I would do it again in a heartbeat What an amazing experience sailing in Croatia with nautilus for the catamaran cruising course. Our instructor lex was experienced, patient, calm and a lot of fun. I can’t recommend it enough

Croatia Certification This certification class aboard the catamaran with Lex Stauffacher as the instructor was awesome. Croatia is a beautiful country to learn how to sail. Lex is a patient instructor who will teach you how to sail by the end of the week. You will walk away feeling comfortable and safe to sail on your own. Nautilus was helpful from the start. The online portion of the course is very informative and gets you prepared for the in person portion. I would recommend this company and Lex to anyone thinking about sailing.

Trip of a lifetime! I can't thank the entire Nautilus team enough. The experience exceeded every expectation I had. Everything from the manuals, instructional videos, course curriculum, communication, the boat, and our instructor, were first class. I was about as green as it gets before I stepped on board, and was simply looking to be able to take my family on incredible adventures in the future. I had no knowledge or experience other than one afternoon on a 25 foot monohaul. Despite that, I can say with confidence that after properly preparing before leaving, and a week of incredibly thorough instruction, I feel confident to take my family on a catamaran charter. Lex was an incredible teacher and captain, and I feel confident speaking on behalf of our entire group when I say she went above and beyond for us. Her abilities and knowledge as an instructor are second to none. She was patient, kind, and reassuring at all times, and was able to communicate in very clear language that made it easy to understand even the more complicated topics. She was confident, calm, and poised at all times. She did an incredible job of teaching us all the ins and outs of the entire chartering experience, from the moment you reach the marina, the planning and preparation, the sailing, to the moment you do your final docking. Above and beyond that, she took us for the most incredible meal I have had in my entire life, gorgeous anchorages, I got to call my best friend from the top of the mast and send my family a video, and she topped the trip off with a swim under the stars in an inland saltwater lake filled with bioluminescence. Without question, this was the greatest experience of my life, and I can't wait to see what is next. Thank you to everyone at Nautilus Sailing for an incredible adventure, and thank you, Lex, for sharing your expertise, stories, and passion for sailing and travel. I cannot wait to see where this experience takes my family and me in the future.

I can sail this now? Do not take this course if you would hate to learn to sail in a spectacular place with an amazing instructor on a high quality boat. Especially avoid it if you hate building new relationships and prefer boredom. You really want to stay away if you never want incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Otherwise…take the course. Because you will learn to sail a sophisticated high quality yacht from an amazing instructor in a spectacular place.

Top 5 life experience. This was one of the best experiences of my life. My instructor TJ did an excellent job teaching us and letting us explore beautiful Croatia. My confidence in may sailing skills has exceeded my expectations.

The Best Investment We’ve Made in Sailing There are a lot of liveaboard sailing schools to choose from. We spent a long time researching them before choosing Nautilus. After spending a week aboard, it’s easy to understand why they have such a good reputation. The quality of the instruction is exceptional. Our instructor, Lindsay Moore, had been recognized as an American Sailing Outstanding Instructor—an honor reserved for the top 1% of active instructors—and it showed in every aspect of the course. She met every student where they were, explained not just how to do things but why, and struck the perfect balance between encouragement and honest coaching. She always seemed to know exactly when to step in and when to let us learn through experience. If there was a concept you wanted to better understand or a skill you wanted to practice again, all you had to do was ask. One of the biggest advantages of Nautilus is the small class size. With only four students aboard, everyone gets meaningful hands-on experience. You’ll spend plenty of time at the helm under both sail and power, trimming sails, navigating, anchoring, docking, and practicing real-world seamanship. There is no standing on the sidelines watching someone else learn. The boat was fantastic. We trained aboard the Excess 14 Aspire, a modern performance catamaran that was as exciting to sail as it was beautiful sitting at anchor. Learning on a boat that is genuinely enjoyable to sail made the entire experience even better. Nautilus also strikes an excellent balance between structured instruction, practical sailing, and simply enjoying life on the water. Learning is demanding, and just when your brain is full, you’re snorkeling over reefs, sharing stories in a quiet anchorage, or heading ashore to a beach restaurant that’s only accessible by boat. Those moments aren’t distractions—they help you recharge before the next lesson. Maybe most importantly, this is a true sailing school, and they take learning seriously. Your preparation begins well before you step aboard with reading, online coursework, and knot practice. Don’t expect to simply show up for a sailing vacation. Nautilus expects you to prepare because their goal is to develop competent, confident sailors. For our family, this became much more than a sailing course. The four of us arrived with different levels of experience and different goals, ranging from prior ASA certifications to relatively limited time at sea. Every one of us left with stronger skills, greater confidence, and a much better understanding of how to work together as a crew. Some of our proudest moments came during the practical exercises. By the end of the week, every member of our family was confidently handling the boat, completing multiple successful tacks, jibes, and mooring ball pickups, with each of us taking the helm in situations that would have seemed intimidating just days before. Our 14-year-old even successfully helmed a crew-overboard recovery. Watching someone not yet old enough to drive a car confidently pilot a 14-meter catamaran says as much about the quality of the instruction as anything else. Perhaps most importantly, we left feeling prepared to continue learning and cruising on our own, knowing we had built a solid foundation—and gained a trusted mentor in the process. Throughout the entire experience, communication before the course, support during the week, and follow-up afterward were outstanding. Nautilus isn’t the least expensive sailing school, but after a week aboard, we’ll never question the investment. You leave with far more than an ASA certification—you leave with real skills, real confidence, and memories your family will be talking about for years. We couldn’t recommend Nautilus more highly.

