Learn to Sail

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The Sonoran Sport Center Sailing School offers vacation courses in five levels: Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Charter, Cruising Catamaran and Coastal Navigation.

We have 19 years of experience in San Carlos and know the best anchorages. Sailors, divers, kayakers and snorklers a like find the coast around the San Carlos area stunning.

For each level there are courses of varying duration to accommodate individual vacation plans and schedules. You also have the opportunity to combine courses for an extended vacation covering more than one or all levels of sailing experience.

We can custom design courses to meet your needs enhance your sailing experience and provide a sense of adventure. Let us take you sailing!!!

  Diving - Kayaking -  Kiteboarding - Whale Watching - Home page

Our Boats

 Piver 36 "Windsplitter"                                                         Montgomery 17  "Puro Viento"  

 Our new additions to the fleet. Above is a Hartly 28 foot trimaran called  "Chantik" named after out daughter which means beautiful in Indonesia and below is a Watkins 36 foot center cock pit named "My Darling"

Bareboat & Captained Charters Rental Price list

If you would like a skipper add $100 dollars a day to any of the above fees. There are many great dive sites and anchorages around the San Carlos area . Many clients request a captain for a day or two so that they can be shown some of the better dive sites and wrecks available to dive. Your check out fee is waved if you hire a captain for a day or longer.

Terms and conditions for charter.

 A valid credit card is required and a minimum deposit of between $100 and $200 dollars depending on boat you book at the time of booking to hold requested dates.  A 50% of balance is due two weeks prior to arrival with the remainder of the balance due upon arrival. If you should cancel a booking with more than two weeks notice 70% of your deposit will be refunded. Cancellations within two weeks prior to departure will result in a loss of deposit. No winter time weather cancellations are valid after arrival. Candidates for bareboat charter must be capable of captaining boat in up to 30 knots of wind and nor are cancellations valid for sea sick crew or rough weather conditions. Upon booking charter applications and charter agreements will be emailed to applicants and must be filled out and emailed back before a deposit can be accepted. 

   *ASA members receive 10% discount on any services

  Our Courses

Following prices are for Multiple overnight trips

Three day up coast to San Pedro Island or Isla Tortuga

5 day 4 night Certification to Baja or North up coast

Basic Keel Boat Sailing Standard

Prerequisites: None, persons with previous sailing experience may challenge this course to move to next level.

General Course Description: You will learn to sail a boat of around 25 feet in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. No auxiliary power skills or navigation skills are required to take this course. The Basic Keelboat Sailing course is approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard as a recognized Safe Boating Course. As such, it meets all requirements for mandatory education and licensing for every state in the United States.

    This course covers aspects such as sailing terminology, navigation rules, crew overboard, and knots. You will receive approximately 18 hours of instruction. There are written and practical tests. Upon completion of this course you will be qualified to charter the boat you have trained on and day sail on you own. Topics to be stressed include.

Basic Coastal Cruising Standard

Prerequisites: Basic Keel Boat Sailing certification. Persons with sailing experience may challenge course.

General Course Description: Abel to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on a an auxiliary sailboat of about 30 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions. 

     Topics stressed in this course will include gear and safety equipment, interpretation of marine weather forecasts, interpretation of NOAA nautical charts, proper anchoring techniques, boat handling under power and sail, reefing/heaving to, person overboard and much much more.

Bareboat Chartering Standard

Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising certifications. Sailors with previous experience may challenge this standard.

General Course Description: An advanced cruising Standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as a skipper or crew of a 30-50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.

    Topics include trip planning, living afloat, weather, and a great deal of Seamanship and Sailing Skills.

Coastal Navigation

Areas covered in the course:

Cruising Catamaran

• Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat and Basic Coastal Cruising certifications. The Bareboat Charter Standard is also a prerequisite and can be attained either by itself prior to this course or in conjunction with it.

• General Course Description: An advanced cruising standard for individuals with cruising experience. The individual can act as a skipper or crew of a 30-50 foot Multihull sailboat by day in coastal waters. The standard includes those skills unique to a 30-50 foot Multihull.