Private Educational Sailing Vacations

Welcome Aboard Your Sailing Adventure!

Whether you’re eagerly awaiting your boat delivery, looking to gain experience for bareboat chartering, curious about the sailing lifestyle but unsure about fully committing or dreaming of the perfect getaway you’re in the right place. Our fully customizable Sailing Vacations Programs go beyond traditional boat charters. We provide everything you’d expect from a fantastic adventure on the water – stunning views, beautiful destinations, relaxing moments and unforgettable memories. But we go a step further! Here, you have the unique opportunity to learn essential sailing skills, cruising lifestyle and complete boat ownership and be a part of the crew, at your own pace, all while enjoying the experience at less than half the cost of standard charters. This isn’t just a vacation, it’s an opportunity to discover if the sailing life is your calling. Our program is also 100% kid friendly. Children under 12 stay for free.

For availability and pricing click here. Explore our photo galleryfor glimpses of past guests experiences, and scroll all the way down to read their testimonials.

Paradise and Tranquility for Nature Lovers

Explore the Exumas, a stunning archipelago of 365 pristine islands and cays southeast of Nassau. With miles of white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, this paradise is perfect for those seeking tranquility.

Enjoy hidden sandbars, vibrant marine life, nature trails, and the famous swimming pigs. A crewed yacht charter here offers the ultimate escape, especially between November and August, when temperatures range from a cool 70-75°F in winter to a warm 80-85°F in summer. Reconnect with nature in the breathtaking Exumas!

SAMPLE ITINERARY

DAY 1

NASSAU TO HIGHBOURNE CAY

Once you’ve landed, it’s a short ride from the Nassau International Airport to your sailing yacht, SV OliLuki, where we’re excited to welcome you aboard!  Before setting sail to the beautiful Exuma Islands, we’ll have a safety briefing and a yacht orientation to help get you settled in.    Then it’s time to raise the sails and head across the Yellow Bank to Highbourne Cay in the Northern Exuma Islands!   This passage is roughly 30 nautical miles across the Yellow Bank, which has an abundance of coral heads just below the clear Bahamian waters.  Once anchored in a protected anchorage at Highborne Cay, take a dip in the crystal clear, warm water, paddle board along the shoreline or enjoy a peaceful walk along the white sand beaches while your chef prepares a culinary delight for dinner and your first night under the star filled skies!

DAY 2

NORMANS CAY

After a delicious breakfast, you will continue south by 12 nautical miles to Normans Cay.   Once anchored, enjoy snorkeling the colorful and vibrant coral with an abundance of tropical fish.  Another great treat is snorkeling Escobar’s sunken plane wreck which crashed near the southern end of the island in the heyday of drug smuggling.   Your captain will take you via dingy into Norman’s Cay National Park through Pelican Creek exploring the inner bays of the island filled with clear waters and sea life.   A great onshore excursion is lunch at Macdufs Restaurant, a shabby-chic resort and restaurant! 

DAY 3

SHROUD CAY

Enjoy breakfast with a view in the aft cockpit as we sail south to Shroud Cay, the official start of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park.   This amazing island features multiple crystal clear rivers and the opportunity to enjoy views of sea turtles, sea rays, mangrove fields and completely private and breathtaking beaches!   Enjoy a peaceful ride on the current with paddle boards.  Every visit to Shroud Cay deserves a stop at “Camp Driftwood” at “the rapids”, or walk the trail across the island to the plantation ruins from the 1700’s where a gorgeous beach invites you for sunbathing and swimming!   An adventure filled day wraps with a delicious dinner and then drinks on the top deck for brilliant star gazing!

DAY 4

WARDERICK WELLS

Your next destination is perhaps the crown jewel of the Exuma Islands, 18 nautical miles south, the island of Warderick Wells and the headquarters of the Land and Sea Park.  This postcard perfect location not only boasts stunning beaches, over 4 miles of natural trails, sandbars and some of the clearest ocean waters on the planet, it also offers some of the most stunning views of the Exuma chain of islands with a hike to the peak at Boo Boo Hill!   Additional activities include dingy excursions to remote coves, snorkeling reefs and gorgeous coral heads not to mention the picturesque inner mooring field at Whale Beach during low tide!

DAY 5

BIG MAJOR’S SPOT & STANIEL CAY

A little espresso with breakfast and we begin our 18 nautical mile sail south to Big Major’s Cay and the infamous “pigs beach” and Staniel Cay, home of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Resort.    This is a playground that lasts days!  Observe gentle nurse sharks, sea turtles and sea rays swimming the crystal clear waters!  Enjoy white sand beaches and absolutely breathtaking sandbars and coves!    A visit to Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a must!  Enjoy the island music and laid back yacht club bar and restaurant for fabulous drinks and the island famous conch salad and ice cold Bahamian Kalik beers!    Stop at the fish cleaning station at the docks and witness the feeding of dozens of nurse sharks and no visit to Staniel Cay is complete without a snorkeling adventure in “Thunderbolt Grotto” where the famous James Bond movie “Thunderball” was filmed in 1965!   Snorkel this natural cathedral cave with streams of natural sunlight illuminating a sea aquarium teeming with tropical fish and colorful coral heads!

