Class Location: Apostle Islands, Lake Superior. Vacation Courses are held on cruising sailboats in the beautiful Apostle Islands near Bayfield, Wisconsin, except Red Rock course (July 28-31), which begins in Nipigon Bay, Ontario. Students may pre-board your boat after 5:00 PM the Wednesday night before course starts.

Link to Apostles Islands National Seashore: Apostle Islands National Seashore

Link to "Our Marina," at Pike's Bay, two miles south of Bayfield, Wisconsin: Pike's Bay Marina

Two-Part Bareboat Charter Certification: ASA Courses 103 & 104
Basic Cruising (103) and Bareboat Charter (104) are taught on our 34'-36’ cruising auxiliary sailboats as a four-day liveaboard course. Course fee includes course materials - ASA textbooks, Sailing Fundamentals and Cruising Fundamentals, class notes and ASA Certifications. Students sleep aboard our sloop at the finest marina in the Apostle Islands and anchor out on Saturday night. Light Breakfast (Cereal, Juice, Yogurt, Coffee) and Lunches Thursday & Friday as well as meals Saturday & Sunday are included.

Call Northern Breezes Sailing School at 763-542-9707 to register or ask questions.

The following two courses, Basic Cruising - ASA Course 103 and Bareboat Charter Certification - ASA 104, are included in the 4-day combined vacation course program. Read the individual course descriptions for more detail. Flexibility in response to weather often requires rearrangement of scheduling of specific items in the course from one day to a different day.

Basic Cruising -  ASA Course 103

This is the first part of a two-part program. Course is conducted on 34'-36' cruising auxiliary sailboats.
Students will learn the fundamentals of large boat cruising while doing it! Preparation for skippering on larger bodies of water is the focus. The Basic Cruising Vacation course is combined in the Apostle Islands with Bareboat Charter Cruising into a  four-day live aboard  with pre-boarding the night before the course begins. This is the same program as our highly successful British Virgin Islands vacation week.

Course Outline

Day 1: Boat Systems & Battery, Electrical Panel, Engine, Prop Walk, Docking, Sailing Tacks & Jibes (Possible Testing)

Day 2: Sail Trim, Crew Overboard Procedures, Reefing, Heaving to, Anchoring (Possible Testing)

Includes textbook, Sailing Fundamentals, published by American Sailing Association, class notes, exam and ASA certification.

Navigation instruments will be available for purchase.

Bareboat Charter Certification - ASA Course 104

Bareboat Charter Cruising - Part 2 is taught by U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains on Lake Superior. Qualified graduates will become bareboat charter certified from 30 to 45 feet.

This is the second part of a two-part certification program. This is a two-day live-aboard course held on a cruising auxiliary sailboat on Lake Superior. Students will prepare all meals onboard, and anchor out on Saturday night. Students will learn to maneuver the boat under power, dock, anchor, and navigate in differing weather conditions. Successful candidates will receive bareboat charter certification upon completion. Instructor is ASA certified, U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Boat Systems & Battery, Electrical Panel, Engine, Prop Walk, Docking, Sailing Tacks & Jibes (Possible Testing)

Day 2: Sail Trim, Crew Overboard Procedures, Reefing, Heaving to, Anchoring (Possible Testing)

Students should bring clothing for all weather conditions, sleeping bag, towel, and navigation instruments. Meals from Saturday breakfast to Sunday lunch are provided onboard.