Tripadvisor
Reviews
Viktoria
@Viktoria_SebastianSep 2024 • Couples
We are just back from French Polynesia - full with beautiful memories. Stunning islands and on top a sailing course with Sailing Virgins and the best instructor on earth Cam. We did ASA101 and ASA103 and highly recommend Sailing Virgins. The way of teaching was great in combination with hands on sailing, and fun activities inbetween. We had an amazing crew, so much fun and laughter- it was one of the best weeks of our life. We will proceed with the next level and there is only one company we go for… Sailing Virgins since everything is smooth, fun, great way of learning with amazing instructors and very comfort, new Sailing boats. Cam has been very patient at any time, explained complex topics easy to understand, trusted in the crew, guided along the way when we sailed by our own and he is a person you like to have around you. Thanks Cam for the increadible week! Katharina, a big thanks to you as well. From the first contact to the last day you have been always there for all our questions. Great communication!!! Thanks for everything!
Chase S
@M6522RRchasesSep 2024 • Solo
Just had the most incredible time in French Polynesia with Sailing Virgins! With previous experience limited to a 36’ mono, I was excited to explore Raiatea, Taha’a, and Bora Bora via catamaran. Katharina was a huge help getting everything sorted and made the process a breeze. Cam, our skipper & instructor, made our week unforgettable. A Yachtmaster with racing & offshore experience, Cam was humble enough to “explain this to me like I’m five.” He was very patient and tailored the courses to each individual student. The sailing was great, the islands were spectacular, and the activities were a blast. Came away with some fresh certifications, but more importantly, a boat load of laughs and shared memories with our exceptional crew. Going forward, I’ll be doing all of my training exclusively through SV, and highly recommend Sailing Virgins to anyone interested in sailing, travel, or adventure. Looking forward to our BVI reunion! Thanks again, Cam & Katharina!
Sally h
@Sallyh301Aug 2024 • Couples
Go sailing with Oran, he is so passionate, patient, encouraging and fun. Not only is he a brilliant instructor, captain, MasterChef and tour director he excels at photography and is extremely kind. We learnt soooo much in just a one week sailing course. Check out Oranteach on instagram. Sal
Kim H
@kimhZ7417AHAug 2024 • Couples
We sailed with Oran as our instructor from Split in Croatia. 3 couples and the most passionate teacher who worked hard to make sure we all developed the critical skills to enjoy our own bareboat charter. It is worth checking Oran out at Oranteach on instagram. He makes 60+ year olds feel like 20 year olds with his humour. He is also a great chef and provider. If you want an adventure where you learn new skills this could not be better!
Mathew S
@561mathewsAug 2024 • Solo
Wow. What an epic week. Sailing was a dream of mine and Sailing Virgins made it come true. What to expect: turning strangers into family while you work together to sail a boat around some of the most beautiful places on earth for a week, amazing dinners and drinks in beautiful anchorages, learning and pushing your boundaries whether you are a newbie or an experienced sailor. Sailing Virgins offers a pretty all inclusive experience, where the boat charter, marina fees, on-board provisions, etc. are all taken care of. On-shore meals are on your own and you and your crew can decide how you want to spend your week outside of sailing. The makeup of the crew really decides the vibe for the week. Want to do more partying at night? Want to enjoy quiet evenings on the boat and get to bed early? All can be done depending on what you and your fellow crew want. How to be a good crew member: be flexible and be willing to learn about what other people like, whether it be food, boat music, or evening activities. Our instructor Oran was a true legend and made for both an amazing teacher and great boat-mate and friend. In short: if you’re thinking about doing a course - do it. You won’t regret it.
Shoefella
@ShoefellaJul 2024 • Friends
The entire experience was well orchestrated and well organized. Communication in advance of the trip was great - from managing all the prep materials to simply setting expectations about what we needed and what we would do. The experience on the boat (in Croatia) was fantastic, and this all had to do with our instructor - Oran - I could not imagine having done this with anybody else (though I’m sure there are many qualified instructors) - the course took real work but I really felt like I had a partner in Oran and how he managed our group as a crew, and on a personal level, I can’t say enough. Well done to the entire Sailing Virgins team for this experience !