DAY 6

SANDY CAY & SAMPSON CAY

Wake to a peaceful sunrise and the smells of fresh hot breakfast and more local options to explore as low tide sets in, exposing Sandy Cays sandbar, allowing you to literally walk between two islands or swim in the naturally occurring low tide swimming pool!   Take a dingy ride to snorkel a sunken aircraft and explore the unreal sand bar rivers at Sampson Cay!

DAY 7

Bonus morning…instead of the sail north, enjoy a morning paddle boarding and breakfast, relax and get freshened up and fly an island hopper flight with an absolutely amazing aerial view of The Bahamas either to Nassau or direct to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport for connecting flights back home.  

Q & A

There are many options available, such as ASA and other advanced sailing courses, hiring a skipper or captain or booking a crewed charter. What sets your program apart? Our Hands-On Sailing Experience Program is an immersive program that integrates various courses into a comprehensive learning approach. While ASA courses focus on specific skills like sailing, docking and coastal cruising, and emergency courses focus procedures and safety, our program integrates all these topics and more, including weather reading and routing, planning passages, sailing vocabulary,  sailing during nighttime, anchoring, mooring balls, boat maintenance, boat ownership, homeschooling and provisioning. Hiring a skipper typically means they navigate the vessel without teaching, and crewed charters allow you to relax without responsibilities. We emphasize education and empowerment. As a family business with five years of full-time living aboard and 17,000 nautical miles sailed, we share our real-world experiences to help you gain the knowledge and confidence to start your own sailing adventures. We also provide post-program support and you will receive a signed USCG Sea Service Form, verifying your experience and time at sea. Most skippers and captains don’t live on their boats, but we do, and we can’t wait to share our passion with you! To see what topics we cover, click here.

What are the destinations that you offer? We’re excited to take you to some stunning locations!  The Bahamas: Explore the beautiful Exuma Islands, including Norman’s Cay, Shroud Cay, Warderick Wells, Rudder Cut Cay, and Georgetown. Florida: Explore vibrant spots like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and the beautiful Keys. Chesapeake Bay: Experience charming destinations such as Norfolk, Solomon’s Island, St. Michaels, Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.

How much does it cost? Typical crewed charters in the Bahamas for a family of four, using two cabins, can cost around $19,000 for a week, plus 20% gratuity. In contrast, our all-inclusive rate is just $10,800. If you have younger children and only require one cabin, the total cost is $8,400. Additionally, we’re currently offering promotions for remaining open slots and provide the flexibility to book for less than seven days (4 or 5-day options). And since we’re not a typical charter program, no gratuities is expected or required. For pricing and availability click here.

What’s included in the price? Private use of the yacht, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), ship’s bar with alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, all running expenses (diesel, gas, water, etc),and use of onboard water toys.

Are your Charter Programs private, not shared with another couple? Yes all of our charters are private, we don’t double book. 

What’s the maximum guests you can host? For Half Day and Full Day Sail our maximum guest count is 8. For overnight charters, we can accommodate a maximum of 6 guests (example 4 adults and 2 children) . The yacht features two queen cabins and a forepeak bed with each cabin having its own private en-suite bathroom. If there are more people in your party, let us know, as we have other options for larger groups. For pricing and availability click here.

Do I need any sailing experience to take your program? No, prior sailing experience isn’t necessary! We customize our program to fit each individual’s needs, so everyone can learn and succeed.

We have young kids and are worried we’ll be too focused on them and not on learning. Our flexible itinerary ensures everyone stays engaged and entertained. With a variety of activities such sailing, swimming, snorkeling, and games, there is never a dull moment. Also our 13-year-old boys take an active role, caring for the younger kids and teaching them about boating. This creates a supportive environment where everyone can learn and enjoy the adventure together!

I really want to do this but I’m worried about getting seasick. We completely understand your concern! We provide a variety of motion sickness remedies, including Relief Band gear, which many find helpful. Additionally, we’re committed to your comfort and will adjust our sail plan to calmer waters, even in inner bays, to ensure everyone on board has a comfortable experience.

 Can we charter your boat for just fun and not educational? Absolutely! Whether you want to relax on the water, celebrate a special occasion with friends and family, we are here to make your sailing adventure memorable.

What Other Services Do You Offer? We’re here to assist you even when you’re not aboard!

**Individual Consultation Sessions: Discuss a variety of topics, including catamarans, brands, vessel sizes, dinghies, outboards, aftermarket outfitting, insurance, maintenance, and more. Rate: $100 per hour.

**Half and Full Year unlimited Consultations:**   6 Months-$700; 12 Months- $1000. This option is popular among customers shopping for new or used boats, or those who have recently taken delivery of their boat—especially for post-purchase options and installations.

**Captain Services – Andy is a USCG Master Captain available to teach on your boat or assist with delivery to your home port or another destination.  Day rate: $500. Multi-day rate: $475.  

YOUR CREW: Andy Temesvary, Licensed USCG Master Captain & Private Pilot. Chef/First Mate: Maki, Maodus Temesvary. Deck Hands/Floating Chefs: Oliver & Lukas Temesvary.