You will learn to sail a 30-foot open sailboat in and around the Florida Keys. Our rugged, engineless vessels, modeled after traditional fishing and rescue boats, are simple yet challenging classrooms for beginner and experienced sailors alike. As you rotate responsibilities during this expedition, you will learn the art of sailing, navigating, rowing and living aboard a small open boat. You will live closely together using only wind and muscle power as propulsion. At night, you sleep on deck under a tarp, taking turns at anchor watch under brilliant night skies. The bathroom (or “head”) on board is primitive, but functional.

Course Area: The Florida Keys: Your course begins and ends at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. This area, home to numerous birds and abundant marine life is rich with the confluence of water flowing out of the Everglades into inner Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The waters are shallow and sometimes clear providing an exciting cruising area for Outward Bound’s sailing boats. To the south of the Keys is the Atlantic Ocean. Several miles offshore are the outer reefs, noted for outstanding snorkeling at the many coral formations. Sailing courses will cruise in three general areas. The back country offers challenging “shoal draft” navigation and the opportunity to explore mangrove keys, tidal flats and coral “patch” reefs. The Atlantic side offers excellent snorkeling at the outer reefs and open water sailing. The course area extends to the Everglades with beautiful sand beaches and a maze of rivers and bays to explore. The turquoise waters, warm temperatures and prevailing easterly winds provide exceptional sailing, both day and night! Actual itineraries are based on weather, currents and length of course. The Florida Keys are rich in history. The Keys and Everglades were home to the Calusa and Seminole Indians and eventually pioneers looking to make their fortunes. The natural history of the Keys is abundant on land, underwater and in the air. The marine life ranges from the smallest of the colorful reef fish to manatees and bottlenose dolphins. You may see the rare key deer, indigenous to a select number of the Keys, and you will be amazed at the astounding variety of bird life.