Training Expeditions
Ocean Sailing Expeditions with Instruction
Pelagic Blue Cruising Expeditions are exciting offshore sail training experiences that include mastering seamanship, navigation, heavy weather tactics, and light air sailing. We teach the Mahina Expeditions curriculum that John Neal developed over 30 years and 400,000 miles of training expeditions. This unique program is specifically designed to prepare you for bluewater cruising on your own boat.
What to expect:
-Â The opportunity to increase your confidence and safety at sea by sailing a 100+ mile overnight passage and learning both light and heavy weather sailing techniques.
-Â To be fully immersed and involved in learning all aspects of operating and maintaining a modern ocean cruising boat including steering, watch standing, sail trim and reefing, anchoring, provisioning, meal preparation, boatkeeping, and maintenance.
-Â A uniquely designed training experience that prioritizes safety and self-sufficiency, and will help you decide if the cruising lifestyle is for you.
-Â To learn about the ocean and marine wildlife we see from experienced marine biologists.
-Â At the completion of your expedition you will have the knowledge to make better informed decisions on the purchasing and outfitting of your own boat.
You will receive:
- 3-6 hours per day of dedicated, hands-on instruction. See Offshore Sail Training Objectives below for training topics.
- A copy of John Neal's 116 page Expedition Companion textbook covering all aspects of cruising.
- Our commitment to answer all your questions and concerns about ocean voyaging.
- An exciting and immersive learning environment designed to help you master traditional and electronic navigation, boat handling, and both heavy weather and light air sailing tactics.
- Three nutritious, balanced meals per day, making use of local ingredients and regional flavors as much as possible.
- Official letter of sea service and/or a certificate documenting your experience and training, along with a skills checklist. These documents can serve as part of your sailing resume for maritime employers, insurance, or charter boat companies.
Our goal:
We strive to exceed expectations and offer the best opportunity for those eager to master ocean voyaging skills in a safe, supportive environment, while positively impacting the places we visit.
Preparing For Your Expedition
Physical Ability, Health, Learning, and Safety
You should have at least intermediate sailing skills, a passion for sailing, and have completed a navigation course. Safe and enjoyable voyaging relies on everyone working together, even in strenuous and mentally demanding situations. It’s crucial that all crew members can handle all onboard duties, including steering by hand (as we don't use autopilot) and working on deck in challenging conditions. If you exercise regularly, enjoy outdoor activities, are comfortable in and on the water, are in good mental health, and are not significantly overweight, you’ll be a valuable asset on board. Our expedition members come from diverse backgrounds and countries. This is not a macho adventure; women are equal and valued participants. Training is tailored to different learning styles—either hands-on with practical tasks like reefing, charting, and anchoring, or conceptual with explanations, documentation, and procedures.
Before joining us, consider enhancing your sailing knowledge. We recommend starting with NauticEd’s free courses, Rules of the Road and Sail Trim, and strongly suggest completing their Captain Rank, which covers coastal navigation, safety at sea, weather, anchoring, and more.
Another great option for learning coastal navigation remotely is ASA 105: Coastal Navigation. We recommend everyone complete this course which provides a solid foundation for learning the essential skill of navigation.
Application and Payment
Complete the application. Gio and Julie will contact you within 24-48 hours of reviewing your application. You'll be invoiced for your remaining balance which is due 15 days after the date on your acceptance letter if the expedition is within the same calendar year, or by January 1st of the year of your expedition. Please note that application does not guarantee acceptance. In the unlikely event you are not accepted, your application deposit will be refunded promptly. The cost of a Pelagic Blue Expedition berth covers instruction, food, fuel, and moorage. It does not include airfare, visas, meals ashore, personal expenses, or personal insurance.
Cancellation Policy
In the unfortunate event you must cancel, a full refund less the $500 application deposit will be issued provided we receive written notification more than 150 days prior to departure, and we are able to rebook your berth.
Travel and Trip Cancellation Insurance
We strongly encourage you to obtain comprehensive travel and trip cancellation insurance and recommend DAN Boater Insurance
Offshore Sail Training Objectives
Pelagic Blue Expeditions offer thrilling offshore sail training experiences, focusing on seamanship, navigation, and heavy weather tactics. Our distinctive program is designed to prepare you for coastal or ocean cruising on your own boat.
