Spectacular week with Sailing Virgins in Croatia
So you are thinking about learning how to sail? Having just spent a week in Croatia with Sailing Virgins with Captain Chris Edmonds I feel compelled to share a bit about the experience. My week in Croatia was one of the most memorable, intense, and rewarding weeks I can remember. A group of strangers came together in Split, Croatia, to learn how to sail a 46’ monohull. After a week of sailing, swimming, hiking, Wim Hof breathing, laughing, crying and of course sharing fresh coffee each day… we left a family. A family of certified skippers that I can’t wait to sail and adventure with again somewhere, some day! Chris made an educational program something more... a life experience that perfectly balanced teaching, coaching, and opportunities for personal growth. Huge thx to @sailingvirgins and the penultimate skipper / DJ Chris Edmonds!
A Modern Argonautica
Never did Jason of old outshine our Captain Chris now, Driven to teach us and make of our crew modern-day Argonauts, Sailing the sapphire-blue swells of the storied Adriatic waters. No harpies troubled our course, no sirens sang out to lure us, Yet was the hard-won badge, my ASA credential, my own Golden Fleece now — Won on a voyage more golden than any old fable has painted. Every bold crew needs its Jason to steer them through wonder and danger; Ours we found in Captain Chris, forged of the same daring metal. Great is the gulf between good and a voyage that’s truly the greatest — Captain Chris was the bridge, spanning that gulf with his skill and his spirit.
What a review! We are genuinely in awe. Your ASA credential, hard won on the water and immortalized in verse. That is a first for us and we absolutely love it. Congratulations on your Golden Fleece and we will make sure Captain Chris sees this. We hope your next voyage is equally legendary!
Scott B2026.07.13
Verified
What a trip!
I arrived as a complete sailing novice and, just one week later, left feeling only one step away from becoming a Day Skipper. The progress I made in such a short time exceeded all my expectations. Captain Chris couldn’t have done more to ensure everyone on board achieved their goals. His calm, patient, and clear style of instruction created a relaxed atmosphere where learning felt enjoyable and confidence grew every day. No question was too much trouble, and he always took the time to explain not just what to do, but why. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and I can’t recommend Captain Chris highly enough to anyone looking to learn to sail or develop their skills. I’m already looking forward to our next adventure together in Majorca!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We love that confidence grew a little more every day. That is exactly what we aim for with every student. We will make sure Chris sees your kind words, and we cannot wait to have you back on board in Majorca!
Brittany O2026.07.13
Verified
Made memories of a lifetime!
My husband Ben and I set sail with Chris (our instructor) and 3 other attendees and left with life long friends. We did the Croatia route and sailed to multiple islands experiencing different historical places. My husband has sailed his whole life and I was a beginner and we both left feeling way more confident in our abilities as sailors! Chris was so patient, kind, and clear with how he explained the art of sailing to all of us. He was always available to answer any questions we had and was enthusiastic about all of us getting the opportunity to practice different skills. We were able to do hikes to beautiful caves with amazing views, do brief meditations together as a group, eat at local restaurants, and swim in beautiful waters. We had so much fun. We can’t wait to sail with Chris again, potentially in the Mallorca route!!! It was truly a memory of a lifetime and I can’t wait to continue our growth as sailors with Sailing Virgins!!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! The fact that both an experienced sailor and a complete beginner left feeling so much more confident is exactly what great instruction looks like, and that is something to be really proud of. We love that you and Ben made lifelong friends along the way too. That kind of connection is something truly special.We will make sure Chris sees your kind words, and we cannot wait to have you both back on board for the next adventure!
JoeDimes2026.07.09
Verified
Exceptional Training, Unforgettable Vacation
Exceptional Training, Unforgettable Vacation: A Masterclass with Sailing Virgins Our week with Sailing Virgins (June 7–13) completing the ASA 101, 103, 104, and 114 curriculum was nothing short of phenomenal. We ran a mixed charter—two of us embedding intensive ASA certification training into a relaxed cruising vacation for four close friends. Balancing serious instruction with a leisure charter is a tall order, but Sailing Virgins executed it flawlessly. Our instructor, Arthur, was absolute top-tier. His ability to manage the diverse dynamic of three couples on board while maintaining a gold standard of safety and instruction was incredibly impressive. Arthur didn't just teach the students; he went above and beyond to ensure every single person on the boat had an elite experience. He is patient, consummately professional, and possesses the rare ability to tailor his teaching style to real-world, high-consequence scenarios without ever dampening the fun of the trip. As a student, I wanted rigorous, confidence-building instruction, and that is exactly what was delivered. The practical, hands-on training took place in varied, real-world conditions that truly prepared us for future bareboat chartering. I left the boat feeling genuinely capable, commanding, and ready for our next blue-water adventure. If you are looking for top-tier ASA certifications but still want a vibrant, well-organized, and premium charter experience, Sailing Virgins is the gold standard. Massive thanks to Arthur for an unforgettable week.
