Everything you
want to know

Not at all. All of our courses — ASA 101, the Barcelona Sailing Week, and our liveaboard vacations (Costa Brava and Costa Dorada) — are designed for complete beginners. No experience whatsoever is required. We start from scratch: what the ropes do, how the wind works, how a sailboat moves.

If you’ve sailed before, we’ll assess your existing skills and make sure your time on the water is spent where it’s most valuable. Experienced sailors can sometimes challenge ASA certifications directly – ask us about this.

We’ve taught complete beginners aged 18 to 72 to sail. The only thing you need is a genuine desire to learn.

No special fitness is required. Sailing on a cruising boat is not physically demanding — you don’t need to be an athlete. You’ll be pulling some lines, moving around the deck, and occasionally hauling a sail, but nothing that requires particular strength or conditioning. You do need to be comfortable on and around water, able to move around a boat deck safely, and capable of spending a day outdoors in sun and wind. If you have any specific physical considerations, contact us before booking and we’ll advise honestly.

Our courses are designed for adults — minimum age 18. There is no upper age limit. We’ve taught sailors in their seventies. What matters is that you’re keen to learn and comfortable on the water.

If you’re interested in sailing with younger family members, contact us to discuss options — we may be able to accommodate depending on the course and circumstances.

Absolutely — and many of our students do. Solo travellers join group courses alongside other students of mixed backgrounds and nationalities. It’s one of the most social ways to spend a week: shared experience, shared learning, and usually a very good group dinner or two along the way.

For the liveaboard vacations each cabin is priced per cabin — solo travellers get their own cabin and never share with a stranger. For the Barcelona Sailing Week you return to your own Barcelona hotel each evening, so you have full independence outside of sailing hours.

Some of our best course reviews come from solo travellers who came not knowing anyone and left with new friends and a sailing certificate.

Yes — and it’s a wonderful thing to do together. Couples and groups of friends are welcome on all our courses. We keep group sizes small (maximum 3 cabins per course) so everyone gets real time at the helm regardless of group composition.

One practical note for couples: learning to sail together can test a relationship. Sailing requires clear communication and the occasional firm instruction. The good news is that every couple who has ever sailed together comes out the other side laughing about it. Usually. Couples share a cabin at the two-person rate of €3,995 — just note it at booking.

You will sail. This is not a sightseeing charter with some sailing theory bolted on. From day one you’re at the helm, trimming the sails, executing tacks, and learning by doing.

We keep our courses at a maximum of 6 students specifically so that every student gets meaningful time at the helm every day. In a smaller group you’ll spend even more time actively sailing. Our teaching philosophy is simple: the tiller in your hand is worth an hour of classroom theory.

By the end of ASA 101 you’ll be sailing the boat solo. By the end of ASA 104 you’ll be skippering passages independently.

If you have real sailing experience but no formal ASA certification, you may be eligible to challenge one or more ASA courses — bypassing the coursework and demonstrating your skills directly in a practical and written exam.

The most common challenge is ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising) — the certification most charter companies require. To challenge ASA 104 you’ll need to pass the written exam and complete a three-hour on-water practical assessment with our instructor.

Contact us before booking to discuss your background. We’ll give you an honest assessment of which courses you should take and which you might challenge directly.

Start with ASA 103 — Coastal Cruising. ASA 103 picks up from where 101 left off and assumes basic boat handling knowledge. Within a day on the water you’ll have your confidence back.

If it’s been a very long time and you’re genuinely uncertain about your skill level, contact us before booking. We can discuss your history and recommend the right starting point. There’s no shame in refreshing ASA 101 — it’s far better than struggling through 103.

Barcelona Sailing Week — you sail during the day and return to Barcelona each evening. you choose whether to sleep aboard the vessel or stay in a Barcelona hotel — and the same choice applies on Wednesday night in Sitges. you cover ASA 101, 103, and 104 — suitable for complete beginners, no prior experience required, with one overnight aboard the vessel in Sitges on Wednesday night. Ideal if you want the full certification pathway and the freedom of Barcelona in the evenings.

