PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Sail School Bahamas runs a superb range of sailing adventures for Scouts that offer excellent value for money. Your group can learn how to sail while traveling from island to island in the Sea of Abaco in the beautiful northern Bahamas. Our main focus is ensuring you have FUN, so each morning you can discuss your options with your Captain and the pace of the trip is decided by you.
One of our most popular options is the half-day Discover Scuba course, which involves professional instruction and in-water training followed by a trip out to the awesome barrier reef on a dive boat where you enjoy two shallow scuba dives. There are opportunities for snorkeling, swimming and fishing every day (you might even catch your dinner) and you’ll be able to go ashore to check out the most amazing beaches anywhere, relax in fresh water swimming pools and enjoy the unique charm and character of each island.
You can select the dates that don’t clash with commitments Scouts may have during the holidays. All participants need a passport and everyone should have medical insurance. Also, although we’re not affiliated with the BSA, we insist on following their requirements for leadership and trip participation including the need for a Tour Permit. Lastly, to take part in our trips you should be reasonably fit and healthy and everyone needs to pass the BSA Swim Test.
We can put you in touch with Adult Leaders or Scoutmasters from groups who have sailed with us so you can speak with them about every aspect of the trip from planning and preparation to travel arrangements to participation.
LOCATION DESCRIPTION
[mappress mapid=”3″]When we talk about our trips in the Bahamas, most folks think of tourists at the ‘Atlantis’ resort, Nassau Casinos and Cruise Ships. However, the northern islands of the Bahamas around the Sea of Abaco couldn’t be more different! This is a particularly unspoiled, naturally beautiful area where there is minimal development offering a perfect playground for sailing. The barrier reef offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world due to the superior visibility provided by the Gulf Stream! The sailing area lies within the protection of the barrier reef and within the reef lie the barrier islands so although you’re sailing in sight of the Atlantic Ocean you rarely experience more than 12-18 inches of chop (wave height on the surface). Each island has it’s own unique charm and character and the scenery is typically tropical featuring palm trees and mangroves and lots of sand. The average depth in the Sea of Abaco is just 8-10ft and provides an amazing spectrum of shades of aquamarine, which many visitors to the area remember most. With over 700 islands the culture of the Bahamas is rich in history featuring notable pirates and islanders making a living from the sea, to this day some of those traditions live on with fishing and boatbuilding still thriving. The museum in Hope Town provides a good insight into the origins and development of the Bahamas and is a popular diversion from the beaches, snorkeling or usual sightseeing.
PROGRAM HISTORYAfter three years working with SeaBase, in 2005 we started our own High Adventure trips in the Bahamas focusing on teaching our groups how to sail and making it a safe, fun experience on great sailboats with friendly Captains and superb food.
We’ve had Scout Troops, Venture Crews and Sea Scouts take part in our programs from as far away as California, Texas, Colorado and Wisconsin and as close as Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Their testimonials provide an honest appreciation of what they thought of their experiences and all our website photos show Scouts and Adult Leaders who took part in our trips.
Our largest trip to date was spring 2010 when a group of 32 Scouts and Adult Leaders came down from Eden Prairie, MN and spent 6days with us on 4 sailboats.
Our sailboats are carefully selected and inspected annually by the Bahamian Port Authority. Our Captains are licensed and have excellent experience and local knowledge.
| Average Annual Participation | Average Individual Cost (excluding travel) | Program Season | Participants can sign up as | Specialized gear required? | Average Program length |
| 100-200 | $600-$700 | December – August | Crews | No | 6 days |
CONTACT INFORMATIONSail School Bahamas WebisteDirector Brian Forbes info-team@sailschoolbahamas.com
Phone: 404-394-0936