After completing additional sailing training through other schools, yacht clubs, and organizations, I have a very different perspective on our experience with Virgin Island Sailing School, and I no longer feel comfortable recommending it. At the time, we viewed many of the issues we encountered as part of the adventure and learning process. Looking back now, several of those situations crossed into avoidable safety concerns and reflected a level of instruction and boat preparedness that simply was not acceptable for an ASA training program. Captain Scott remained calm under pressure, and I will still give him credit for that. However, many of the problems we dealt with were preventable and stemmed from ongoing maintenance and operational issues aboard the boat itself. A significant amount of time during our trip was spent with him focused on phone calls related to engine repairs and trying to secure future charters, rather than actively teaching. There were also major gaps in the actual instruction. We ended up self-studying much of the ASA material on our own in order to pass the written tests. In hindsight, many of the concepts and procedures should have been thoroughly taught onboard, but were not. Surprisingly, we never even used the VHF radio during the course, which still stands out to me as a serious omission for hands-on sailing instruction. The condition of the boat also raised concerns. The refrigerator failed during the trip, and I genuinely question whether food was being stored at safe temperatures. Provisioning was sparse, and overall the vessel did not feel maintained to the standard I would now expect from a professional liveaboard sailing school. After gaining experience through other sailing programs, I can confidently say this training environment fell short of what it should have been. What once felt like "flexibility" now feels more like accepting unnecessary risk and inadequate instruction. Unfortunately, I would not sail with this school again, and based on my experience, I cannot recommend it from a safety or training standpoint. read more

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I wanted to follow up and say that I just noticed the review from Nancy S. that Yelp's algorithm relegated to the "not recommended" category, so it does not show up when researching the school. This is very unfortunate because she had some of the same problems on Go Dog Go as we did, only months before our trip. Had we seen this before we booked with the school we would have certainly known better. It also indicates that the maintenance we were promised the boat had been given prior to our departure, likely never happened. This is an example of how reviews like this can be so critically important, protecting not just our wallets but also, in the case of this school and the quality of their vessels, our lives. It also makes me even more sure that sharing what happened to us, was the right thing to do. read more

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We just completed our ASA 103, 104 and 114 onboard the Alisei with owner/instructor Captain Scott. We began our courses with just our ASA 101 certification recently completed, and with very limited sailing experience. Scott not only made the week long trip very fun, but also made sure we learned and absorbed what is needed to proficiently charter and skipper a catamaran on our own. It was an amazing experience and we got so lucky that Scott was our captain! We would highly recommend V.I.S. to anyone who wants to get their ASA certifications. read more

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I had a family member sail with this sailing school and the trip was a disaster. The boat was in disrepair and then it caught fire and sunk. Owner wasn't helpful and they lost all of their belongings and could have lost their lives. Avoid this place at all cost. read more

Regarding the Virgin Island Sailing School. Yelp put my glowing review under "not recommended", and is not visible on the main page. We'll, I wrote what I experienced and nothing was fabricated. The school's mono hull that we sailed for the week was unfit for passage and since our week on board, the owner of the School, Scott D, continues to let his boat go out with newbie crew on board. Currently, the sail blew out on the 2nd reef allowing the crew to minimally sail. And it blew out when Scott D took the boat and students out and blamed it on another captain. What he should have done is fixed the sail, so the students would at least have a decent week of learning how to sail. This School should be shut down until proper care has been administered to the fleet. And it should be inspected by officials. Scott D should have his license revoked for putting students in danger. And the mind games he plays with his captains who have to suffer thru all of his crap. Thank goodness I didn't come face to face with him. My husband's hands went in battery acid trying to right the batteries that tipped over - which were held together with laundry rope. On the open waters, mind you with swells... Why can't i pick ZERO STAR? read more

