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.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Hang tight — photos are loading
This usually takes just a second.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
6 days, 4 nights
Fitness Level
Participants should have average physical fitness; ability to climb aboard, handle lines, and move safely on a boat is important.
Wildlife
History
Palmetto has a rich maritime history tied to Florida’s early fishing and boat-building industries.
Conservation
Local efforts focus on protecting seagrass beds and manatee habitats critical to the Gulf Coast ecosystem.
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.
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.
Certifications
US Sailing, NauticEd
Industry-recognized credentials
Boat Fleet
Beneteau & Excess 11
Modern cruising yachts used for training
Course Lengths
2–6 days
Short intensives to multi-day combos
Choose a course track, confirm prerequisites, and prepare for practical on‑water assessments to earn recognized credentials.
Pack layered clothing
Coastal weather can shift rapidly; wear moisture-wicking layers and bring a windbreaker for comfort aboard.
Prepare for seasickness
Even in calm bays, motion sickness can affect participants—bring medication or remedies if you’re prone.
Practice basic knots ahead
Familiarity with bowlines, cleat hitches, and sheet bends will accelerate your learning during training.
Stay hydrated onboard
The sun and sea breeze can dehydrate; bring a reusable water bottle and drink regularly.
Non-marking deck shoes
Provide grip and protect boat decks without scuffing.
Waterproof jacket
Keeps you dry from spray and unexpected rain.
spring|fall|winter
Polarized sunglasses
Reduce glare off the water for safer navigation.
summer|null
Courses Offered
10 courses
Keelboat, bareboat, catamaran training
Reusable water bottle
Stay hydrated throughout training and on deck.