Liveaboard Vacations (Costa Brava or Costa Dorada) — you live aboard the vessel for the entire week, sailing from port to port along the Catalan coast. You cover ASA 103 and 104. A more immersive sailing experience — everything happens on the boat. Ideal if you want to experience what extended cruising actually feels like.

• Barcelona Sailing Week: ASA 101 + 103 + 104 — three certifications, one night aboard in Sitges
• Liveaboard Vacation (Costa Brava or Costa Dorada): ASA 101 + 103 + 104 — full week living aboard along the Catalan coast. No prior experience required.

Maximum 3 cabins per course for week-long liveaboard and Barcelona Sailing Week courses — that’s up to 6 people if all cabins are shared by couples, or up to 3 solo travellers each in their own cabin. This is intentional — not a marketing line. With 6 students on a cruising sailboat, everyone gets meaningful helm time every day. There’s no waiting around while someone else practices.

We require a minimum of 2 cabins to run week-long courses, and a minimum of 2 students for ASA 101. If your course doesn’t reach minimum enrollment we’ll contact you well in advance to offer a reschedule or full refund.

We sail modern cruising monohulls — the type of boat you’ll encounter at any charter company in the Mediterranean. Our vessels are fully equipped, well-maintained, and sized appropriately for the course level.

For ASA 101 day courses we use smaller keelboats. For ASA 103, 104, and liveaboard courses we use cruising sailboats in the 35-45 foot range — the same class of vessel you’d charter independently after completing your certifications.

We also offer catamaran sailing (ASA 114) on the Bali 4.2 — subject to minimum 6 students. Register your interest here.

It happens, and it’s not the end of the world. ASA certifications require passing both a written exam (80% minimum) and a practical on-water assessment. If you don’t meet the standard in one or both components, your instructor will tell you honestly which areas need more work.

The best way to ensure you pass first time is to read your textbook before the course begins. Students who arrive having read the textbook pass their written exam comfortably. Students who haven’t sometimes don’t.

We recommend completing the free ASA Online Intro to Sailing course before any on-water instruction, and purchasing your ASA textbook well in advance. Both are available at the ASA store.

The American Sailing Association (ASA) is the leading sailing education organisation in the United States with over 400 affiliated schools worldwide. ASA has certified more than 500,000 sailors since 1983.

ASA certification is recognised by major charter companies around the world including The Moorings, Sunsail, Dream Yachts, and Navigare. In the Mediterranean specifically, ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising) combined with the IPC gives you the credentials to charter independently in Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

ASA certifications are yours for life — they don’t expire. The IPC has a 5-year validity and must be renewed.

The International Proficiency Certificate (IPC) is a document issued by the American Sailing Association that serves as proof of bareboat charter competency for Mediterranean charter companies. It was created specifically because many European countries — including Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey — require documentary proof of sailing competency that goes beyond just showing your ASA logbook.

If you plan to charter a boat independently anywhere in the Mediterranean, you almost certainly need an IPC. Charter companies in these waters will ask for it alongside your sailing resume.

To be eligible for an IPC you need to hold ASA 101, ASA 103, and ASA 104 certifications and be an active ASA member. The IPC is valid for 5 years from date of issue.

If you’re completing your ASA 104 with us — whether on a liveaboard vacation or Barcelona Sailing Week — you’re IPC eligible the moment your certification is signed off. Both our liveaboard vacations (ASA 101 + 103 + 104) and Barcelona Sailing Week (ASA 101 + 103 + 104) qualify you for the IPC.

Yes — this is something we take seriously and handle personally. The moment your ASA 104 is signed off on the final day of your course, we sit down with you and walk through the IPC application step by step.