I had the amazing opportunity to spend 16 days as a crew person and student with Capt Scott on Go-Dog-Go. While it was a little older it was very comfortable, galley was nice and the bunks were good. The boat it's self was well maintained, the sails, lines, rigging and electronics were either new or in good condition. Capt. Scott was particularly conscientious about the engine maintenance. He had a regular daily program we followed. We picked the boat up at a ship yard in Port of Spain Trinidad where it had been stored for the hurricane season. It had been fully serviced and cleaned. My experience with Capt Scott was amazing. He is not a teacher by rote, he is a master sailor and instructor. He used what skills I had and honed them, improved upon them, corrected me when I missed the mark and praised me when I did well. I got my 101 and 103. read more

Recently completed ASA 106 on Silver Lining with Captain Scott. This was an intense and exhilarating experience. There were 3 other students and myself. The boat is older and had some nicks and scratches but everything worked well and it was comfortable. The Captain was awesome. He has probably forgotten more about sail trimming than I will ever known. He put us through our paces in a friendly yet thorough manner. Especially intense was our night MOB; 8 foot sea with 15-20 knot winds. After this course, I feel much more comfortable with off shore sailing. If you are interested in sailing, this is an excellent school to either get started or complete the ASA 100 series. read more

A fantastic school with a great captain that is rolled into a vacation! If you are even remotely interested in sailing or bareboat chartering, Virgin Island Sailing School is where you need to do your course. I joined in 2 days later into a ASA 101, 103, 104, 114 due to the fact that I had 101 and 103 already. The school was extremely accommodating and even worked with me with the pricing. I did one week with Captain Quincy who was unbelievably knowledgeable of sailing and had an amazing attitude and personality. The boat was the speculation which is the newer boat of the fleet and was very nice and accommodating. The typical day started at 8am with learning about the boat, charting, etc. By about 10am you would debark to the next location by sailing to the next spot, learning everything you need to know en route by actually sailing to the next bay or cove. By 4pm you were at your location and finished with class and the rest of the day was yours to have and explore. I can not stress how awesome it was to learn to sail by actually sailing from islands to island and living the vacation you would have one day. Even though you are there to sail, this class is rolled into a vacation as well. Every day when you are finished with class, you are free to explore the islands with the dingy, snorkel, relax on the boat, do whatever you would like as if you were on your own vacation. It does not get any better than that! I would highly recommend the Virgin Island Sailing School and if you are looking for a great captain who you will have a hard time catching up with his adventurous spirit, ask for captain Quincy! read more

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My wife and I did a lot of research prior to choosing a sailing school for our USVI trip and ASA Certifications. We ended up picking Virgin Islands Sailing School because their prices were fair, and ultimately because they were super accommodating and willing to work with us to fit our schedule. Captain Scott was very helpful and knowledgeable on the phone. He went the extra mile to set up a custom itinerary for us to fit our needs. Our trip was in May 2015. We completed ASA 101, 103, 104. We got teamed up with Captain Genevieve aboard Silver Lining. We were super lucky and had the entire boat to ourselves. Silver Lining was well maintained and very clean. Captain Genevieve did a good job of tailoring our trip to suit our past sailing experience (I had a lot - my wife had very little), our future sailing plans, and our laid back attitudes. We got to enjoy plenty of sailing, plenty of exploring, and plenty of rum in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We had a great time, learned a lot, and would highly recommend Virgin Islands Sailing School and/or Captain Genevieve to anyone and everyone. read more

Virgin Island Sailing School - Redhook Marina. Who can spot Silver Lining? - Boating Near Me - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

I went thought the class last week and is was a really good experience. I went with my wife and my 4 year old daughter. Also, I am very pleased with this class. Captain Scott Brenner is an excellent instructor. He has lot of knowledge about sailing, maintenance, cooking (this is very important...J), provisioning stores in the Virgin Islands. He is also very responsible (something rare with sailing instructors...) and very very very patient. He patiently taught me cats, a lot of navigation and seamanship. Me, my wife and Sara enjoyed very much this class and had very good memories of it. Thanks to Scott Brenner and the team for making it happen. I will highly recommend to other students. Thanks again! Jorge read more