Thank you so much for this incredible review! Leaving the boat feeling genuinely capable and ready for your next bareboat adventure is the best possible outcome and you should be really proud of what you achieved in just one week.We will make sure Arthur sees your kind words. Hope to have you back on the water with us again soon!
Byron M2026.07.05
Verified
Great sailing instructors and experience
Nacha was a great instructor. She’s easy to talk to, an instructor who talks everything out, and really makes sure you understand what you are doing. I went with my oldest and she made the trip great for both of us. Pascal was in our flotilla. He’s another fantastic instructor that cares and puts in all the hard work. They are a fantastic choice for anyone who wants to learn and also enjoy learning. Thanks!! 🙏
Sailing Virgins, St Martin, and Nacha - What An Adventure!
Sometimes when you do an adventure trip you try to temper your expectations, even as you have high hopes for the best. More so when perhaps you schedule it at the last minute . But then you have experiences like ours sailing (and learning) with Nacha on our Sailing Virgins trip between St Martin, St Bart, and Anguilla - and discover that not only are you expectations exceeded, a new bar has been set. Nacha's attitude, energy, and sailing knowledge were core to our fantastic experience - from the morning routines to on-shore excursions to in-motion instruction...and her adaptability as surprises arose during the week (and/or we the crew found ourselves in low-energy states during the week). Learned a ton, great times with both our crew and our sister boat - and memories that will last a lifetime. Can't recommend highly enough...
Far better than I ever imagined!
From the first meeting at French Deli to the final goodbye on the docks on the east end of Tortola, Nacha and Pascal, and Sailing Virgins, made this learning adventure one for the record books! Incredible teaching, solid hands on learning, beautiful places chosen for our adventure, incredible meals and too many laughs to count. Thank you so much for being a phenomenal Captain, Nacha, and Pascal, it’s never zombies….only mushrooms!!
Getting certified in the BVI
What a great way to get your ASA certification, learn how to sail with hands-on experience, and enjoy a vacation filled with snorkeling all at the same time! Nacha and Pascal were the best instructors and I would sail again with them again anytime. Comfortable boat, good instruction, and beautiful location (BVI) with ideal weather.
Outstanding ASA Training and Charter Experience with Sailing Virgins
We had an outstanding week with Sailing Virgins during our ASA 101, 103, 104, and 114 course from June 7–13. Our trip was a mixed charter and training week, with two of us taking the ASA courses and four others along for the cruise. We had three couples on board plus our instructor, Arthur, and the entire experience was excellent. Arthur was fantastic. He went above and beyond to accommodate everyone on board, not just the students. He was attentive to everyone’s needs, patient, professional, and made sure the week was enjoyable for the entire group. As one of the students, I felt the course was perfectly planned, with plenty of practical instruction in a variety of real-world conditions and situations. The training felt hands-on, useful, and confidence-building without ever taking away from the enjoyment of the charter. Arthur did a great job balancing instruction, safety, and fun. I came away feeling much more capable and comfortable on the boat, and the rest of our group had a memorable cruising experience as well. I would highly recommend Sailing Virgins to anyone looking for serious ASA instruction in a relaxed, enjoyable, and well-organized charter environment.
Finally learn to sail!
I had such an epic experience with Sail Virgins. I can’t say enough good things about our instructor, Matt. He is super knowledgeable about sailing and was able to really pass his knowledge in such a comprehensible way. Not everyone is a skilled sailor and also a skilled teacher. Matt is both.
Sails, Swims, and Stars: “There you are!”
What an adventure! Had such a great time learning to sail while exploring the islands of St. Martin, St. Barths, and Anguilla. Our instructor, Pascal, was incredibly experienced and knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. He created such a welcoming environment and took the time to explain things in a way that made sense for each crew member individually. He even went above and beyond by baking me a bday cake on the boat!!! We worked hard to develop sailing skills every day and celebrated our accomplishments every night with snorkeling, dinners, and jamming out to whatever songs we could play on the guitar/ukulele. And watching the stars as you drift to sleep on deck after an exciting day??? Incredible. Worth every penny.
