Club Member Program

Non-certification. Three hour sail. Gain hands on keelboat experience sailing a J22.

Enjoy a three hour sail on a J22 (22 foot keelboat with tiller) and discover the principles of sailing. You can experience sailing while also having the option to gain hands on experience. The J22 offers strength, stability and speed unmatched in a keelboat of this size. See a description of the J22 boat.

Intro to Sailing is a great option for individuals that are trying to determine if sailing is right for them before taking the Basic Keelboat course. NESC holds up to two sessions daily in both group and private formats.

Visit our Intro to Sailing Overview for more information on this course.

Experience hands-on sailing on a cruising monohull in the Newport Harbor. You can experience three hour day sails on a 39+ foot yacht for group and private sails.

Intro to Cruising is a great option for individuals, couples and families wanting to experience cruising while also gaining hands on experience. NESC holds up to two sessions daily including a three hour afternoon sail and a three hour sunset sail. Both group and private sessions are available with up to eight individuals per session.

Visit our Intro to Cruising Overview for more information on this course.

NESC developed the Competent Crew Endorsement for students and family members wanting to experience sailing without the in depth training and certification. Participants can be as hands on as they would like. Day sail to week long options are available.

This instruction level is most common for couples and families that have varying interest levels but want to experience sailing together. Students completing the Competent Crew Endorsement instruction level can gain sufficient knowledge to support certified sailors for recreational sailing during daylight hours and within sight of land.

Visit our Competent Crew Endorsement Overview for more information on this course.

In our two day Basic Keelboat (BK) course you will learn the fundamental principles of sailing. You will experience a mix of classroom and on the water training that will enable you to skipper an 18 to 27 foot keelboat in a safe, confident manner.

The two day certification course combines classroom and three to four hours of on the water training each day. Classroom time focuses on terminology, parts of the boat, knots and theory followed by on the water training. Following the water training session on day two you have the option to take your Basic Keelboat Certification written exam as a conclusion to the BK course.

We offer this course weekly with a maximum of four students in each course. You can extend your training to include an optional third day for more time on the water practicing and refining your skills. The BK course is taught on a J22 boat that are one of the most popular keelboats for day sailing in the world. See the J22 description in the Frequently Asked Questions below. Private lessons are available.

This course meets ASA Basic Keelboat Certification standards. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.

There are no prerequisite certifications required. The only requisite is your desire to learn sailing.

Students may choose to complete the ASA Basic Keelboat Certification exam after completing the second day’s curriculum. The ASA Certification fee is $85.

Training can be extended to include an optional third day for more time on the water practicing and refining your skills.

The cost is $525 per person if you would like to include the optional third day.

ASA Basic Keelboat Certification ($85)

Third day for skills mastery ($100)

Incorporation into the Accelerated Bareboat Certification program (see description below)

Curriculum for this course includes parts of boat, terminology, personal floatation devices and safety gear, safety at sea including right of way and commands, knots, points of sail, tacks and jibes, basic sail shape and trim, sail raising and controls, docking, man overboards and proper boat put down.

Visit our Basic Keelboat Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Five day course covering the Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising Certification requirements. This course is for members wanting formal ASA Bareboat Cruising certification to qualify them to charter yachts domestically and around the world. This is an internationally recognized certification.

Training may be completed in five full days or divided into two courses: two days for Basic Coastal Cruising training and three days for Bareboat Cruising training.

Your classroom will be a Beneteau 39 cruising yacht. Training will cover both theory and skill requirements for the Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising standards. The first two days will cover the skills for Basic Coastal Cruising with the option for ASA Basic Coastal Cruising certification. The final three days will cover the skills for Bareboat Cruising with the option for ASA Bareboat Cruising certification. Completion of your training will qualify you to sail a cruising yacht up to 54 feet. Testing for the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certifications will provide you with International recognition of your qualifications.

We have a maximum of four students in our group courses. Private lessons are also available for individuals, couples and families. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.

If certifying, students must have completed the Basic Keelboat course or have comparable training to challenge the certification.

Students may choose to complete the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising Certification exam after completing the second day’s curriculum. The ASA certification fee is $50 and includes text.

Students may choose to complete the ASA Bareboat Cruising certification exam after completing the sixth day’s curriculum. The ASA certification fee is $50 and includes text.

ASA Basic Coastal Cruising certification ($50)
ASA Bareboat Cruising certification ($50)

Curriculum for this course includes a review of terminology and sailing techniques relative to a mid-size auxiliary cruising sailboat followed by on the water training. Topics covered include auxiliary cruising sailboat systems, maneuvering under power and sail, basic coastal navigation and coarse plotting, reefing, anchoring, crew overboard, safety at sea, radio operation, weather forecast interpretation, and heavy weather techniques.

Visit our International Bareboat Cruising Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Seven day course that combines our two-day Basic Keelboat and our five-day International Bareboat Cruising courses.

NESC developed the seven day Accelerated Bareboat Certification (ABC) course so that motivated students complete a fast track program that advances them from beginner to bareboat certification through our comprehensive course that combines all of the skill requirements for the ASA Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certifications.

This course is structured as a combination of classroom and on the water training. You will learn on a J22 for the Basic Keelboat training and a Beneteau 39 or Beneteau 43 cruising yacht for the Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising courses. The accelerated pace supports an immersion into the sport of sailing.

The first two days will cover sailing fundamentals and skills for Basic Keelboat with the option for ASA Basic Keelboat Certification. Days three and four will cover the skills for Basic Coastal Cruising with the option for ASA Basic Coastal Cruising Certification. The final three days will cover the skills for Bareboat Cruising with the option for ASA Bareboat Cruising Certification. Completion of your training will qualify you to sail a cruising yacht up to 54 feet. Testing for the ASA Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certifications will provide you with International recognition of your qualifications.