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I cannot recommend more... if there was a place for more than 5 stars I would have given that! Just returned from a wonderful week of sailing, completing ASA 101,103,104 and 114, this experience was one that I will always cherish thanks to the wonderful program and very informed captain, Jessica Ferris! I was fortunate to have capt Jessica as our captain and mentor, super professional! teaching me and the wonderful team of students on the Alesei different aspects of sailing. The days were packed, learning a lot, but at the same time enjoying and having tons of great time. Thanks again! read more

My boyfriend and I picked Virgin Island Sailing school to do our 103, 104, and 105 sailing classes. They were very accommodating with our specific dates so we decided to go for it. We got lucky and had Captain Kendrick to ourselves since they couldn't find another couple with our dates. He was super knowledgeable, very patient with us during our learning, and easy going! The islands we traveled to were different then the ones that were sent with our itinerary but they were still beautiful. Kendrick did an amazing job mixing in the classes with fun activities. When we were not practicing our sailing skills we were snorkeling with beautiful parrot fish, sea turtles, a spotted stingray, and dolphins. Going ashore with the dingy for drinks, a sunset hike, and dinners. A few pointers if we did it again we would have cooked more dinners on the boat and just get drinks ashore. The food was average and very expensive. We would have also reviewed 105 material prior to that week. It was an extensive amount of material that cant be covered during that week. You are expected to have a base knowledge on it and then just have a quick review through each question prior to the exam. read more

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Update: After some back and forth the owner called me recently. He expressed concern about our experience and agreed to a refund of half the price, which was roughly equal to the cost of the room we found in lieu of living on the boat. Seems like a fair result. The sailing was nice, the instructor was very good and we enjoyed ourselves. read more

I have now sailed with them twice on the silver lining. Scott is a great teacher and has sailed most of his life. He is super knowledgeable and I have learned a lot from him. The other time I sailed was with captain Gary also a great teacher and instructor. The boat is a nice 4 berth cat with private bathrooms for each berth it also had ac which was great to have in July. When I have done my trips. I go a lot of time at the helm and pulling lines. Not ropes lol you can't beat the USVI and BVI as a great stop to learn to sail it's beautiful and well protected channels make it the perfect spot. I would highly recommend anyone that wants to learn to sail and be an active participant to try this company out. I can't wait to get back down. Things to remember Bring your sun screen you'll need it and it's cost a lot more there. read more

Virgin Island Sailing School - Relaxing on jost - Boating Near Me - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

This was by far the best way I could imagine to get my ASA certifications. Courses were taught by a patient, knowledgeable, and super friendly instructor & captain who not only was able to teach everyone what we came to learn, but also knew exactly where to go in the islands and how to make the right suggestions for a fantastic cruise and unforgettable experiences. Took a chance not knowing what to expect, and this trip turned out to be everything I hoped for and then some. If you're considering taking your ASA courses with this school just do it. You won't regret it! read more

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There are a lot of choices for sailing schools in the Virgin Islands. After almost a month of research and reading reviews, we choose the Virgin Island sailing school because of location, price, and how personable and helpful Eschelle was on the phone. Now that it is all over, I can say that we made the right choice! I attended the U.S. Naval Academy and had prior experience, but my wife had never been on a sailboat before. Captain Dana Johnson was one of the most knowledgeable, patient, personable sailors I've ever met! He was absolutely fantastic! I learned a great deal from him, and my wife went from knowing nothing of sailboats to being able to fully operate every system and sail on board, plot an appropriate course using naval charts, and consistently and accurately identify rules of the road. Through all of our learning, Capt Dana was calm, helpful, and let us make mistakes. He has a calm confidence that is unusual for a a person in their twenties. He was an absolutely fantastic instructor and made the entire week an absolute delight! Any school is only as good as its instructors. If the other instructors are as good as Capt. Dana, then this is hands down one of the best schools around! As an addendum on what to expect: We met at noon and got the boat ready to depart as we had to be out of the slip no later than 1:00. We motored out to a mooring ball in the harbor and then took the dinghy back in for provisions. The school allocated $100/person for food. We all worked together on a meal plan for the week and made a shopping list. When all was said and done, we spent $390 for food. Not bad! As part of the crew, we all took turns cooking and cleaning, and we had some great meals! We also, of course, had a number of meals on shore at different places where we anchored. The boat, Silver Lining, is a little old and is definitely a teaching vessel. There were a number of things that did not work...like the Raymarine Plotter and the wind indicator. At first, this seemed like a real impediment, but truth be told, we learned to sail by site, hearing, and feel instead of relying on instruments. I'm personally glad that we did it this way! Everything else will be super simple after this! Capt. Dana would constantly ask us about apparent wind, points of sail, and right of way for every other vessel we saw. After a few days, it all became second nature and we found ourselves constantly thinking in our head something like "I'm on a close reach...wind is 50 degrees off the Port bow, and the ship at 11:00 is on the same tack, but upwind, so we are the stand-on vessel." Again, through it all, Capt. Dana both instructed and trusted as we worked our way through the different exercises. Each person was the "Skipper of the Day" and planned the next day's course, anchorage, meals, performed all of the engine checks and boat checks before getting underway, and tasked the rest of the crew throughout the day. There was plenty of instruction and plenty of down time for snorkeling, swimming, and just relaxing at the end of the day. read more

