 11 for charter readiness up to 45 feet.
NauticEd Skipper Large Keelboat — Three day leadership and large keelboat handling with a final challenge sail.
NauticEd SLC — Three day international sailing license assessment for bareboat charter credentials.
U.S. Sailing Coastal Passage Making — Five day course focused on multi‑day voyage preparation, leadership, and emergency procedures.

Why book these courses?

Recognized US Sailing and NauticEd syllabi ensure standardized certification.
Training takes place aboard industry‑standard vessels including Beneteau Oceanis models and the Excess 11 catamaran.
Course durations vary from 2 to 6 days to match skill goals.
Combo and live‑aboard options provide overnight passage experience and practical trip planning.

Skills developed

Navigation: chart plotting, tidal calculation, GPS and electronic navigation.
Boat handling: sail trim, docking, anchoring, maneuvering under power and sail.
Leadership and crew management: watch systems, communication, passage planning.
Safety and emergency procedures: man overboard drills, emergency response, risk assessment.

Who benefits

New sailors seeking a recognized basic keelboat certification.
Aspiring skippers preparing to charter bareboat yachts.
Catamaran sailors qualifying for multihull chartering up to 45 feet.
Intermediate sailors consolidating navigation and passage making skills.

Booking and preparation

Courses culminate in practical on‑water assessments and issue recognized certificates upon successful completion. Participants should review course prerequisites for advanced programs and prepare required paperwork for NauticEd or US Sailing assessments.

Certifications and charter readiness

Certifications from US Sailing and NauticEd are recognized credentials for charter companies and insurance providers. Earning a US Sailing Basic Keelboat or Bareboat Cruising certification demonstrates practical competence in coastal conditions. NauticEd's Skipper Large Keelboat and SLC credentials provide internationally recognized assessments that support bareboat charter eligibility.

Students benefit from focused instructor feedback, small crew ratios, and real‑time application of navigation theory during passage planning. Multi-course combos deliver consolidated instruction with live‑aboard experience, including overnight watches, provisioning, and extended passage execution. The final assessment sails test leadership, seamanship, navigation, and safety decision making.

To book a course, review course descriptions, select desired certification tracks, and confirm prerequisites. Course materials and assessment criteria follow US Sailing and NauticEd standards. For sailors seeking measurable progress toward chartering and independent coastal cruising, The Bluewater Academy offers sequential training pathways with verified, recognized certifications. Expect hands‑on learning and clear assessment outcomes consistently.

Single sailboat sailing on turquoise sea under clear sky

Advance Sailing Skills — Book a Certification Course

Choose a course track, confirm prerequisites, and prepare for practical on‑water assessments to earn recognized credentials.