The application requires:

• ASA 101, 103, and 104 certifications (we record these)
• Active ASA membership (we’ll help you check or renew)
• A passport-style photo (square, at least 600x600px, plain background)
• The application fee — approximately $45, paid directly to ASA online

The application is completed entirely online at americansailing.com. Most students receive their IPC within two weeks of application.

Bring a digital passport-style photo on your phone. It’s the one thing people forget, and it’s the only thing that slows the application down.

With ASA 101, 103, 104 and an IPC, you are qualified to bareboat charter with major charter companies across:

• Mediterranean — Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Portugal
• Caribbean — BVI, USVI, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua — logbook and sailing resume usually sufficient
• Pacific — French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia — similar requirements to Caribbean

Charter companies will also want to see a sailing resume showing your sea time and experience. We generate your sailing resume automatically at the end of your course — a professional document you can present directly to any charter company.

The most popular first charter destinations for our graduates are the Greek islands and the BVI. Both are exceptional sailing grounds for newly certified bareboat skippers.

Better than you probably expect. Modern cruising sailboats are comfortable, well-equipped floating homes. You’ll have a private or shared cabin with a proper berth, a galley (kitchen), a saloon (living area), and a head (bathroom with shower).

The motion at anchor is gentle — a slow, rhythmic rocking that most people find they sleep better to than in a hotel. In a marina it’s almost imperceptible.

Space is compact compared to a hotel room. You’ll be sharing the boat with your fellow students and instructor. If you need significant personal space to feel comfortable, this is worth thinking about honestly before booking a liveaboard course.

Pack light. One soft bag maximum — no hard suitcases. Everything you bring needs to fit in your cabin.

Your liveaboard vacation price includes everything on the water: certified ASA instruction for the full week, your vessel and accommodation aboard, all marina berth fees along the route, vessel fuel, and ASA certification and exam fees — covering ASA 101, 103, and 104.

Not included: meals ashore, flights to Barcelona, and the IPC application fee (paid directly to ASA). ASA textbooks are not included but strongly recommended.

Shared cabin — you share a double cabin with one other student of the same gender. This is the standard option and works well for the vast majority of students.

Private cabin — the cabin is entirely yours. No bunkmate. Ideal for solo travellers who prefer their own space, or couples travelling together.

In both cases you have full access to all shared spaces on the boat — the saloon, cockpit, galley, and all deck areas. The only difference is whether you share your sleeping cabin.

Stay as close to Port Olímpic as possible — the Barceloneta neighbourhood is perfect. You’ll be able to walk to the dock in five minutes, which matters when the course starts at 9am.

Good areas to consider:

• Barceloneta — beach neighbourhood, 5-minute walk to the marina, great restaurants and bars, lively
• El Born / Sant Pere — slightly more residential, 10-15 minute walk, excellent food scene, quieter evenings
• Eixample — central Barcelona, 20-minute taxi or metro, good for Sagrada Família and Gaudí architecture

Avoid staying in the Gothic Quarter or Raval if you want easy morning access to the marina — the walk is doable but longer through busy tourist streets.

We run courses April through October. All months offer excellent Mediterranean sailing but each has its own character:

• April & May — fresh, uncrowded, reliable breeze, sea temperature building. Barcelona at its most liveable before summer tourists arrive
• June — excellent sailing conditions, warm but not yet peak heat, city buzzing without being overwhelming
• July — warm, reliable wind, Barcelona at its most vibrant, busiest with tourists
• August — hottest, sea temperature peaks, slightly lighter winds some days, many locals on holiday so restaurants are quieter
• September — our favourite month. Slightly cooler, more consistent breeze, tourists thin out, Barcelona feels like itself again
• October — quieter, excellent sailing, occasional unsettled weather later in the month, city is wonderful

September is genuinely the sweet spot — excellent sailing conditions, a more relaxed city, and still warm enough to swim at Barceloneta after sailing.