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First, I have to say that this is a school, not a vacation, though it certainly has enough opportunities for fun that it can do double-duty. Then, I have to tell you that I learned A LOT! I am a residency trained physician and instrument rated pilot and rarely learned as much in such a short period of time. Captain Scott was experienced, learned, and super patient in teaching us. I harbor no thoughts of being so patient, much less pleasant, with newbies doing their best to wreck my boat while I am putting out the proverbial fires and answering questions from every direction, all with a smile on my face. The boat we were on is adequate. As we came to learn we didn't expect the Ritz and we are used to small spaces in the RV world. It has a wet head in each cabin in which to shower (though usually we showered outside), toilet paper isn't flushed, and the halls were narrow enough that at 6'2" and 260 pounds I had to walk down sideways. We had cool sea breezes at night so even in May air conditioning was rarely required. We made our own menu and enjoyed the food, even going to shore to eat a few times. We sailed, anchored, learned sailing, the boat and catamarans as a whole, explored the area, had fun, sundowners, conversations, cooked together and made friends. I couldn't have asked for more. read more

Talk about a great teacher, Cpt. Quincy Briscoe, loves what he does and instills that love of sailing into the entire class! I sailed with him on Speculations, now I am an older sailor who felt he need some retraining and Quincy re-tooled me well without any push back or pressure. I learned a great deal, had a great time and watched him create sailors out of non-sailors in one week. Can not suggest a better skipper! read more

What a week. My father and I recently had the pleasure of completing ASA 101,103,104 and 114 with the Virgin Island Sailing School. We were lucky enough to be the only pair booked that week and had personal instruction from Captain Steven Ginger aboard the Speculation vessel. I could not recommend anything more. Speculation is a little new 44 ft boat and was very nice. Captain Ginger was was a great instructor and took us from being complete novices to being able to comfortably handle the boat in a variety of situations. Echelle in the booking office was completely helpful and answered all the questions we had before we booked and once we were booked provided detailed instruction on getting to the boat, as well as what to bring with us. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and can't wait to charter our own boat. We covered everything from the layout and terminology of the boat to sailing the boat and handling all types of situations. In short, Captain Ginger is a great instructor, the boat was perfect, and we accomplished more than expected. I will caution a bit, that it is a sailing course and therefore strenuous at times, but hopefully that is what you signed up for! read more

Hands down the raddest journey of my life. Traveling solo, I lucked out on a trip from St. Thomas to St. Kitts (8/12-8/21) and managed to gain a lifetime of memories and a few friends along the way... Not to mention loads of sailing experience with just about every kind of weather Mother Nature could throw at us. But the boat was solid and handled it all with grace. Captain Scott is a wealth of sailing knowledge from many years on the water and was always helpful during some of my less graceful 'teachable moments', ha. But I always felt in good hands and safe. The boat was new, clean, comfortable, and roomy. Looking forward to many more sails with Capt Scott and his team. THANK YOU! read more

