Take Your Sailing Skills to the Next Level in Barbados!
Perfect your sailing skills in Barbados, an island known for its steady trade winds, warm waters, and challenging yet rewarding sailing conditions. Our ASA 103 and 104 courses are designed for sailors ready to refine their skills, navigate confidently, and take on longer passages in a stunning Caribbean setting.
Barbados offers ideal conditions for advanced training—consistent 12-18 knot winds, minimal tides, and deep blue waters allow for real-world experience in coastal cruising, advanced navigation, and seamanship. With varied sailing environments, you’ll practice everything from anchoring techniques to night sailing, preparing you for your next big adventure as a skipper.
Beyond the boat, Barbados delivers world-class experiences. After a day on the water, snorkel with sea turtles, explore historic shipwrecks, or relax on pristine beaches. Enjoy the island’s vibrant nightlife, fresh seafood, and legendary Barbados rum while soaking in the laid-back Caribbean atmosphere.
With direct flights from the U.S., warm hospitality, and year-round sailing conditions, Barbados is the perfect destination to level up your sailing and chart your own course!
🌴 Sail & Stay in Paradise – Learn to cruise in Barbados, where the trade winds blow steady at 12-18 knots, the waters stay warm year-round, and every anchorage is a postcard-worthy view. Unlike many Caribbean islands, Barbados is outside the main hurricane belt, making it a reliable and safe year-round sailing destination.
⛵ Immersive Liveaboard Experience – Our 6-day training isn’t just about certifications—it’s about living the cruising lifestyle. Imagine waking up to the sight of racehorses swimming in the sea, a local tradition along Carlisle Bay, or spotting sea turtles gliding past your boat as you sip your morning coffee. Spend your days sailing, navigating, and anchoring in stunning turquoise waters, and your nights under a sky full of stars.
🌊 Real-World Training Conditions – Forget sheltered waters—our coastal passages and open-water conditions prepare you for true offshore cruising. You’ll practice anchoring in different seabeds, handling varying wind conditions, and navigating between beautiful Barbados anchorages.
🌟 Small Class Sizes, Personalized Training – We believe in quality over quantity. With a low student-to-instructor ratio, you’ll get hands-on experience with expert guidance every step of the way.
🏝 More Than Just Sailing – When you’re not trimming sails or plotting your next course, enjoy snorkeling with sea turtles and tropical fish, exploring shipwrecks, or relaxing on Barbados’ world-famous beaches. End your day with fresh seafood, world-renowned rum, and lively island culture.
✈️ Easily Accessible from the U.S. – With daily direct flights from major U.S. cities, getting to your sailing adventure is effortless—so you can spend more time sailing and less time traveling.
💙 Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Approach – At Wet & Salty, we sail with minimal engine use, no single-use plastics, and a deep respect for the ocean—because we believe every sailor should leave the sea better than they found it.
Come for the certifications, stay for the adventure, and leave with the confidence to skipper your own boat anywhere in the world!
At Wet & Salty Sailing School in Barbados, we offer a 6-day intensive liveaboard course that combines ASA 103 (Coastal Cruising) and ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising), providing the perfect balance of hands-on experience and structured training. This course is designed for adventurous sailors looking to gain the skills and confidence to skipper their own boat, whether for personal cruising or chartering in the future.
¤ ASA 103 | BASIC COASTAL CRUISING
This certification is your next step after ASA 101 and focuses on coastal navigation, boat handling, and seamanship in real-world conditions. You’ll learn how to:
By the end of ASA 103, you’ll be able to confidently skipper a sailboat up to 30-35 feet in moderate coastal conditions.
¤ ASA 104 | BAREBOAT CRUISING
This course prepares you for independent bareboat chartering and advanced coastal cruising. You’ll build on your ASA 103 skills with:
Upon completion, you’ll be certified to charter and skipper a monohull up to 50 feet, giving you the freedom to explore destinations worldwide.
Experience the ultimate sailing adventure in Barbados with our structured ASA certification course. This multi-day sailing vacation will immerse you in hands-on training while exploring the island’s stunning coastline.
Set sail along Barbados’ breathtaking west coast, refining your navigation and sailing techniques. Each night, we’ll anchor at scenic bays along the northwest coast. Day 3 begins with your ASA 103 written exam and evaluation onshore. Afterward, you’ll have free time to explore Barbados. Choose from:
(Onshore activities are optional and not included in the course price.)
Now it’s your turn to take charge! Each student will rotate as skipper for half-day, managing navigation, crew, and itinerary. We’ll sail along the west and south coasts, stopping for a special dinner on Day 5 in Oistins, a lively fishing village famous for its fried fish and street party atmosphere. On Day 6, we’ll wrap up with the ASA 104 written exam, followed by a course recap and certification ceremony.
Please Note. This itinerary is meant to serve as an example, however, it is important to note that the actual itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
For our ASA 103 & 104 Coastal and Bareboat Cruising courses, you’ll be learning aboard our Jeanneau 32 Sun Odyssey (2007)—a comfortable, well-equipped cruising yacht that provides the perfect balance between performance and ease of handling.
About the Boat:
⛵ Model: Jeanneau 32 Sun Odyssey (2007)
🛌 Layout: 2 private cabins, spacious saloon, and a full galley
🚿 Amenities: Enclosed head (bathroom) with shower, navigation station, and a comfortable cockpit with a bimini for shade
⚓ Rig & Handling: Roller furling headsail, slab reefing mainsail, and wheel steering for smooth maneuverability
🔧 Systems: Inboard diesel engine, modern electronics, GPS chartplotter and VHF radio
This yacht is designed to give students hands-on experience in real cruising conditions, making it an excellent platform for mastering the skills needed to skipper your own vessel. You’ll practice sail handling, docking, anchoring, and passage planning, all while living aboard for a fully immersive learning experience.
100% recommend this sailing school!! My boyfriend did the 103 and 104 classes back to back – and I joined him for the 104 bareboat class. We HIGHLY recommend opting for the live aboard option because cooking meals as a group and waking up with coffee on the water is truly unbeatable. One of the highlights of the course was the instructor, Wipers, who was not only a very patient and practical teacher but also great entertainment as he has many tales to tell! Keep in mind that this is not a luxury yacht and while all the basics are provided – it does not come with amenities you would expect at a hotel (this is the case for any bareboat sailing course). If you think of it like glamping on the water then you’ll have an amazing adventure. TIP: Buy and bring your ASA book to the course. There is a lot of material and you will enjoy your experience more if you are able to follow along and review with your own book!
For more information, complete the contact form below or visit
https://www.wetandsaltysailing.com/advanced-liveaboard-sailing-courses