For Barcelona Sailing Week — you’re in a hotel each night so pack normally for a Barcelona holiday. For sailing days bring: non-marking soft-soled shoes (or bare feet — no black-soled shoes on deck), sun protection, sunglasses with a retainer strap, a light layer for morning and evening sailing, and a small day bag that can get wet.

For the liveaboard vacations — pack light. One soft bag maximum, no hard suitcases — they won’t fit in a cabin. Essentials:

• Non-marking soft-soled deck shoes
• Sun protection — high SPF, good quality sunglasses, hat
• Light waterproof jacket (for spray and evening passages)
• Warm mid-layer for night sailing
• Swimwear — multiple sets
• Quick-dry clothing — synthetics and merino dry fast, cotton takes forever
• Small torch / headlamp
• Seasickness medication — bring it even if you don’t expect to need it

For the Sitges overnight on Barcelona Sailing Week — pack a small overnight bag on Wednesday with one night’s essentials. Everything else stays at your hotel.

Textbooks are not included in your course fee and are not strictly required to attend. However, we strongly recommend purchasing and reading your textbook before the course begins.

The written exam is based on the textbook content. Students who arrive having read it pass comfortably. Students who haven’t sometimes struggle — and that means more cost and time to re-sit.

We also recommend completing the free ASA Online Intro to Sailing course (30 minutes) before any on-water instruction.

• ASA 101 — Sailing Made Easy
• ASA 103 — Coastal Cruising Made Easy
• ASA 104 — Bareboat Cruising Made Easy
• Save 20% on a complete bundle

Digital versions are available instantly on Apple Books and Google Play.

Seasickness is real and nothing to be embarrassed about. It affects experienced sailors too, particularly in the first day or two at sea.

A few things that help significantly:

• Take seasickness medication before you board — not after you feel sick. Stugeron (cinnarizine) or Dramamine taken the night before and morning of works well for most people
• Stay on deck and look at the horizon — the worst thing you can do is go below
• Stay hydrated and eat something light — an empty stomach is worse
• Take the helm — keeping your eyes on a fixed point and being actively engaged helps

The Mediterranean in summer is generally calm close to shore — our coastal sailing conditions are not rough. Most people who worry about seasickness find it’s a non-issue. Bring medication anyway.

Most people who think they’ll be seasick aren’t. Most people who don’t think about it are fine too.

Yes. As an ASA affiliated school we honour the ASA Veterans Program — active military and veterans receive 10% off ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing.

To receive the discount, first complete the ASA Veterans Program application on the ASA website. Once approved, contact us directly to enrol — do not book online through the website as the discount must be applied manually.

We’re proud to extend this to the men and women who’ve served. Thank you for your service.

The Mediterranean in summer is one of the most reliably good sailing environments in the world. Weather cancellations are rare — but they do happen.

If we cancel a course or sailing day due to unsafe weather conditions, you will be offered:

• A reschedule to the next available course date
• A credit toward a future Red Sky course
• A full refund if neither works for you

We monitor conditions daily and will contact you as early as possible — never the morning of if we can help it. Your safety always comes first.

Barcelona Sailing Week is particularly flexible in bad weather — we can use classroom time productively and adjust the schedule. The Sitges overnight may be moved to different days depending on conditions.

We understand that plans change. Our policy:

• More than 30 days before course start — full refund of all payments made
• 14–30 days before course start — deposit retained, balance refunded
• Less than 14 days before course start — no refund, but we will do our best to transfer your booking to another date

If you need to cancel, please contact us as early as possible. We’re a small school and last-minute cancellations affect us significantly — but we’ll always try to find a fair solution.

We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers course cancellation, particularly for international travellers.

We require a minimum of 4 students to run week-long courses, and a minimum of 2 for ASA 101. If your course date doesn’t reach minimum enrollment we will contact you well in advance and offer:

• A reschedule to another available date
• A full refund

We will never cancel a confirmed course without giving you adequate notice and a clear alternative. Booking earlier in the season gives courses more time to fill.