I had the pleasure of spending a week with the VI Sailing School on their 47' catamaran with Captain Genevieve. We had an amazing trip around the Virgin Islands departing from St. Thomas and spending the majority of the time sailing around the British Virgin Islands. Prior to the week, my previous experience on a sailing vessel was limited to two pleasure day trips with no working experience on how to sail. I had read up on the books provided by VI Sailing School to introduce myself to the lexicon and techniques of sailing and was quickly immersed with hands-on learning from the moment I stepped on the boat. It all seemed overwhelming once I stepped foot on the boat and we pushed off with 6'-8' seas and winds gusting up to 25 knots but Capt. Genevieve was quick to engage and get us along our way as we immediately set sail. Once Capt. Genevieve got us familiar with the boat and how to work the sails, she allowed us to basically sail the boat while she was there to answer any questions and to step in whenever she felt there was a good learning moment. She was a great instructor from the get-go reinforcing the rules of the sea, teaching us how to work and communicate as a team aboard a sailing vessel and challenging us to try and think a couple steps ahead to avoid any potential danger and how we would handle any potential situations that may arise. We visited a number of islands along the way with my favorite stops being the North Sound of Virgin Gorda and Anegada. We spent two nights at the North Sound and after spending a couple days learning to sail on the catamaran, it was a real treat to spend a day sailing on a small sailboat (IC-24) at the Bitter End Yacht club and really get the feel for sailing in a faster paced environment. Anegada is so different from the rest of the BVI's due to its low elevation (28 feet its highest point) and is a great stopping point on a long sailing trip. The small community of Anegada is very welcoming to cruisers passing through and we had a great time visiting Anegada Beach Club and eating dinner at Potter's House. Throughout the trip we worked extensively on anchoring and picking up mooring balls and how to maneuver the catamaran in small spaces. We worked on docking at two different locales, one a traditional drive-up docking experience and the other a modified anchoring/docking technique (Mediterranean mooring/docking). Capt. Genevieve also familiarized us with how to chart our upcoming trip and project how long the sail will take and the likely points of sail and maneuvering we will need based on sea and wind conditions. In addition to the wonderful instructing, Capt. Genevieve kept us well fed and whipped up some amazing meals for us along the way. And although the whole point of the trip for me was to learn how to sail, we also took time along the trip to enjoy leisurely side of cruising the Virgin Islands as Capt. Genevieve took us to some great off the beaten path snorkel spots and amazing beach bars and restaurants. If you have strong desire to learn how to sail and want to put yourself in position to command a sailing vessel (and have an enjoyable Caribbean experience along the way), I highly recommend VI Sailing School and Capt. Genevieve. She is an excellent instructor who is patient with her students while challenging them to excel at the tasks necessary to be a good skipper. read more

If you have the slightest inkling of adventure in your blood, I recommend taking vacation time to learn to sail through the Virgin Islands AND I recommend VI Sailing School to teach you! My husband and I spent Christmas on the Silver Lining with Captain Genevieve. We were returning to the Virgin Islands after staying in a villa on St. John a few years prior. Sailing with VISS was certainly the way to go, it provided more options than staying ashore! Not only did we learn to sail, but also we were able to see St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke, Norman and Tortola. We learned the basics of sailing in the Virgin Islands and were able to stop and have fun along the way. We snorkeled, made trips ashore in the dinghy to shop and eat, swam, sun-bathed, played games and enjoyed ourselves on and off the boat. Having the captain along was like having a tour guide who knew the local places to go. Classes begin daily at 8...ish. We learned provisioning for the trip, maintaining motors/sails, sailing, steering, mooring and docking the boat. On the boat, the amenities are nice, and well suited for their purpose. The boat was clean and in seemingly good condition. There are pull out shower-heads in each cabin's head. There is AC/DC current for smaller things like charging your phone. The galley/saloon has air conditioning-not that you need it in the Caribbean. The cabins are comfortable, with small portholes and larger hatches for some airflow with a small fan. It's warmer at the beginning of the night but cools off later (a battery powered fan would be a good idea to pack for comfort). Tips to make the most of your vacation/learning experience: 1. Read the sailing books ahead of time, we did not and we spent a lot of time cramming that could have been spent swimming or enjoying beverages of the adult-type. 2. Have realistic expectations; it's not a luxury cruise ship-which isn't a problem if you are the adventuresome type. 3. Communicate your expectations when you book the trip, not when you get there, the boat may have 4-5 other sailors that the captain will also be accommodating. 4. If you want to feel more experienced in sailing, participate in everything! Don't let your sailing mates do all the work. read more

