Congratulations on booking your course, completing payment, filling out the Enrolment Form, and packing according to our provided Packing List! As you prepare for your practical sailing course with Second Star Sailing, you might still have a few questions lingering in your mind… Not to worry! Here’s a handy FAQ guide that might help.
Which airport serves Antigua, and how do we reach our destination from there?
Antigua is served by V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU). From the airport, a taxi ride to Jolly Harbor, our location, takes around 30 minutes and costs approximately $40-50 USD.
Tip: When heading to Second Star Sailing new office, be sure to ask the taxi to take you to Al Porto Restaurant. We’ve changed our location in 2024, but some drivers may still take students to our previous spot at the Villa out of habit.
What do the days for the practical sailing course look like?
DAY 1: All our courses start on Sunday at our School at 9.30 AM, unless informed otherwise. We start the day with a fresh cup of coffee, while getting to know each other. After the short introduction, we will give a Safety Brief and School rules. The instructor will show you around the boat, and you will choose a shared cabin (with friend or partner if taking the course together). Please make sure to bring all your things for the sailing course, as you’ll be staying onboard for the next 4 nights.
On the first day we are going for lunch at a local place nearby, and already in the afternoon you will go out for a short sail. After arriving back at our docks, you will have the time to go provision shopping with your team for the coming days.
DAY 2-4: Sailing typically runs from 9 AM to 6 PM, depending on the course. You will usually anchor for lunch and have the opportunity to swim afterward. During the course, we usually spend one night at Jolly Harbour Marina, one night at Falmouth Yacht Club Marina or English Harbour Marina, and two nights at anchor. The exact sequence may vary based on weather conditions, berth availability, and the instructor’s discretion. Most courses also include some night sailing, with the specifics of the night sail(s) determined by the instructor.
DAY 5: All our courses finish on Thursday unless informed otherwise. You will be back at the School not later than 5 PM. After a thorough cleanup of the boat by everyone, it is time to relax. You will be invited for a beer/rum punch and a chat with the other course boats and share the amazing stories of the week. The instructor will have a short feedback talk with each one of the students.
Are there any extra costs associated with the courses, such as books or tools?
On board we have all types of RYA books for you to refresh some theory, as well hand bearing compasses, chart dividers, course plotter kit. For the practical courses, we recommend having a read through the RYA books, you can buy those books online on the RYA website. Both for Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper practical courses, we strongly recommend finishing the Theory course before arriving. If you are interested in taking or retaking your Theory online, you can book this with us.
Are meals included as part of the course?
Meals are not included in the course fee. We encourage collaborative meal preparation and sharing expenses. Participants contribute to a communal kitty at the beginning of the course week for food expenses, though basic provisions like tea, coffee and spices are available onboard. The School covers Instructor’s part of the provisioning expenses.
Where will we sail, and what are the likely stops during the week?
Starting from Jolly Harbor, our sailing route may include stops at Five Islands Bay, Green Island, English Harbor, Falmouth, and possibly Barbuda, contingent on weather conditions.
What bathroom and shower facilities are available during the course?
Each boat is equipped with two bathrooms with showers, and there’s an outdoor shower onboard as well. Marinas also offer bathroom and shower facilities for use when docked.
Is there wifi available on the boat during the course?
Our boats don’t have wifi on board. You can use public wifi in the marinas and restaurants when on shore, connect to one of many digital mobile virtual network operators that offer pre-paid mobile data (MVNO apps for your phone), or buy a local sim card (Digicel, Flow).
