Which course should I take?
If you are sailing for the first time...you should take our 3 -Day Basic Keelboat " Learn to Sail Class". This is where the basic sailing skills are taught.
If you want to sail larger boats and go on to cruising, then consider our 4 - Day Combination Class which combines Basic Keelboat with Coastal Cruising as well as "Live Aboard" accommodations for you while sailing with us.

How many students are in a class at one time?
We will hold certain classes with only one student.
Usually only one couple is permitted per boat to insure your privacy.  On our Beneteau 50’ up to 6 passengers are permitted as there are 4 private staterooms.

Do we sail in all weather, including rainy days?
We sail rain or shine. Rain suits are provided when needed. Our instructor will teach you sailing skills in light wind or heavy wind. We would never sail if we felt there was ever a danger of compromising the safety of anyone aboard.

May I live aboard during the 3 -Day Basic Keelboat " Learn to Sail" Class?
No…not during Basic Keelboat Class.  Nights aboard are included in the other “Certified Sailing Classes” and “Private Live aboard Classes”

I might want to sail on a catamaran later on. What will the difference be from a monohull boat like yours?
You will find the differences are few. Catamarans may not heel quite as much as a monohull boat. The performance and skills invovled in sailing each one will be very similar. The drafts would usually be shallower on multihulls also.

We're considering buying a cruising sailboat or chartering one in the Carribean. What classes should we take to prepare us quickly?
Our 6 – Day “Premier” or 6-Day “Bareboat Chartering” Classes are for you, depending on the size boat you wish to Charter or buy.

Can you provide a class to fit my schedule?
Yes… we will hold a class based on your individual travel plans throughout the year based on the availability of our boats.

Will I receive a any Certification with my course?
Yes... we offer both US SAILING and American Sailing Association Certifications.
The entry level Certification is: Basic Keelboat, next is Coastal Cruising and then Bareboat Cruising. There is a 3 level tier in the Keelboat Certification System. Each level of Certification builds further on the skills acquired from the Certification level previously completed.

You offer BOTH ...US Sailing AND American Sailing Association Certifications?
Yes we do! Florida Keys Sailing is one of only a very few sailing schools in the entire World to do this! We are very proud of our achievement in providing such a high standard of sailing instruction that we are Certified by both US Sailing and the American Sailing Association! Our course material, high quality boats, knowledgable and professional instructors and limited class sizes have enabled us to offer students the option of Certification from either of these fine Sailing Associations. Other sailing schools will advertise faults with one Certification or the other because they don't offer both. Other sailing schools don't offer both because they haven't achieved this higher standard of sailing instruction required to be Certified by both Sailing Associations. We have and we're very proud of it! You will see what we mean when you take one of our Classes.

So what is the difference between the US SAILING Association and the American Sailing Association Certifications?
When you finish with all of our Classes and complete the entire Keelboat Certification System that Florida Keys Sailing provides... none. You will be a very competent, skilled, and experienced sailor. Your Certification will be welcomed by Charter Companies throughout the World! US SAILING and the American Sailing Association have different techniques and course outlines toward the same goal. US SAILING focuses more on the "technical aspects of sailing" early on. ASA is a little more of a Boater's Sailing and Cruising Course outline.  Both are quality programs and require a high caliber school like Florida Keys Sailing to competently offer both.

When I've successfully completed one of your Classes, can I rent one of your boats?
Absolutely YES! The whole idea of the Keelboat Certification System is to prepare you for rentals, bareboat charters and sailing your own boat. We reccommend to all graduates that they take a few more days following their Certification Class and rent one of our boats. What better way would there be to gain more valued experience than to sail on one of our boats in the area you just became familiar with during your class? We offer rentals of our boats by the half or full day and also by the week, based on availablility and weather conditions.

I love sailing, but my wife is unsure about this, the safety and the heeling over and things like that. What can be done to help me change her feelings about sailing?
Often times husbands and wives can't learn from each other for one reason or another.  You have several options with Florida Keys Sailing. She could take either our Basic Keelboat "Learn to Sail" Class or one of our 4 - Day Combination "Live Aboard" Class alone and become very skilled and comfortable with one of our professional instructors. Or she could enroll with you as a couple in a class and learn from one of our professionals. Either way she will become very confident sailing. Or lastly she could simply " sail along " with you during your sailing class. Although this wouldn't provide the individual instruction for her as much as being enrolled in the class, she would see how safe and fun sailing really is and this usually will prepare her for taking one of our classes later on.

Call us @ 305 - 289 - 9519 and we'll discuss your individual needs.