I first want to say that if you're looking to find an awesome charter with an experienced captain......look no further. Captain Geneieve is the best. Please pay no attention to the comments that Joy is leaving She is clearly an un happy person and if you read her review profile it seems all this woman does is leave raving bad reviews every where she goes. I have personally been aboard the "silver lining" and I will say that captain Geneieve is absolutely the most professional captain I have experienced and would highly recommend her to the fullest capacity I can imagine. I would also like to come forward and say that Joy E. Is ABSOLUTELY full of you know what and please consider fully researching Scott and Geneieve and their quality staff on the silver lining before passing judgement and considering other charters. Sail with Captain Geneieve. She is qualified, dedicated and absolutely the best captain in St. Thomas !You better Belize it!!!! read more

This experience was a dream come true for my husband (and a perfectly relaxing vacation for me, too!). Over the summer before he started sixth grade, my husband spent two weeks on a sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay. He was hooked and has loved sailing ever since, but had never taken formal classes. When he found this opportunity to earn his bareboat certification while sailing in the Virgin Islands we were both elated. I went along as a guest, not a student. Our instructor, Mark Castells, was a smart and competent teacher who was willing to keep lessons and tips going well into the evening. All of the students on our trip passed all of the tests and demonstrated the required skills. For my part, I spent as much time as possible in the gorgeous Caribbean waters and burying my nose in a book while we were underway. It was a delightful eight-day trip and we very highly recommend VISS for any aspiring sailor. read more

My husband and I just sailed for a second time with VISS. We worked on our skills and built our confidence more. Capt G is the reason we returned to the Silver Lining. She is extremely knowledgeable and works to teach those that want to learn. I would recommend the class to anyone with the desire to have fun, sail, and build their adventure resume. As for the Princesses out there, yes, the boat has a shower in each room, with Hot Water. You cannot sail without wind. And you cannot demand others to make you happy, that is all up to you. read more

I am writing to address some of Joy E's comments. I am a Captain that works for several sailing schools and VISS is one of them. Most Captain/instructors are contractors and work on a class by class basis for multiple schools. This time of year instructors typically leave the VI to work in the states as the weather in the VI during the summer is hot, rainy and often windless. Hence Joy would find a lack of variety in instructors in all the VI sailing schools this time of year and could easily find that there is not enough wind to learn to sail. Lack of instructors and not getting to learn to sail has more to do with the time of year than the school chosen. As far as the boat goes, it does have showers in each cabin and air conditioning. Whether or not these were working at the time I can't comment. I am sure the owner will work with Joy to resolve these issues. read more

Worst vacation ever! Website is very deceptive. Says there is a shower in each cabin - there is not. You have to wash in the sink. No hot water! Website says there is air conditioning - there is none. Not a problem except at night when you have to close the hatch because of poring rain. Website says the own 5 boats - they own one, dirty, old boat. Website says they have six captains- they have one. I was on the boat for six days a drove (not sailed, but motored) the boat twice. I am no where near qualified to sail a boat. Beware of a "school" with slick advertising and no reviews in the last five years! read more