At369876
@At369876Jun 2024 • Solo
I took the beginner course in Madeira Portugal and had the most amazing week I could ask for! Our instructor, Rubrio, was a phenomenal teacher and was able to focus on each student individually to improve our skills! I learned a lot and am walking away with a new skill set I can’t wait to put to use and continue to improve. The course was also filled with loads of adventure and discovery of the beautiful island! Rubrio was the best local tour guide we could ask for and showed our group the amazing things Madeira had to offer! Overall, a good mixture of learning, developing skills, and fun! Could not recommend Sailing Virgins more, especially in Madeira!
Rino p
@rinop701May 2024 • Solo
Overall great experience. I've never sailed before this was a great intro lesson. 3 of us on the boat were novices, while 2 had some experience and the mix worked very well together. The captain did a great job educating, cooking, and managing the group for 7 days. The group was great and worked well together. I originally thought 7 days was a lot, but it goes by quick and was the perfect amount of time. Its a balanced trip, so you're not in lessons all day and get some time for cooking, hiking, relaxing, etc. I would recommend doing the pre-work from the textbook. Getting down the terminology and basics will help you learn much more when on the boat. Enjoy!
Mtinucci
@MtinucciApr 2024 • Solo
I extremely enjoyed my experience with Sailing Virgins. I took the 101, 103, 104 & 114 courses. Oran was our instructor and couldn't have asked for a better one! He was friendly, attentive and focused on each of the four student's needs, as some of us were taking more advanced courses. I would recommend Sailing Virgins to anyone looking to get their ASA certifications. Be sure to ask for Oran as your instructor!
Christopher J
@christopherj292Apr 2024 • Solo
I completed my 3rd week sailing, learning and having fun through Sailing Virgins. This most recent trip was a bucketlust item - 967 NM nonstop sail from USVI to Bahamas. Our Capt. was awesome. Our Crew was aswesome. My post trip stoke hasn't warn off and can't wait to sail again!
Luis S
@G8614DVluissApr 2024 • Solo
The places visited were espectacular. SV team were attentive, accommodating, and motivating. Always ensuring safety of the crew while maintaining the sense of adventure.
Brandon I
@319brandoniMar 2024 • Solo
Sailing Virgins was the perfect outfit for me. I've had other great instructors elaewhere in the past, but Oran and Justin with Sailing Virgins were exceptional. They are very experienced and are passionate teachers. A week with their mentorship built up my confidence and knowledge more than I'd ever expected. Learning to sail, and more specifically, learning to be a good skipper, is daunting and humbling. It's a lot to absorb and frankly, it requires failing a lot. O&J helped strip away the anxiety of failing and made sure we knew it was all a part of the process. They did a great job balancing between throwing us "in the deep end" vs holding our hands and walking is through the details of the what/why/how. We also experienced such a great variety of settings and scenarios. Each day felt unique and each new setting provided a wealth of opportunity to learn. That variety and adventure is what got me into sailing and after a week with Sailing Virgins, I feel so much more confident and excited to embark on adventures of my own.
carolynbrown3171
@carolynbrown3171Mar 2024 • Couples
From start to finish our experience was impeccable. Planning the trip with the Sailing Virgins staff was exceptionally responsive from chat, email and social media: rates, dates, packing suggestions, exercise tips and setting up communication with fellow travelers and skipper well in advance. We ended up taking ASA 101, 103 and 104 on a 54' Monohull Oceanis; this was a 7-day live-a-board experience. Our instructor (Liam) was an excellent teacher. He had prior engineering, sailing and people management experience; this background provided him keys to success in thoughtful teaching methods. In addition, his calm demeanor and problem-solving skills was exceptional in multiple situations: storms, torn sail and random boating equipment challenges. The office staff was helpful during our trip as well: previsioning, taxi planning and communication with the charter company/home base dock. I also appreciated the instructional videos and social media content available on YouTube and FB. The vibe of Sailing Virgins live-aboard experience was wonderful. Sailing Virgins, advertises to a younger population, however, they welcomed Tim & I within our early 50's and I am very appreciative of the full experience supporting us with our early retirement journey of sailing the deep blue seas!
Tessa C
@410tessacMar 2024 • Friends
Justin Avioli (and team) was amazing in every way. He got us through four certifications in one week. We feel comfortable sailing on our own after our week with him and we had so much fun along the way!! Can’t wait to book more with Sailing Virgins!
Louise P
@louisepeifferJan 2024 • Solo
I had the best time. The teaching style is the best. Learning and fun all in one. Our instructors, Liam and Adam, were the best. Very patient, cautious, fun, knowledgeable. I felt safe the whole time. Also met the most amazing crew. Can’t wait to do this again.