We have a maximum of four students in our group courses. Private lessons are also available for individuals, couples and families. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.

There are no prerequisite certifications required. The only requisite is your desire to immerse yourself in learning to sail.

ASA Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certification fees are included.

Curriculum includes parts of boat, terminology, personal floatation devices and safety gear, safety at sea including right of way and commands, knots, points of sail, tacks and jibes, basic sail shape and trim, sail raising and controls, dock leaving and return, and proper boat put down. The course also includes a review of terminology and sailing techniques relative to a mid-size auxiliary cruising sailboat followed by on the water training. Cruising topics covered include auxiliary cruising sailboat systems, maneuvering under power and sail, basic coastal navigation and coarse plotting, reefing, anchoring, crew overboard, safety at sea, radio operation, weather forecast interpretation, and heavy weather techniques.

Visit our Accelerated Bareboat Certification (ABC) Overview for more information on this course.

Eight-hour classroom based course that can be incorporated as a supplement to the International Bareboat Cruising and Accelerated Bareboat Cruising courses.

Coastal Navigation is a classroom only navigational theory course that will teach you how to safely navigate a sailing yacht in coastal or inland waters. A combination of traditional techniques and electronic navigation systems will be covered.

It is common today for most sailors to rely on electronic navigational equipment such as a differential GPS or radar. The intent of this course is to expand on these modern systems to teach you how to confidently and safely navigate using a minimum of resources and traditional methods. Upon completion of this course you will have the insight and feel of a seasoned navigator. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.

NESC recommends that students have completed their Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising Certifications to ensure familiarity with standard yacht and sailing terminology.

Curriculum for this course includes Aids to Navigation, the Mercator chart, understanding use of a navigation log, safe inshore pilotage, weather information integration, navigational strategies, fog safety precautions, variation and deviation, plotting tools, and benefits and limitations of navigation systems.

Visit our Coastal Navigation Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Coastal Passage Making is for advanced sailors looking for experience of at least 50 nautical miles upon coastal waters. Coastal Passage Making challenges those students who have taken Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, Coastal Navigation or have the equivalent qualifications. Everything you learned from these courses will be used along with new skills you master through this course. Some of these skills include night time approaches to anchorages, night time man overboards, full on navigation, lights at night, standing watches and safety items one must know when sailing out of sight of land.

If certifying, students must have completed the Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising and Coastal Navigation courses or have comparable training to challenge the prerequisite certifications.

The Coastal Navigation course prerequisite is offered in conjunction with this course. Tuition is discounted from $295 to $236 when taken in combination with Coastal Passage Making.

Tuition includes the Coastal Passage Making text, night of arrival sleep aboard, provisioning for 5 days (4 breakfasts; 4 lunches; 2 dinners; snacks and starter kit) and the Coastal Passage Making certification fee. Not included in the tuition are drinking water and other beverages, dinners ashore, instructor’s gratuity. A minimum deposit of 50% of total package is due at the time of the booking. Balance is due 60 days prior to the course start date.

Coastal Passage Making graduates will have successfully demonstrated their ability to responsibly skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during passages on coastal waters, in all weather conditions, including all levels of visibility and all hours of the day and night.

Visit our Coastal Passage Making Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Offshore Passage Making graduates will have successfully demonstrated the ability to responsibly skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat to any destination worldwide. Students will prepare a plan for an open ocean passage of at least 600 nautical miles of which a minimum of 250 nautical miles must be sailed at least 50 nautical miles offshore; demonstrate a comprehensive check of the vessel, her rig and equipment; develop a primary and alternative watch schedule and duty roster for the skipper, navigator, crew and ship’s maintenance for the passage; demonstrate a plan of advanced weather forecasting: global weather patterns, high and low pressure systems, fronts, storms, squalls, gales, hurricanes and various fog conditions; and more.

Documented equivalent experience for the Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, Coastal Passage Making levels may be submitted if petitioning to challenge prerequisite levels.

Tuition includes course text, night of arrival sleep aboard, provisioning on board, corresponding certification fee, Customs fees. Not included in the tuition: beverages, instructor’s gratuity. A minimum deposit of 50% of total package is due at the time of the booking. Balance is due 60 days prior to the course start date.

Coastal Passage Making graduates will have successfully demonstrated their ability to responsibly skipper and crew an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during passages on coastal waters, in all weather conditions, including all levels of visibility and all hours of the day and night.

Visit our Offshore Passage Making Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Six hour classroom based course. Learn how onboard and handheld radios, EPIRBs, SARTs, AIS and DSC-enabled radios, are used effectively in marine communications.

A six to eight hour course offered in one day, covering general rules for the use and operation of VHF radios, SARTs, and EPIRBs. Every crew member needs to know how to operate a marine radio as well as what to do in case of an emergency. This course also covers an introduction to other marine communications. Students qualify to test for the International Yacht Training (IYT) VHF Radio Operator Certificate.

Includes the IYT course manual, exam fee, laminated certification card, IYT training logbook. Retake fee $25.

A written exam will be administered at end of classroom session. A grade of 70% or higher is required to pass. Should a candidate fail an examination, a re-take exam will be allowed for an additional fee.

Visit our VHF Certification Overview for more information on this course.

Four hours including certification exam. For those with strong keelboat skills but no formal certification.

Challenge requirements meet the ASA Basic Keelboat Certification standards. Contact us to check course availability and to schedule your course.

Formal small keelboat training or equivalent experience.

The ASA Certification fee is $85.

Visit our Basic Keelboat Certification Overview to review your knowledge to successfully complete the challenge.