Black Rock Sailing School
| 1-888-607-SAIL | blackrocksailingschool.com

We at Black Rock are confident in saying that we are the Caribbean’s Foremost Sailing School!

Our commitment to excellence has been recognized by the American Sailing Association as Outstanding School 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, & 2012 (the award stopped being issued in 2012) as well as Outstanding Instructor 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (x2 staff), 2015, 2016 (x2 staff), 2018, & 2019.

Our base in St. Thomas, USVI, is the perfect “jumping off” point for an incredible sailing vacation. You will find us cruising the US, British, and Spanish Virgin Islands every winter (November – April). We have been teaching, sailing, and providing captained charters in these waters since opening our doors in 2008!

We specialize in monohull and multihull cruising and bareboat charter certification courses, offering single certifications in a week OR combinations such as ASA 101/103, ASA 103/104, ASA 104/114 and ASA 105/106 courses over a seven day period – our results will blow ANY “fast track” program away!

Offering NO MORE than two ASA certifications within a seven day period, our combination courses truly complement each other, reinforcing your knowledge & skills instead of overwhelming them. WE do not cram, skim, or skip critical sections of the curriculum! Our days are long, but OUR students will fully understand key concepts, feel safer, and be better prepared to lead their families and friends as skipper aboard a bareboat charter. OUR students master more practical skills becoming better sailors by taking the time to learn the proper way.

Earning one ASA certification in a weeks time allows the instructor to spread lectures out over the week, freeing more time to go hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, or exploring.

Earning two ASA certifications is a more rigorous course load during the seven day trip. These “combo courses” are our most popular option, but you need to expect much longer days as we crisscross the island chain. We typically start lectures around 8:30am and end sailing between 6pm and 8pm depending on how the group is feeling, often with a mid-day lunch/ swim or snorkel break!

All of our ASA certification courses provide approximately a day of overlap to the pre-requisite course, so taking two courses within a week really reinforces key skills before continuing onto more advanced topics/ skills.

Experience, enjoy, and learn from the Black Rock staff’s exceptional and extensive local knowledge of these islands – our four, year-round, full-time staff have lived on, taught in, and sailed these islands extensively since 1995. Let us entertain you in the evenings with our famous BBQ’s aboard, or, if you wish, dine ashore at our favorite beach bars and restaurants.
Learn the in and outs of the Virgin Islands from the most popular and scenic mooring-fields, snorkel and dive sites, beaches, shops, OR get away from it all and anchor in a secluded cove far from the “herd.”

Pricing includes the ASA certification course, the cost of the actual ASA testing and certification, breakfasts, lunches, at least two dinners aboard, all snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, charter fees, customs and immigration fees (if checking in/out of the BVIs from St. Thomas), and all operating costs (i.e. fuel, water, trash, moorings).

We look forward to seeing you in the islands!

American Sailing Certifications Offered

ASA 101, Keelboat 1
ASA 101, Keelboat 1
Learn to skipper a 20' - 27' sloop-rigged keelboat by day, in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards.
ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising
ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising
Learn to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered 25'-35' keelboat by day in moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn cruising sailboat terminology, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, intermediate sail trim, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather, safety and seamanship.
ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
Learn how to sail a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered 30'-45' sailboat during a multi-day cruise upon inland/coastal waters in moderate/heavy winds and sea conditions. Learn about provisioning, boat systems, auxiliary engines, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring / mooring, docking, emergency operations, weather, and more.
ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran
ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran
Learn to skipper an auxiliary-powered sailing cruising catamaran of approximately 30-45' feet in length during a multi-day liveaboard cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions.

Other Services Available

  • Women Only Courses
  • Private Courses
  • Corporate Team Building Courses
  • ASA 'Challenges'
  • Vacation Charters
  • Sunset Cruises
  • Racing Courses
  • Sail Trim Courses
  • Spinnaker Courses

Promotions

ASA Veterans Sailing Education Program - Sign Up Now >>

At ASA we recognize the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served or are serving in our country's armed forces. As a token of our appreciation, and our way of saying thank you, we are inviting veterans and active military personnel to share our passion for sailing by offering a discount on our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course. Black Rock Sailing School is offering a minimum of $50.00 or 10% off their ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course.

Contact Information

Black Rock Sailing School

Address American Yacht Harbor6100 Red Hook Quarter #2St Thomas00802U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone 1-888-607-SAIL
Website blackrocksailingschool.com
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