PALMETTO GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Five Days Aboard a Beneteau: US Sailing Coastal Passage Making from Punta Gorda
A five-day, live-aboard US Sailing Bareboat Cruising certification course that teaches coastal passage planning, night and heavy-weather techniques, and crew leadership aboard a fully outfitted cruising yacht.
Five Days Aboard a Beneteau: US Sailing Coastal Passage Making from Punta Gorda.
Embark on a transformative five-day Coastal Passage Making course—the US Sailing Bareboat Cruising certification—delivered as immersive, hands-on training aboard a fully outfitted Beneteau (38.1–40.1 or similar). Over four nights aboard, students practice coastal navigation, heavy-weather and night-passage techniques, emergency procedures, anchoring and mooring, and the crew- and vessel-management skills needed to skipper 30–45 foot cruising sailboats on multi-day near-coastal voyages.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Multi-day, hands-on training aboard a cruising sailboat
This is a fully immersive course with four nights on board a fully outfitted cruising yacht, giving students extended exposure to the systems and decision-making required for true passage-making.
Night passages and heavy-weather deck work
Students gain experience in night passages and heavy-weather techniques, including working on deck with harnesses and jacklines to build confidence in demanding conditions.
Practical navigation and leadership under way
Training includes hands-on navigation with and without Radar/GPS, vessel inspection and passage preparation, and real-world crew-management and leadership practice essential for safe coastal passages.
What the day feels like
What the five-day course feels like
Across five days and four nights, the program places students in the operational seat: live-aboard routines, passage planning, watch rotations and hands-on helm time. Under instructor guidance aboard a 30–45 foot cruising yacht, participants alternate between on-deck work in challenging conditions and focused drills—navigational plotting, radar and GPS usage, anchoring and mooring practice, emergency procedures and leadership exercises—designed to prepare them to skipper multi-day, near-coastal voyages without a professional captain.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Five days and four nights aboard the training vessel.
Students meet at 3190 Matecumbe Key Rd, Punta Gorda, FL for embarkation and pre-departure briefing.
Training is taught aboard a fully outfitted Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 (or similar) and covers navigation, heavy-weather techniques, night passages, anchoring/mooring, and vessel inspection/preparation for passages.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the course?
The course runs five days with four nights spent on board the training vessel.
Where do participants meet and embark?
Students meet at 3190 Matecumbe Key Rd, Punta Gorda, FL for embarkation and briefing.
What boat is used for training?
Instruction is delivered aboard a fully outfitted Beneteau Oceanis 38.1 (or similar); the program also references experience aboard a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1.
What certification does the course offer?
This is the US Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification Course (Coastal Passage Making) preparing students to skipper 30–45 foot cruising sailboats on near-coastal voyages.
Does the course include night or heavy-weather training?
Yes—training includes night passages and heavy-weather experience, with on-deck work using harnesses and jacklines.
Who can take this course?
The program is offered as an all-ages course; it is live-aboard and involves multi-day, on-deck activity.