Learn to Sail in the Bahamas
Earn your ASA certifications while sailing the Exumas — one of the world's most spectacular cruising grounds. Private instruction. Real conditions. Unforgettable.
The Best Classroom in the World
Most sailing schools teach in marinas, bays, or congested harbours. We teach in the Exumas — 130 miles of some of the clearest, most beautiful water on the planet. Steady trade winds. Protected cays. Dramatic tides. Varied anchorages. Everything a real sailor needs to encounter, in a setting that makes you want to stay forever.
All instruction is one-on-one or small private group, aboard our catamaran, living and sailing the boat for the duration of your course. This is the immersive liveaboard model — the fastest, most effective way to become a confident sailor.
Private Instruction
You charter the entire boat. Chris's full attention is on you — no strangers, no waiting for your turn at the helm, no one-size-fits-all pacing.
Real Conditions
The Exumas offers the full range — open water passages, protected anchorages, tidal cuts, and night sailing. You'll graduate having done it all.
LGBT-Owned & Operated
An authentically inclusive learning environment. We're the only LGBT-owned sailing school in the Bahamas — everyone is genuinely welcome here.
Choose Your Path
All courses are private and fully customizable. The packages below are our most popular combinations — but if you have specific certifications in mind, we'll build a course around them.
Catamaran Cruising
For sailors with ASA 101 or basic experience
The most popular path for sailors who already know the basics and want to earn their full cruising suite. You'll cover coastal navigation, bareboat seamanship, and catamaran handling — all while island-hopping through the Exumas.
Beginner to Bareboat
No prior sailing experience required
Start with zero experience and finish with a globally recognised bareboat licence. This package takes you from the fundamentals of sail trim and boat handling all the way to confidently skippering a cruising yacht on coastal passages.
Full Catamaran Certification
Beginner to certified catamaran skipper
The complete package. Go from total beginner to holding four ASA certifications including catamaran cruising — giving you everything you need to charter a cat anywhere in the world. An intensive, immersive experience unlike anything else.
Build Your Own Course
Already hold some certifications? Want to focus on a specific skill — anchoring, passage planning, catamaran docking, night sailing? We can build a course around exactly what you want to work on. Tell us where you are and where you want to go.
What's Included in Your Course
Every sailing course at Amihan Charters is fully inclusive — there are no hidden fees or surcharges. You focus on learning; we handle everything else.
Not included: ASA textbooks (pre-reading required before the course begins), flights, airport transfers, and gratuity for your instructor.
What Each Course Covers
The American Sailing Association is the world's leading sailing certification body. ASA certifications are recognised globally — from the Mediterranean to the Pacific — and are the standard requirement for bareboat charter companies worldwide.
"There's no better place to earn your sailing certifications than the Exumas. I've sailed a lot of the world, and I still come back here. When my students complete a passage through the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and anchor under the stars off Warderick Wells, they don't just pass a test — they fall in love with sailing."— Chris Black, ASA Certified Instructor & Founder, Amihan Charters
A Sailing Ground Like No Other
The Exumas are world-famous for a reason. 365 cays stretching 130 miles through water so clear you can see the anchor 40 feet down. Steady 15-knot trade winds. Dramatic tidal cuts that challenge and teach. Turquoise flats, wild pigs on the beach, UNESCO-protected reef, and some of the quietest anchorages in the Caribbean.
For a sailing student, this is the full package. You'll encounter protected waters for early practice, open sea passages to build confidence, complex tidal navigation, varying anchoring conditions, and enough beauty between lessons to make you question why you ever lived on land.
Most liveaboard sailing schools operate in busy sailing waters surrounded by other boats. In the Exumas, some anchorages you'll have entirely to yourself.
Sailing School FAQ
Do I need sailing experience to join a course?
Not at all. Our Beginner to Bareboat and Full Catamaran Certification packages start from zero. If you already hold ASA 101 or above, we'll pick up exactly where you left off.
How many students are in a course?
All our courses are private — you charter the entire boat. There are no group courses with strangers. Maximum 4 students, which means you'll get significantly more time at the helm than in a typical group sailing school.
What do I need to do before the course starts?
ASA requires students to read the relevant textbook(s) before arriving — this is mandatory, not optional. We'll send you a reading list when you book. Come prepared and you'll get so much more out of the time on the water.
Are ASA certifications recognised internationally?
Yes. ASA is the US's leading sailing certification body and its certifications — especially ASA 103/104 — are widely accepted by charter companies throughout the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and beyond. Many charter companies will also ask for ASA 114 specifically if you want to bareboat a catamaran.
Can couples or friends do a course together?
Absolutely. Many of our students are couples learning to sail together — it's one of the most rewarding things you can do as a team. Friends or small groups (up to 4) are equally welcome. Everyone gets time at the helm; everyone takes their exams.
What's the best time of year to do a sailing course in the Bahamas?
November through April is peak season — warm, dry, and reliably windy. Water temperatures are comfortable year-round (27–29°C / 80–84°F). We run courses throughout the year, but peak season offers the most consistent trade winds for faster learning.