Offshore Sailing Training passages are the heart and soul of John Kretschmer Sailing. These trips  are unique and so are the people who find their way aboard. I am not a sailing school, there are plenty of those around and many do a fine job of teaching offshore sailing skills. What we do is different. We make passages, we make voyages. They’re real, sometimes all too real, you are part of the crew. Each passage is comprised of crew-members with varying levels of experience and we learn from each other. I learn something new on every trip. And you learn  by doing, life aboard Quetzal is the epitome of hands-on training.

Stand watch in fair weather and foul. Reef the main when it’s blowing–maybe even blowing a gale. Help with repairs, meals, and the dirty dishes. Lastly, you will revel in landfalls, because everyone shares the navigational responsibilities. In order to instill confidence, there is nothing like navigating when it really counts. You can draw as much from a passage as you’re willing to put into it. You may master celestial navigation and you may learn to bake bread. Or you may be more interested in learning how to pace yourself through a long voyage. Passage making requires a mix of philosophy and skills. And one thing I know from experience, you will have a lot of fun and laughs and make profound friendships.

However, don’t just take my word for it. Read some of the folks who have completed passages with JK Sailing and Ocean Passages.