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top Caribbean sailing schools
What makes the best sailing school in the Caribbean and how Sailing Virgins compares.
Sailing Virgins vs The Yacht Week: Party Week or Skipper School?
Party flotilla or learn-to-skipper week? Two brilliant weeks on the water, built for different goals.
Sailing Virgins excels at
You learn to sail: ASA 101-114 certifications, 6-8 students per boat, and you're on the helm from day one
The Yacht Week excels at
The party: themed routes, raft parties, DJ sets, and a big social flotilla – no sailing experience needed, a professional skipper runs your boat
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Sailing Virgins | The Yacht Week |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | A 7-day liveaboard sailing course – you crew the boat and earn ASA certifications | A 7-day flotilla holiday – a professional skipper sails while you enjoy the ride |
| The Vibe | Adventure-first – a small crew of 6-8, early starts on the winches, sundowners at anchor | Festival-first – themed parties, raft parties, and DJ sets across the fleet |
| Experience Needed | None – complete beginners welcome, and you'll helm on day one | None – your skipper handles the sailing |
| What You Learn | Helming, sail trim, anchoring, navigation – ASA 101-114 certifications included | It's a holiday, not a course – skippers often let you help, but instruction isn't the focus |
| Destinations | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific, Patagonia | Croatia, Greece, Sicily, Mexico, Tahiti and Thailand (2026 routes) |
| Price (7 days) | From $3,790 all-inclusive (instruction, certification, cabin and meals) | Routes listed from €559-€1,077+ per person on their 2026 site – inclusions and extras vary by package |
| Best For | Anyone who wants to come home a sailor | Crews chasing the best party on the water |
What It Is
Sailing Virgins:
A 7-day liveaboard sailing course – you crew the boat and earn ASA certifications
The Yacht Week:
A 7-day flotilla holiday – a professional skipper sails while you enjoy the ride
The Vibe
Sailing Virgins:
Adventure-first – a small crew of 6-8, early starts on the winches, sundowners at anchor
The Yacht Week:
Festival-first – themed parties, raft parties, and DJ sets across the fleet
Experience Needed
Sailing Virgins:
None – complete beginners welcome, and you'll helm on day one
The Yacht Week:
None – your skipper handles the sailing
What You Learn
Sailing Virgins:
Helming, sail trim, anchoring, navigation – ASA 101-114 certifications included
The Yacht Week:
It's a holiday, not a course – skippers often let you help, but instruction isn't the focus
Destinations
Sailing Virgins:
Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific, Patagonia
The Yacht Week:
Croatia, Greece, Sicily, Mexico, Tahiti and Thailand (2026 routes)
Price (7 days)
Sailing Virgins:
From $3,790 all-inclusive (instruction, certification, cabin and meals)
The Yacht Week:
Routes listed from €559-€1,077+ per person on their 2026 site – inclusions and extras vary by package
Best For
Sailing Virgins:
Anyone who wants to come home a sailor
The Yacht Week:
Crews chasing the best party on the water
The Verdict
There's no rivalry here – The Yacht Week helped inspire Sailing Virgins, and plenty of our graduates and instructors have gone on to skipper Yacht Week boats. If you want a floating festival this season, book The Yacht Week and have the time of your life. If you want to come home a sailor – maybe even skipper a Yacht Week boat yourself one day – start with a Sailing Virgins course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sailing Virgins a Yacht Week alternative?
Only in the friendliest sense. If what you want is the party – the raft-ups, the DJs, the fleet – The Yacht Week is the original and still the best at it, and we'll happily point you there. If what you want is to learn to run the boat yourself, that's us. Plenty of sailors do both: The Yacht Week for the festival, Sailing Virgins to earn the skills and certifications.
How do I become a Yacht Week skipper?
You'll need a recognised skipper qualification, real miles under sail, and the people skills to run a happy boat for a week. The path many of our graduates take: earn ASA 101-104 on a Sailing Virgins course, build miles, then apply. Some of our own instructors have skippered Yacht Week boats – it's a brilliant summer job on the water.
Which is better for a bachelor party, bachelorette or birthday crew?
For a pure celebration, The Yacht Week – it's built for groups who want the party handled for them. If your crew would rather learn something together and come home certified, a private Sailing Virgins course lets you book a whole boat with your own instructor.
Can I sail the boat on The Yacht Week?
Skippers often let guests help out on passage, but it's their boat and their call – it's a holiday, not a course. If time on the helm is the point of your week, a sailing course is the better fit.
Are Sailing Virgins and The Yacht Week connected?
Not commercially – but there's shared DNA. The Yacht Week helped inspire Sailing Virgins' founding in 2016, and our instructor community overlaps with their skipper community. That's why this comparison reads warmer than most.
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