Grenada June 13-20, 2026. After my son and I completed our catamaran sailing course thru Nautilus Sailing and going thru their program we were totally blown away at how the whole experience was first class. The level of personal instruction we each received from our instructor Doug Acker was amazing. He spent the time that was needed to ensure we were able to grasp the concepts to learn how to properly sail, all while having safety in mind. The equipment provided was top notch. The Excess 14 catamaran "Aspire" we were on was meticulously maintained and was so comfortable to live on for a week. We made some wonderful meals, keeping the entire crew happy. It was great to explore at the end of our day of learning, taking the dinghy into remote island locations. We were able to witness some amazing marine life while snorkeling the very healthy reefs. One of the highlights we had one evening after taking the dinghy back after dinner on land was that we were able to jump in the water and witness bioluminescence. It was one of the coolest things we have ever seen. I would recommend Nautilus Sailing to anyone looking to get their certifications. I feel that the level of instruction is so great and small class size really makes a difference and will help you succeed. Doug was not just our captain and instructor for the week, but someone we instantly knew we could trust and now consider a friend. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had and I am so glad that I was able to share this with my son.

Brazil Flotilla I’ve on a few trips with Nautilus, my most recent was a Brazil flotilla, a first time trip for me and Nautilus. Fede and Troy lead the charge, both were AMAZING. Fede had experience in the area and was so thorough and thoughtful in every detail. He was always helping with our boat and just an all around joy to be around. I’ve sailed with Troy before and he’s the best! Troy brings years of knowledge and takes every obstacle with ease, is able to troubleshoot and fix anything, he also brings so much fun and laughs. Would highly recommend a trip with Nautilus!

Grenada Such an amazing experience. We had Doug as our instructor and he made sure we learned everything we needed to and more to get our certifications all while seeing the coolest spots around Grenada and Carriacou. Would recommend to anyone with interest in sailing catamarans.

Amazing Sailing Experience in the Grenadines! I had an incredible experience with Nautilus Sailing in the Grenadines in June 2026. The trip was easily one of the most interesting and memorable adventures I’ve ever been on. The scenery was absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear water, beautiful islands, and unforgettable sailing conditions. A huge part of what made the trip so great was our instructor, Doug. He was amazing—knowledgeable, patient, professional, and made learning both fun and engaging. Whether we were practicing sailing skills or exploring the islands, Doug always created a positive atmosphere and made sure everyone was having a great time. The Grenadines themselves were breathtaking, and the combination of hands-on sailing, beautiful destinations, and a fantastic instructor made this a truly special experience. I learned a lot, met great people, and made memories that will last a lifetime. One of the highlights of the trip was catching a dorado, which was an awesome experience and something I’ll never forget. Doug also brought his drone and took some incredible photos and videos throughout the trip. It was really cool to have those memories captured from such a unique perspective. I would highly recommend Nautilus Sailing to anyone looking for an unforgettable sailing adventure. I can’t wait to come back!