Our family has cruised with Virgin Island Sailing School twice to gain knowledge of specific Caribbean waters and pass off higher level ASA courses (104, 105, 106, 114). We're probably intermediate sailors, have reasonable experience day/weekend sailing in 25-30 foot boats. We sailed from St. Maarten to the BVI/USVI in October 2016 and Grenada to St. Lucia in March 2017. We all feel that what we learned about the Caribbean and sailing was significant. Required reading for ASA 106 is The Annapolis Book of Seamanship and/or The International Marine Book of Sailing. In contrast to the basic ASA manuals, both books are great references (Nautical Charts and Cruising Guides were referenced to learn navigation in specific Caribbean waters). I mention this because the learning curve on both trips was dependent upon what we as students brought to the situation. Both trips provided significant experience managing all aspects of sailing larger boats (Leopard 47 and Hylas 47). I spent an entire afternoon practicing maneuvers with the 47 foot Leopard in the American Yacht Harbor marina including docking side and back. I can't believe Capt. Scott surrendered the helm in such a situation. His teaching method of see one and try one isn't common. In rebuttal to negative comments regarding the Sailing School I'll offer a few opinions and insights. Like anything mechanical, boats wear and fall apart. I cannot comment on the specific maintenance programs for the school's boats, but can say both were in fair condition for their age (1989 Hylas 47 and 2000ish Leopard 47). All systems were functional except for a Wind Speed instrument on the Leopard 47 that was replaced after our cruise. Cruising on a 40ish foot monohull or catamaran isn't the Ritz Carlton but more like camping in a RV. We accept the fact that amenities like air conditioning, endless high pressure hot water showers, lighting (i.e. LED), and refrigeration are limited or different. On the positive side, we cruise to avoid crowds and get to the out of the way places like the The Baths or Tobago Cays. In conclusion, I highly recommend the Virgin Island Sailing School. For us it provided great vacation experiences, increased our sailing knowledge and experience, gave us an opportunity to safely familiarize ourselves with specific Caribbean waters, moorings, and anchorages. read more

I'm a charter captain on my own boat, and have been a part of the VISS fleet since 2013, typically doing 2 VISS charters per month during the season. I have also captained Silver Lining, the VISS catamaran, which is roomier and more comfortable that the monohulls I typically sail. These are teaching charters, not luxury cruises. The crew/guest is expected to learn the material appropriate to the American Sailing School courses in which they are enrolled and to perform well on the written and practical exams. They are also expected to participate in every aspect of sailing the boat from anchoring to reefing sails to tacking, jibing and sailing upwind and downwind. The course is rigorous, and frankly, not for everyone. Our reviews are uniformly very high and based upon what the student has learned during the week as well as the quality and amenities on our boats. In my experience, the folks that have a less than stellar time are the ones that misunderstood the nature of the sailing school experience to begin with. We prepare people to captain their own boats- to learn the systems, and handle all the physical and intellectual challenges of sailing while enjoying the splendor of sailing in the Virgin Islands. We normally hear kudos and "thanks for the best vacation ever", " I learned so much", and similar comments reflecting exuberance over mastering the challenge and spending a beautiful week on the water. Sometimes however, the weather doesn't cooperate and there is too much or too little wind or squalls and large waves to deal with. Sometimes folks find the conservation of water and electricity that goes with sailing a bit of a hardship. Marine showers for example, are not like home or hotel showers - usually the sink faucet doubles as the showerhead: it's attached to a long flexible hose which you pull up and out of the sink, and the entire bathroom becomes the shower stall. It's all part of sailing - and certainly it's not for everyone but if you are up to the challenge of becoming a competent seaman and learning to sail your own boat, while enjoying a spectacular vacation, Virgin Island Sailing School is as good as it gets. read more

I sailed with VISS back in November 2014. I spent a week aboard the Silver Lining catamaran, with Captain G. as our instructor. I cannot begin to tell you what an amazing time I had. I think it must be a tremendous challenge for a captain to teach folks who are coming aboard, each with different skill levels. And yet, Captain G. made each day and each lesson both fun and informative. I think I and the other folks on board appreciated the fact that Captain G. took each of our desires into account when creating our week's itinerary. It meant that not only were we learning new skills, but we were getting to do it in the location(s) of our choice. I came back from the experience raving to all of my friends about how much fun I had and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend VISS to anyone. I think it would especially be a ton of fun to do with a whole family of folks interested in either learning how to sail or who may want to brush up on their sailing skills... all in the beautiful setting of the VIs. Thanks so much for an amazing "learning vacation". I hope to be back, soon! read more