Evan Logan
Director & Lead Instructor
- Sail Canada Educator and coastal skipper
- 6,000+ nautical miles since 2025: Lake Ontario, the US East Coast, the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean
- Teaches Intermediate Cruising aboard Sweetwater
Happy Sailing Academy
Caribbean Sailing School
Learn to Sail in the Exumas, Bahamas
View Pricing & DatesOne flat, all-inclusive price
$5,000 CAD
per person · 7 days sailing the Exumas
Basic Cruising or Intermediate — same price, everything aboard included. Flights, transfers and shore activities are extra.
View Dates & BookYour $5,000 includes
- All meals & provisions aboard
- Sail Canada certification & learning materials
- Expert Sail Canada instruction
- Your cabin aboard our own sailboat, Sweetwater
- Fuel, docking, water, taxes & permits
- Instructor gratuity
Prefer a student-led week? The Mileage Builder is the same $5,000 — vessel and coaching, provision the boat yourselves.
Welcome Aboard
A word from our director
Thank you. Winter 2027 is nearly full, and every one of those cabins was booked by someone who trusted us with a week of their year. That still means a great deal to all of us.
Sweetwater is our own boat. I sailed her from Prince Edward County to the Bahamas, and every week aboard is a small crew, never more than four students, with an instructor who wants you to leave as a skipper, not a passenger.
Whether this is your first week on a cruising boat or your step toward chartering on your own, we're glad you're here.
Fair winds,
Evan LoganDirector, Happy Sailing
Your instructors in the Exumas
Ken Bourne
Catamaran Instructor
- Sail Canada instructor, catamaran endorsed, ASA 101 to 104 and 114
- Sailed his own boat from Lake Ontario to the Bahamas in 2019
- Teaches Intermediate Cruising and the catamaran endorsement aboard the 2023 Fountaine Pajot 40
Gavin Shanks
Instructor
- 50 years of sailing and racing; races at Nepean Sailing Club
- A former flying instructor, with a patient, methodical teaching style
- Teaches Intermediate Cruising aboard Sweetwater
7Days
aboard
aboard
4Students
at most
at most
2Certifications
Basic + Intermediate
Basic + Intermediate
Why This Destination
Paradise on the Edge of the Atlantic
The Exuma Cays are a chain of about 365 islands running 120 miles southeast from Nassau. You sail the chain aboard a monohull or catamaran with a Sail Canada instructor and no more than four students.
The geography creates two distinct sailing environments. The Great Bahama Bank to the west is a shallow sand shelf — 10 to 20 feet of water for hours at a time. Exuma Sound to the east drops to thousands of feet within a mile of shore. The cuts between the cays connect the two.
Winter temperatures average 24°C to 27°C. Northeast trade winds run 10 to 20 knots. Cold fronts pass through roughly weekly, shifting the wind direction and putting your new skills to the test.
The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
The middle 22 miles of the chain is a marine protected area established in 1958 — the first of its kind in the world. Nothing is removed from the water inside the boundary. At Warderick Wells, boats use park moorings rather than anchoring to protect the seabed.
Daily Structure
The first day out of Nassau is the longest run of the week. After that, most legs are under 20 miles. You sail every day and anchor every night, completing the full cycle of a cruising day six times over the course of the week.
The Cuts
The passes between the cays carry tidal current twice a day as the Bank drains into and fills from the Sound. Transiting at the wrong time means working against the current and against ocean swell. You plan passages around the tide, not the clock.
Provisioning
Several cays have Bahamian settlements with fuel, supplies, and restaurants. Others are undeveloped. The boat is provisioned in Nassau for the week.
Certification
You earn Sail Canada Basic Cruising, Intermediate Cruising, or both. Both standards are recognized internationally and are what you need to take a boat out on your own, anywhere in the world. See the day-by-day curriculum. Not sure which level to book? Take the course self-assessment.
The Full Package
What's Included
Everything you need for an unforgettable week on the water.
Snorkel islands and experience protected marine habitats
Your cabin aboard our own sailboat, Sweetwater: three cabins, up to four guests
Maximum 4 candidates per course (and a minimum of 2)
Hands-on training from a top Sail Canada instructor flown in for your course
Learning materials and your Sail Canada logbook
Official Sail Canada Basic Cruising & Intermediate Cruising certifications or both
Online zoom sessions pre-departure
All meals aboard (alcohol not included)
Fees (docking, fuel, water, taxes and permits)
Instructor gratuity
Investment
So, you're interested, what's the cost?
Monohull
From $5,000 – $5,400
CAD total price per person, all-inclusive
Departures January to April 2027 and 2028
Departures January to April 2027 and 2028
Sweetwater, a 2011 Bavaria 36. Our main monohull in the Exumas, sailed by a Sail Canada instructor and run as a Basic or Intermediate Cruising certification course.
