TRIP COSTS
PRIVATE TRIPS ONLY- Email us for a detailed quote for you and your crew (4 students maximum)

This is Nautilus Sailing’s premium trip. The all inclusive price covers the cost of a chartering a newer sailboat for your trip, flying a top rated instructor to the area,  and 3 meals per day (apart from 3 evening meals ashore to sample the local cuisine). Also covered in the cost are all textbooks, international logbook, formal ASA certification, and a 90-day ASA membership. Airfare is not included. A 50% non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking. Remaining payment is due 60 days prior to the trip.

AVAILABILITY

 

 

We can book a monohull or catamaran course for almost any date you want! We run courses in Tahiti, from March through December (the other months it’s the rainy season!).

All of our courses run from Saturday to Saturday.

Courses are filling up VERY quickly at the moment so plan your trip well in advance!

Simply contact us by email or call (800) 680-7902 and we’ll put together the best trip option for you.

 

Why Future Captains Choose Nautilus
  • Sail the newest sailboats in production
  • Experience the world’s most award-winning ASA instructors
  • Learn to sail AND have an amazing vacation!
  • Join the Nautilus family for global alumni trips, flotillas, sailing adventures and deliveries
  • Benefit from using Dream Yacht Charters‘ official sailing school
Earn Your ASA Badges

ABOUT THIS DESTINATION

Learn to Sail in Tahiti, South Pacific

 Tahiti is our premium destination and live aboard course. This will be the trip of a lifetime for those who are willing to make the journey! No description of these mind boggling islands can come close to doing them justice…  Dramatic volcanic peaks, covered in lush jungle cascade down to turquoise lagoons teeming with colorful fish and coral. On our week aboard we visit the islands of Raiatea, Tahaa and the world famous honeymoon destination of Bora Bora. We use  brand new Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40s and Bali 4.1s for our cat courses, and new Dufour 520GL sailboats for our monohull courses in the area. These are both amazing vessels for a week’s adventure!

Explore this stunning location while earning American Sailing Association 101,103, 104 and 114 certifications (Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat). Over the course of a week, learn to sail and gain the knowledge, experience and certifications to charter sailboats anywhere in the world, and embark on your own sailing adventure!

Why choose Tahiti?

The islands of Tahiti, with their jungle covered peaks, pristine lagoons, and powder white sand beaches are the quintessential, idyllic South Pacific destination. Passages between islands are perfect for applying our new found sailing skills, and each night we enter a protected lagoon to anchor for the night. This area is considered a more “advanced” sailing area, with it’s challenging reef passes and tricky anchorages, which makes it perfect for a live aboard course. The locals are incredibly friendly and there is a vibrant local culture.

EXAMPLE ITINERARY & MAP

ASA Sailing Courses in Tahiti

SATURDAY

Fly from your home airport to Papeete, Tahiti (airport code PPT). There are lots of flights from LAX. Once in Tahiti, catch a short flight with Air Tahiti out to the island of Raiatea (airport code RFP), or if you have more time, hop on one of the many ferries out to the islands. Plan on arriving at the boat late afternoon or early evening, unpack, and get settled aboard.

SUNDAY

Attend a charter briefing with the charter company, where they will talk about sailing conditions in the area and give us information about all of our destinations. First sailing class; boat familiarization, systems overview, docking and anchoring. Depart and enjoy your first sail from Raiatea to the island of Tahaa. A beautiful island, covered in lush vanilla plantations.

MONDAY

Morning systems briefing. Get an in depth look at all the systems on the boat, including an intro to diesel engines and maintenance. First sailing class; sail theory, points of sail and sail trim. Practice your new sailing skills as we sail from Tahaa, across to Raiatea and down the west coast to a remote anchorage. Anchor just off a little atoll, perfect for snorkeling and exploring! Head ashore tonight to eat at a delicious local restaurant overlooking the lagoon.

TUESDAY

Introduction to navigation, chart reading, GPS, and chartplotters. Today is passage day as we set sail for Bora Bora 23 nm away, the quintessential South Pacific island. Bora Bora is a stunning island, with jagged peaks covered in lush jungle, surrounded by a beautiful lagoon. Fishing techniques for cruisers will be introduced, and hopefully we’ll catch fresh fish for dinner! We will anchor in the western end of the lagoon and take our first ASA 101 test.

WEDNESDAY

Today we continue our sailing and exploration of Bora Bora! We will head into town to get fresh bread, pastries, veggies and hopefully some fresh fish! Chart a course and set off on an exploration of Bora Bora. We’ll stay inside the lagoon and work our way around the island, working on our sail trim and points of sail. We then do mooring practice in front of the most famous restaurant in Bora Bora, Bloody Mary’s. Take the ASA 103 test and head ashore for dinner!

THURSDAY

Today is another crossing day! Plot a course for the island of Tahaa, pop the sails, put out the fishing lines and enjoy the  passage. We’ll continue with our sailing lessons, and everyone will have a chance to captain the boat. Then, we anchor off the famous Le Tahaa resort on the western side of the island, and enjoy one of the highlights of the trip, snorkeling the famous “Coral River” through two atolls. This will be some of the best snorkeling you’ve ever experienced! We wrap up the day with the ASA 104 test.

FRIDAY

As confident sailors now, you’ll captain the boat for a circumnavigation of the island of Tahaa!  You’ll use all the navigation skills and sailing experience acquired during the week for this unique challenge. We will stop to visit a pearl farm and vanilla plantation before heading back to Raiatea. Anchor off the Raiatea Lodge Hotel tonight and go ashore for a celebration meal.

SATURDAY

Pack up bags, motor back to the marina for an 8am arrival, and say goodbye to everyone! Catch the shuttle to the airport for your morning flight home … Or, stay on a couple of days to further explore the area!

BOATS USED IN Tahiti, South Pacific - HIGH SPEC & WELL MAINTAINED
OUR TEAM – ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

If you need any further information, want to check availability or discuss anything to do with our courses – then please get in touch.

THE WORLD’S FRIENDLIEST SAILING COMMUNITY

Nautilus is like no other sailing company, and our trips are serious fun. Of course you want the certs, but we offer so much more.

We have an ever-growing list of passionate, outward bound, sailing fanatics who just love visiting new places and experiencing adventure. Every year we have several Alumni trips around the globe where past Nautilus graduates, and some of our team get together and just… you know. Sail. And Surf. And Snorkel. And Scuba…

Nautilus Alumni

Testimonials

“I wasn’t very familiar with boating and less with sailing. Learned a lot while still enjoying every minute of it. The Sea of Cortez was an excellent sailing destination. ” G.D., Missouri