What we do

None! Whether you’re new to sailing and cruising or just multihull curious, no prior experience is required. We only ask for a sense of adventure and a positive attitude.

passage /ˈpasij/
noun

1. the act or process of moving through, under, over, or past something on the way from one place to another.

We call each one of our trips a “passage” whether it’s coastal cruising or offshore passagemaking.

Losing sight of shore is not for the faint of heart, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences. We encourage all soon-to-be sailors to try their hand at passage making while learning the ropes from expert sailors at Outer Passage.

It’s ok if you aren’t ready for that kind of voyage yet, we also offer coastal cruising passages which provide all the hands-on sailing you can muster, while enjoying a peaceful anchorage every night.

As a crew member for our offshore passages, you will serve shifts called “watches.” Basically, everyone will be assigned a watch in the daily schedule and a watch partner depending on experience and comfort level. Although our watch schedule is flexible, usually we rotate on 3-4 hour shifts.

Living aboard is quite different than living on land.

On our coastal passages, you can get as involved as you want with the sailing, learn about all things sailing and boat life, from sail trim, anchoring and mooring to navigation and boat maintenance. Or sit back and relax as you enjoy life on the water, go snorkeling or explore ashore.

On our offshore passages, you will learn to sleep in shifts and sail at night. Everyone will be involved in every aspect of life onboard as we sail nonstop to our destination. We’ll take a deeper dive into topics like weather and route planning, boat polars, safety at sea, sail plans and provisioning.

Outer Passage offers coastal and offshore passages from the East coast of the USA, Bahamas, Caribbean islands, and across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Check our passages for upcoming salling locals!

All prices are listed in each passage, and are priced per cabin, which can accommodate up to two persons per cabin, your option.

Costs cover all expenses while on the boat, including food, drink, dockage, fuel and port fees. You will need to provide your own transportation to the port of departure and from the port of arrival. Depending on the port, the boat might be in a marina, mooring or on anchor. If we are out in the anchorage, we will pick you up via the dinghy or schedule a water taxi.

We strongly encourage you to pack light. Keep in mind the itinerary and the season. Once signed up we will provide a more detailed suggested packing list.

We supply bedding (pillow & sheets), towels, basic toiletries and personal flotation devices (PFDs).

So just bring your own personal items in a soft travel bag - duffel or backpack. Hard wheely suitcases are strongly discouraged as they are difficult to store onboard - think carry-on sizes.

We take food very seriously aboard! We like to cook fresh and flavorful dishes, and simply eat good food. We believe this is a great way to keep the morale high!

We will create a menu for the passage based on your food preferences and dietary restrictions, and stock the cupboards with a variety of snacks and drinks. All food and beverages aboard are included, however meals ashore are not.

NOTE: For safety, we do not allow drinking alcohol on our offshore passages. So enjoy the journey, learn sailing and discover what the ocean has to offer…it’ll make your first cold one taste that much better when you’ve earned it!

• Offshore life raft (8 person)

• PFDs and tethers

• ePIRB & satellite phone

• We are trained in First Aid and CPR with a fully-stocked medical kit to handle various medical situations. Please be honest with us about any medical conditions you have in advance so that we can be better prepared should any health concerns arise.

The number one concern about going on a boat is seasickness. Some people get it and some don’t, but when you do, it can feel like one of the worst experiences. Luckily, it does eventually go away, between 24-48h, and usually the best cure is just getting sick and over with it, but here are a few remedies that we have found to help prevent seasickness.

• Avoid going inside the cabins. Fresh air and looking at the horizon go a long way to help your inner ear.

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy or acidic foods before departure.

• Natural remedies such as ginger (chews, candies, ginger ale, tea etc)

• Dramamine or other motion sickness drugs such as the patch - we tend not to use these because they can cause excessive drowsiness, however try taking these PRIOR to departure to see if this could work for you.

Because this experience is very training-focused it is adults only. If you want to experience the boat life with your kids, we suggest a normal vacation yacht charter program. However, if you have an interested, eager and boating/sailing experienced teenager, we can discuss on a case by case basis.

Take a look at our upcoming passages and fill out a new crew Sign Up form. If you have any questions or want to customize your experience please send us a message through the contact page.