Sailing Croatia
One of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had the chance to be a part of. Our legendary Skipper, Matt, made the experience extraordinary for everyone in our crew. He taught us not only how to sail and all the things that come with it, but also some very valuable life lessons. The week was filled with not only Sailing and learning, but also visiting and experiencing some of the most beautiful places in the world. I recommend anybody that would like to sail to give us a sho
Oh Captain my Captain Pascal
Best Experience! Captains Pascal and Nacha really made the sailing experience special, fun and memorable! This duo is a one of a kind! No one else could’ve done a better job bringing 8 complete strangers to provision and crew a sail boat better than these true masters of the sea. Thank you Pascal and Nacha! 5 Stars!We sailed the Maguy 4 which was a good ship that handles well.
260613 Sailing Virgins 10th Kroatie Dreamland Matthew & Danny
Joined Sailing Virgins for the 2nd time, 13-20 June 2026 out of Split, Croatia on "Dreamland" a DuFour48 Catamaran. 10 strangers who quickly became friends. Matthew was our Captain/Instructor, Danny was 1st Mate and Instructor Candidate. This was my 4th time sailing barefoot in Croatia, first time on a big, motorized Cat. I knew what to expect in terms of scenery on the Dalmation Coast. We went to Hvar and Viz, but a very pleasant surprise was the many out-of-the-way gems that Matthew and Danny took us to, e.g. WWII Soviet submarine pens, natural caves and cliff diving, nature hikes to monasteries and really good restaurants, etc. We were also very very lucky to have Matthew and Danny and the unique combination of sailors onboard, who gelled very quickly and within a day became a Crew. I've been on 10 or 12 barefoot cruises so far. That comraderie dies NOT happen every time. Until this trip, sailing with James and Jack in 2017 in the Caribbean on Libby was my gold standard, 10/10. Now that trip takes 2nd place because this SV ("10-year SV anniversary) adventure is the new standard, 10/10. Matthew called a a "Happy Boat" and he was spot on. Everyone worked well together, took initiative, helped each other, kept the galley clean, and took genuine interest in each other. Equally important were the tones and communication styles that Matthew (abbreviated, economical with words, straight to the point, very calm with a dry, droll sense of humor) and Danny (clear, articulate, very well organized and detail-oriented). Both of them are highly intelligent and showed infinite patience, which created a psychologically safe learning environment. I finally (after about 50 years of sailing) finished my ASA101, 103, 104 and 114 (in 1 week!). The last comment and observation I'll add here is that Safety is always the highest priority in any endeavor - Matthew and Danny brought that perspective to everything they did for and with us. I've worked building large commercial freighters and SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) is Rule #1. There are very very few people I would trust with my life at risk. Prior to this, it was only James and Jack while under sail. Now I've added Matthew and Danny to that very short list. Thank you, gents, for an unforgettable week.
Unforgettable adventure
Sailing Virgins always shows up! If you want an adventure or you want to learn sailing in the real world not just a classroom this is without a doubt the way to go. My wife and I sailed with Matthew Morris. Super knowledgable, a great teacher, and an all around legend. This is our third time sailing with Sailing Virgins and each time was better than the last.
Sailing with Virgin Sailing
Great experience sailing in the Adriatic with Sailing Virgins. Captain/ Instructor Joep knows what he is doing and is very experienced. Besides that he has such a great personality! We learned so much and he made sure we had a great time. We sailed with 5 other boats and crews in learning which was a whole new experience for us. Sailing Virgins also shared some pearls of restaurants with us where we had amazing dinners.
