MIAMI SAILING FIELD GUIDE
Five Days of Passage Making: Miami to Charleston as a Seamanship Masterclass
A five-day coastal passage from Miami to Charleston that builds offshore miles while students earn U.S. Sailing bareboat and catamaran certifications.
Five Days of Passage Making: Miami to Charleston as a Seamanship Masterclass.
This is a purposeful five-day coastal transit from Miami north along the southeastern seaboard to the historic harbor of Charleston—a concentrated curriculum of offshore passage making, night sailing, and hands-on delivery experience designed to convert sea time into certified competency.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
The Excess 14: Performance Over Plush
The program runs aboard the Excess 14, a performance-driven catamaran engineered by VPLP to reward the helmsman with direct tactile feedback, asymmetrical hulls for efficiency, and a configuration that favors control and sustained passage speeds across coastal and offshore conditions.
Earn Real Certifications While Logging Miles
Under world-class instruction this five-day voyage is structured as an academic immersion: students work through practical passage planning, watch systems, and offshore seamanship while earning U.S. Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification and a Catamaran Endorsement.
Night Watches and the Discipline of Distance
The itinerary emphasizes active watch standing and nocturnal passage work—skills in low-visibility navigation, systems monitoring, and disciplined execution that are essential to sustained offshore transits.
What the day feels like
What This Passage Actually Feels Like
Departing from the Port of Miami, the voyage tracks north along the Atlantic seaboard to Charleston over five days of sustained sailing. Expect a steady rhythm of watches, hands-on helming and navigation, and stretches of true offshore time where accumulated miles—not short hops—are the measure of progress.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this passage suits—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a five-day coastal passage that departs on the stated program date (for example, the June 1 departure) and involves multi-day offshore sailing.
Prepare for multi-day offshore watches and changing conditions; confirm the operator’s recommended personal kit before departure.
Guests are responsible for arranging their own travel to Miami prior to departure and their return from Charleston at the conclusion of the passage.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the voyage?
The program is a five-day coastal passage.
What certifications will I earn?
Participants will work toward and earn U.S. Sailing Bareboat Cruising Certification and a Catamaran Endorsement through hands-on instruction.
Where does the voyage begin and end?
The voyage departs from Miami and concludes in the historic harbor of Charleston.
What should I expect to do on board?
Every participant plays an active role in watch standing, navigation, and systems monitoring; the program emphasizes hands-on passage making rather than passive chartering.
Are berths limited?
Yes—berths are limited, and the program requires active participation from each guest.
Where is the meeting location?
Confirm the exact meeting address in your booking materials; participants are responsible for arranging travel to the departure point in Miami prior to embarkation.