Catamaran
$7,400
CAD total price per person, all-inclusive
Mar 13 & 27, 2027 departures
Mar 13 & 27, 2027 departures
2023 Fountaine Pajot 40. Twin hulls, a level ride at anchor, and considerably more living and deck space for the week.
Student-Led
Mileage Builder
From $5,000 – $5,400
CAD total price per person, all-inclusive
Departures January to April 2027 and 2028
Departures January to April 2027 and 2028
A student-led week aboard Sweetwater for sailors building skills before a more advanced course, or anyone who wants a first feel for liveaboard life. No set curriculum: the days are shaped around what you and your crew want to work on. Portal access is included; formal learning materials and certification are not.
Every figure above is a total price per person in Canadian dollars, with taxes, fees, provisions and all meals aboard and gratuities included. Flights, airport transfers and shore activities are not included. The monohull and catamaran courses also include your Sail Canada certification and learning materials; the Mileage Builder is a student-led week aboard Sweetwater, with portal access but no formal certification or materials, and you provision the boat yourselves, so meals are not included. Rates apply to the 2027 departures listed on each card. Contact us for a final quote for your dates.
Winter Season
Dates & Pricing
Every week runs Saturday to Saturday. Choose a boat and a departure to see your all-in price per person.
3 cabins open 2 cabins left 1 cabin left Sold out Closed
Winter 2027 Sweetwater Monohull, Bavaria 36
February
Feb 13 to 20Closed
Feb 27 to Mar 6Sold outJoin the waitlist March
Mar 13 to 20Sold outJoin the waitlist
Mar 27 to Apr 32 cabins left
April
Apr 10 to 171 cabin left
Apr 24 to May 1Sold outJoin the waitlist Winter 2027 Catamaran Fountaine Pajot 40, 2023
March
Mar 13 to 20Open
Mar 27 to Apr 3Open
Winter 2028 · Now booking Sweetwater Monohull, Bavaria 36 · $5,400 CAD
January
Jan 8 to 15Open
Jan 22 to 29Open
February
Feb 12 to 19Open
Feb 26 to Mar 4Open
March
Mar 11 to 18Open
Mar 25 to Apr 1Open
April
Apr 8 to 15Open
Apr 22 to 29Open
Sweetwater has 3 guest cabins and takes up to 4 guests, so two guests can share a cabin. The catamaran sails two March weeks in 2027. Every week runs Saturday to Saturday. Cabins come free now and then, so if your week is sold out, join the waitlist and you'll hear first.
Join the waitlist
When a cabin opens on a sold-out week, we offer it to the waitlist first, in the order people joined. Joining doesn't commit you to anything.
Exumas Liveaboard
Sail Canada Basic or Intermediate Cruising, out of Nassau.
7 days / 6 nights 4 students maximum Nassau, Bahamas
Sail southeast from Nassau into the Exuma Cays with a Sail Canada instructor and never more than three other students, anchoring every night and covering the whole cycle of a cruising day.
Every rate is the total price per person in Canadian dollars, with taxes, fees, fuel, all provisions and meals aboard, gratuities and your certification already included. Flights, airport transfers and shore activities are not included.
Your Week at Sea
7-Day Itinerary
Nassau to the Exuma Cays and back — island hopping through some of the most beautiful waters on earth.
Our itinerary is weather-dependent and may be adjusted for safety and conditions. Here is a typical route through the Exumas.
Day 1
Nassau to Norman's Cay
Snorkeling on a plane wreck
Day 2
Norman's Cay to Warderick Wells
Island hike, coral garden snorkel, whale skeleton beach
Day 3
Warderick Wells to O'Brien's Cay
Snorkeling the aquarium and sandbar swim
Day 4
O'Brien's Cay to Staniel Cay
Thunderball Grotto, walk through town
Day 5
Staniel Cay to Shroud Cay
Estuary tour and Washing Machine beach hang and snorkel (sea turtles!)
Day 6
Shroud Cay to Athol Island
Final evening before returning to port in Nassau
Day 7
Nassau — Disembarkation
Return to port, pack up, and say farewell
What Our Students Say
Testimonials
By the end of the course, we had developed solid seamanship skills, a strong understanding of boat systems and life aboard, and improved our navigation and sail planning -- all expertly guided by the instructors.
The perfect blend of fun and education -- I gained so much confidence about chartering and sailing. The instructors handle all the details so you can focus on learning while you enjoy your trip.
Evan's expertise and passion for teaching created an engaging, supportive environment where we felt confident tackling new challenges. His ability to break down complex skills into manageable steps made learning both effective and enjoyable.
My husband and I took our Basic sailing course in the Bahamas just a couple of weeks ago. Evan was very patient, knowledgeable, and professional. We learned so much from him and we would highly recommend taking his course.
Student Resources
Prepare for Your Course
Ready to Book Your Adventure?
Fill out the inquiry form or reach out to us directly — we'll help you find the right course and dates.
Get in TouchYour booking contact
Suzie McGovern
Enrollment Specialist · hello@happysailing.ca
Payments through our TICO-registered travel partner
TICO 50028041
Prices include tax and are quoted in Canadian dollars. A 50% deposit is required to book; all liveaboard payments are non-refundable. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended; confirm your own policy covers cancellation, as you are responsible for your own coverage.