New England Sailing Center (NESC)

New England Sailing Center

Catamaran Cruising Certification

Catamaran Cruising-260x221
  • Description:

For recreational sailors interested in sailing as a family activity, or for sailors that just prefer the feel of sailing on multihulls, cats are the growing boat of choice for many. Catamarans offer spaciousness, comfort and no heeling. The cruising catamaran course covers terminology and hardware identification specific to cats; identifying the differences between multihulls and monohulls, including systems, boat handling under power and under sail, person overboard, heavy weather sailing, anchoring and docking the boat.

This certification course should provide you with a strong foundation for multihull sailing and is achievable in 1-2 days if your Bareboat Cruising pre-requisite has been met. Alternatively we do offer this course in our group course offerings (4 student maximum) in our 6 day/5 night Live Aboard Cruising format.

We also offer private courses. To schedule private instruction, charter your catamaran through Swain for 5 days or longer and book your cruising cat course instructor for five days and then continue on to bareboat charter. If you have achieved your Bareboat Cruising certification prior to this course, you have the option to schedule your instructor for the first two days and then continue on to bareboat charter.

Please visit our course and certification information page for more information on pricing. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.


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  • Prerequisites: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat, 103 Coastal Cruising, 104 Bareboat Cruising
  • Certification: ASA 114 Certification
  • Duration: 1-2 days if your Bareboat Cruising pre-requisite has been met
  • Curriculum:

Identify and describe hardware on vessel

Operating a multihull sailboat and understand performance of the boat

Foul weather

Docking the boat under various conditions and circumstances

Man Over Board drills

Maneuvering the boat under power

Points of sail and optimal sail trim

Anchoring