Sailing Instructions & Courses
Florida Sailing School: Key West & Miami
Charisma Sailing School is offering private and group instructions and courses from our bases in Key West and on Biscayne Bay.
Contact us for information about course availability and dates or inquire about a particular class.
For full details about the US Sailing curriculum, see this section of our website:
US SAILING ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION COURSES & ENDORSEMENTS
Browse our Courses for All Experience Levels
First Sail Experience
This course is designed for either single students or families as a group to get on the water with an experienced US Sailing certified instructor for their first sailing experience.
Group Size: up to 4 people
Length: 3 hours
For more information and to register: Click here
Learn to Sail Intro
This entry-level course is designed for students of all ages to provide a memorable hands-on experience on the water. It provides the opportunity to learn sailing basics such as sailing terms and wind-sensing on a safe, stable sailboat and under the care of a certified instructor. This is the ideal course format to learn to sail, whether on your own, or with a partner, your kids, or grandkids. The minimum age for unaccompanied students is 12 years.
The course is available at our base on Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
Course Length: 1 Day
For more information and to register: Click here.
Basic Keelboat Course & Certification
This course is designed for students to learn all skills required to competently sail an 18′ to 32′ keelboat in various conditions….
The course is available as a live-aboard version or in combination with hotel stay at our base on Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
Course Length: 3 Sailing Days + ½ Day Written Certification Test
For more information and to register: Click here
Basic Cruising Course & Certification
The Basic Cruising Course is designed to allow a sailor the ability to responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary powered cruising sailboat, during daylight hours, within sight of land in moderate wind and sea conditions.
Prerequisite for this course is US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification. Students with prior ASA 101 experience or certification may “challenge” the certification by demonstrating the practical knowledge during 1 day course on the water and the written exam.
Length: 3-4 Sailing Days + ½ Day Written Certification Test
For more information and to register: Click here
Monohull Skipper Course
This course combines the Basic Keelboat Certification and Basic Cruising levels of the US Sailing curriculum. Learn to sail and become certified for open water sailing at the same time.
No prior experience or certification is necessary for this course. If you’re completely new to sailing, however, it’s very important to study and prepare before the first day of class for this very fast-paced course. You’ll receive course material in advance to help you do this.
The course is available as a live-aboard version or in combination with hotel stay at our base on Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
Course Length: 5 Sailing Days + ½ Day Written Certification Test
For more information and to register: Click here
Bareboat Charter Course & Certification: Monohull
Become certified for bareboat chartering a monohull sailboat. This course fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Sailing Bareboat Cruising Course and is designed for sailors interested in monohull chartering in national or international waters. The course is currently available from our base on Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
Course Length: 3 Sailing Days + ½ Day Written Certification Test
For more information and to register: Click here
Bareboat Charter Course & Certification: Catamaran
Become certified for bareboat chartering a sailing catamaran. This course fulfills the requirements of the U.S. Sailing Bareboat Cruising Course and is designed for sailors interested in chartering a catamaran in national or international waters.
Study during a 4-day course on a cruising catamaran. This course is also available during an instructional charter with family or friends from our base in Key West, Florida.
Prerequisite for this course are US Sailing Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising Certifications. This course includes a refresher on Cruising principles and teaches the skills needed for the Bareboat Cruising Certification level of the US Sailing curriculum, combined with additional catamaran training that will meet the certification standard for the Cruising Catamaran Endorsement.
The live-aboard course is available out of our base in Key West, Florida.
Course Length: 3 Days + ½ Day Written Certification Test
For more information and to register: Click here
Coastal & Offshore Sailing Course
A class for sailors who like to refresh their skills and become familiar with Florida waters. Areas of interest to students will be covered by the instructor, such as knowledge needed for bareboat chartering, seamanship skills, onboard maintenance, and troubleshooting of boat systems. Prerequisite for this course are the skills and knowledge to sail a keelboat in coastal and open water. This course is an excellent opportunity to assess skills and knowledge needed to take advantage of the US Sailing Course Challenge option to progress faster with certification.
This live-aboard course is available on a 42’-48’ sailing catamaran out of our base in Key West, Florida.
Course Length: flexible
For more information and to register: Click here
Challenge a Course
If you are an experienced sailor, you may challenge a course to achieve your desired certification level. The US Sailing Keelboat Certification System is a series of sailing levels based on the natural progression of experience from daysailing to cruising and then extended passage making.
A certification candidate may, with previous experience and competency, challenge the required prerequisite levels by completing the written and practical examinations for each required level. Essentially, you will be taken for an on-the-water check out for the highest level of certification you are challenging. If you pass the practical test, you can then take the exams for the appropriate certification levels.
An example is that you wish to challenge the bareboat cruising certification. You are taken for an on-the-water check out at the bareboat cruising level to ensure you have the skill sets we expect our students to have at that level. Pass the practical and then you take the multiple-choice exams at the basic keelboat, basic cruising, and bareboat cruising levels.
Click here to review the standards for all U.S. Sailing certification levels.
Course Length: TBD
For more information and to register: Click here