Safety Systems
- Locate and practice wearing life jackets.
- Safety harness: selection, fitting, and procedures.
- Deployment and use of high lifelines versus deck jacklines.
- Each person will practice Lifesling overboard rescue and retrieval.
- Discuss the equipment list for assembling your own survival packs.
- Identify and test all bilge pump systems and bilge high water alarms.
- Locate thru-hull fittings and wooden plugs, and discuss maintenance.
- Discuss fire emergencies and the location of fire extinguishers.
- Locate and use the emergency tiller.
- Test the propane alarm and solenoid, ensure safe stove and oven use, and review necessary spares.
- Review the first aid kit and inventory of the Adventure Medical Marine kit, and discuss the prevention and treatment of common medical issues encountered in tropical and remote waters.
On Deck Procedures
- Raise, reef, and stow the mainsail, including the use of lazy jacks, vang, and preventer.
- Use a furling and reefable headsail.
- Demonstrate points of sail and proper sail trim.
- Conduct pre-departure, pre-passage, and daily rigging checks, including chafe prevention.
- Properly belay lines to a cleat, coil short and long lines, and tie bowline, reef knot, slippery hitch, and figure-eight knots.
- Steer by compass and stars during night watch.
- Work safely aloft; each person may go aloft at anchor or in port with a safety line attached.
- Locate spare rigging and fittings, and understand emergency rigging repair procedures.
- Repair sails: sew sailcloth with a palm and needle, and discuss sewing machines and sail repair kits.
- Become a knowledgeable and competent watch stander.
Navigation
- Chart selection and organization: choose the appropriate nationality of chart for a specific area.
- Utilize BA and US Chart #1, Sailing Directions, Light List, and Cruising Guides.
- Navigate using paper charts for plotting.
- Determine course, distance, VMG, and ETA.
- Coastal Navigation: plot courses, determine dead reckoning positions, and assess depths, hazards, currents, and obstructions.
- Electronic Navigation: use MFD and laptop charting systems, and discuss chart accuracy relative to GPS positions.
- Employ radar and AIS for collision avoidance, landfall, and squall detection.
- Celestial Navigation: calibrate and use a sextant, shoot, reduce, and plot a LAN.
- Tides: learn to utilize powerful tidal currents effectively.
Boat Systems
- Review battery charging and monitoring systems, and discuss alternative power options.
- Understand the use, maintenance, and servicing of marine diesel and outboard engines.
- Know which spare parts to carry for the engine, outboard, electrical systems, refrigeration, and watermaker.
- Learn the use and maintenance of electric watermakers.
- Understand the use, cleaning, and maintenance of marine heads.
- Plan provisioning in foreign ports, store food goods properly, and manage meal planning and cooking while underway.
Storm Sailing Techniques
- Discuss the use of storm staysail, running backstays, and storm trysail.
- Practice heaving to and deploying tow warps astern.
- Review the deployment of the Galerider drogue and Para-Tech sea anchor.
- Examine the Queen’s Birthday storm results and the most effective storm management techniques for various hull designs and sea conditions.
- Discuss preparation for storm conditions, including storm sails, bilge and pumps, deck and cockpit readiness, batteries, meals, and sleep.
Meteorology
- Review sources of marine weather information, including VHF, SSB, Weather Fax, Navtex, GRIB files, Windy.com, PredictWind.com, and airports.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and explain various weather features.
- Review cruise planning, including cyclone seasons, the use of Pilot Charts, and World Cruising Routes.
- Study global prevailing weather systems and techniques for predicting and assessing surface currents and drift.
- Examine the impact of El Nino and La Nina on cruising areas around the world.
Communication
- Utilize VHF radio for weather forecasts, communication, and distress signals.
- Discuss various communication options for long-distance cruising.
- Handle official procedures in foreign ports, including health regulations, customs, immigration, and port authorities.
Anchoring
- Choose the most suitable anchor and rode for different conditions.
- Calculate the appropriate scope and swing diameter.
- Identify optimal anchoring locations to avoid sea grass, coral, or rocks.
- Set a second bow anchor for added security.
- Safely operate the electric windlass and use the manual backup feature.
- Mark and stow the chain properly and use a chain snubber.