Opened new doors to my life now
This experience will be one of the most memorable of my life. I took the Coastal Cruising (ASA103), the Bareboat (ASA104), and the Catamaran (ASA114) courses over the span of a week in SXM. I went with a close friend but quickly met the other two students on the boat and the two instructors. By the end of the week, we were all friends and had interacted in fun and positive ways. Sailing Virgins will provide the instructors and will charter a boat so there may be many combinations of possible experiences given the variables. Our boat was chartered through Dream Yacht Charters out of Anse Marcel on the northern shore of SXM. We sailed a Bali 4.2 which comfortably slept the 6 of us in 4 staterooms. Every room had a private head and shower. Just as a reminder- boating is a lot like glamping. The air conditioning cannot be run at all times and things may break which require clever problem solving to fix. It is adventurous- let it be so. The sailing days are long and can be draining due to the sun and the (albeit small) ocean swells. As a very new sailor, even 5 ft (1-2m) swells can make one slightly queasy or disoriented for up to 2 days. But by day 3, the body acclimates and the sailing becomes much more enjoyable. One advantage of the sail boat is that it does not produce diesel exhaust fumes when underway since it is powered by the wind. So that seriously helps the seasickness. There is a different pace of life for this week, often waking up with the early sunrise and going to sleep not long after sunset. Running a ship takes many tasks so the occupants will divide these tasks evenly in an ideal situation (e.g. cooking, cleaning, securing living spaces for voyage, raising anchor, stowing the dinghy, raising sails, trimming sails, etc). Given the distance from shore, cell phones are no longer as distracting which was a nice break from the trappings of modern life. I found it much easier to be in the moment (though there was down time in the evenings to connect via Starlink satellite internet if desired). We sailed between St. Martin, St. Barths, and Anguilla, stopping to anchor or moor at several coves and even small islands along the way. As an American, this trip felt very international since the majority of the week was spent in French territory. Everyone spoke English but primarily spoke French. Local currency is in euros and dollars and much of it was in cash. Of course debit/credit is commonly accepted and tap to pay is everywhere too. The real reason for the 5 star review is that I had two truly wonderful instructors. Pascal and Nacha made this entire week so much more enjoyable due to their professionalism and their easy going natures and their love for adventure and fun. We all learned a lot during the lessons but we also got to go to shore plenty to enjoy fine dining as well as beach bars and a slice of life in the Caribbean. Pascal and Nacha are experienced sailors and have lived in the nautical world for the majority of their lives. This experience and perspective really enhanced the quality of discussion as well as led to fascinating stories of lessons learned and best practices in the real world, not just in the training environment. Whether you want to snorkel in the mornings before breakfast, enjoy working the ropes and adjusting your plans based on the wind, or want to explore a new island (like St. Barths with the shortest commercial runway in the world), I should recommend you to apply for this experience. I felt that the money was well spent and that our experience afterward was worth a lifetime. I will often think of this trip for many years to come. Most importantly, it has made sailing accessible to me now and I want to include it in future plans. Could there really be more to it than that?
Wow, thank you so much for this amazing review! Completing your ASA 103, 104, and 114 certifications in a single week is a tremendous accomplishment and we are so glad the experience lived up to and exceeded your expectations.We love that you embraced every part of the journey, from the early mornings and shared teamwork to pushing through those first couple of days at sea. That adventurous spirit is what makes a truly great sailor and it sounds like you found yours!Knowing that this experience has made sailing accessible to you and that you are already thinking about future adventures on the water is the best outcome we could hope for. That is exactly why we do what we do.We will make sure Pascal and Nacha see your wonderful feedback. Thank you again for taking the time to share such a detailed and heartfelt review. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Mobile379221831402026.06.04
Verified
Awesome Week with Sailing Virgins
The trip was better than I could have imagined! Every day was packed with incredible adventures alongside expert instruction. Matthew taught us everything we needed not only to pass the tests but to feel confident that we can go on adventures like this anywhere in the world. He gave us opportunities to troubleshoot and figure things out on our own, while still making sure everything was safe and stress-free. It was the perfect balance of teaching, hands on practice, and having fun. We left the trip feeling so stoked for the next adventure!
Thank you so much for this great review! Leaving the course feeling confident and ready to take on adventures anywhere in the world is exactly what we set out to achieve with every student. We will make sure to pass your kind words along to Matthew. Wishing you fair winds & happy sailing!
Phil M2026.06.04
Verified
BVI
I just returned from an incredible sailing course in the British Virgin Islands, and it exceeded all expectations. The experience was made even better by meeting a great group of people who quickly went from strangers to friends. A special thank you to our instructor, Dom, whose patience, knowledge, and calm teaching style made learning both enjoyable and rewarding. He took the time to ensure everyone felt comfortable and confident, regardless of experience level. The combination of hands-on sailing, beautiful surroundings, and great company made for an unforgettable week. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their sailing skills while enjoying an amazing adventure. Thank you, Dom, and safe travels to everyone I had the pleasure of sailing with!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and recommendation! Coming away with new skills, confidence, and a group of friends you did not expect is exactly what we hope every student experiences. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to Dom. Hope to have you back on the water with us again soon!
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