The Exumas, Bahamas · 2026 Season

Sail the
Bahamas.

Liveaboard cruising education in one of the most spectacular sailing grounds on earth. Earn your Sail Canada certification — and fall in love with the sea.

7 Days Liveaboard 4 Students Max Sail Canada Certified From $3,700 CAD
No. 01 · The Destination

The Exumas, Bahamas.

Three hundred and sixty-five islands and cays — one for every day of the year. The Exumas stretch 150 kilometres through some of the most extraordinary sailing water in the world. Turquoise, clear, warm, and shallow enough to anchor almost anywhere.

You'll navigate protected cays, anchor in white sand flats, swim with iguanas, snorkel pristine reefs, and watch sunsets from the cockpit with a cold drink in hand. This is what sailors dream about — and you'll be doing it while earning a recognized international certification.

Happy Sailing operates here from January through April aboard Sweetwater, a 2011 Bavaria 36 that Evan Logan sailed down from Lake Ontario in October 2025. The same boat. The same instructor. Completely all-inclusive.

365
Islands & Cays
Exuma archipelago, Bahamas
7
Days Liveaboard
6 nights aboard Sweetwater
4
Students Maximum
Minimum 2 to run
2
Certifications
Basic & Intermediate Cruising
No. 02 · Your Floating Classroom

Sweetwater.
A 2011 Bavaria 36 cruiser.

Three private cabins. Six berths. Galley, salon, head, cockpit. Sweetwater is a fully equipped offshore cruiser — and your home for the week. Evan sailed her 3,000 miles from Prince Edward County to Nassau in the fall of 2025.

This is not a charter boat with a stranger. This is an instructor's personal liveaboard vessel — maintained to a different standard, set up specifically for teaching, and stocked with everything you need.

Vessel 2011 Bavaria 36 Cruiser
Length 36 feet
Cabins 3 private cabins, 6 berths
Home Port Nassau Harbour Club, Bahamas
Electronics Chartplotter, VHF, AIS, depth, wind
Extras Dinghy, outboard, snorkel gear
Sweetwater sailing in the Exumas
No. 03 · The Course

7-Day Skipper.

The Sail Canada cruising progression — Basic through Intermediate — in a single seven-day liveaboard experience. Real skills, real conditions, real certification.

Sail theory & trim — understanding the physics of a sailboat and how to get the most from every point of sail.
Coastal navigation — chart work, GPS, pilotage, ETAs, and passage planning across the Exuma cays.
Docking & anchoring — marinas, anchor drops in sand, mooring balls, Mediterranean mooring.
Vessel systems — engine, electrical, water, bilge, fuel. How to diagnose and manage aboard.
Safety & seamanship — MOB, flares, EPIRB, VHF, weather routing, night watch procedures.
Multi-day passage planning — routing decisions, provisioning, tides, weather windows for island hopping.
Liveaboard life — galley meals, watch schedules, provisioning, crew dynamics, and life at anchor.
You Graduate With
Basic Cruising
Sail Canada's entry-level keelboat certification. Recognized at bareboat charter companies worldwide.
Intermediate Cruising
The credential bareboat companies ask for. Charter in the Caribbean, Mediterranean (via ICC equivalency), and beyond.
Prerequisites: none. Course materials provided. Pre-departure Zoom sessions included before you arrive.
No. 04 · Week at a Glance

Nassau to the Exumas
and back.

Every day on the water. Every evening at anchor or in a new harbour.

Day 01
Arrival & Orientation
Board at Nassau Harbour Club. Safety briefing, boat systems, provisioning, depart for first anchorage.
Day 02
Nassau to the Cays
First offshore passage. Sail theory, navigation in practice. Anchor in protected Exuma waters.
Day 03
Island Hopping
Cay to cay. Anchoring, snorkeling, iguanas at Allan's Cay. Evening at anchor.
Day 04
Staniel Cay
Yacht Club dinner ashore. Thunderball Grotto. Swimming pigs at Big Major Cay. Mooring ball.
Day 05
Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
Protected marine park. World-class snorkeling. Navigation and passage planning assessment.
Day 06
Northbound Return
Longer passage. Weather routing decision-making. Students take the helm. Night approach to Nassau.
Day 07
Debrief & Depart
Final assessment, logbook sign-off, certification debrief. Disembark Nassau Harbour Club.
Nassau Allan's Cay Staniel Cay Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park Nassau
No. 05 · All-Inclusive

Everything covered.
No surprises.

Your course fee includes the boat, the cabin, the food, the instruction, the certifications, and every fee in between.

🛏️

Private Cabin

Your own private cabin aboard Sweetwater for the full seven days and six nights.

🍽️

All Meals Aboard

All meals prepared aboard, plus one dinner ashore. Alcohol not included.

🎓

Sail Canada Instruction

Certified Sail Canada instructor for the full duration. Every student steers, navigates, and docks.

📜

Two Certifications

Basic Cruising and Intermediate Cruising — internationally recognized credentials issued by Sail Canada.

🏝️

Snorkeling & Island Time

Snorkel gear, dinghy, and time built in for swimming pigs, iguanas, and reef exploration.

💻

Pre-Departure Zoom Sessions

Online prep sessions before you arrive so you hit the water ready from day one.

📚

Course Materials & Logbook

All Sail Canada course materials and your official logbook — everything required for certification.

All Boat Fees Covered

Fuel, dockage, marina fees, water, permits, and taxes. Nothing extra to plan for.

🤿

Dinghy & Outboard

Shore access, reef exploration, and sunset paddles — dinghy and outboard included throughout.

No. 06 · Your Instructor
Evan Logan

Evan Logan.

Sail Canada educator, coastal skipper, and the person who sailed Sweetwater 3,000 miles from Lake Ontario to Nassau so you could learn on it.

Certification Sail Canada Cruising Instructor
Vessel 2011 Bavaria 36, Sweetwater
Experience Lake Ontario, Bahamas, offshore passages
Based Nassau Harbour Club, Bahamas (winter) · PEC (summer)
Philosophy Every student steers. Every student navigates. Every student docks.

Evan doesn't just teach sailing — he lives it. He sailed Sweetwater from Prince Edward County to the Bahamas in fall 2025, logging 3,000 miles offshore. The Bahamas program is an extension of that life: small groups, personal instruction, and a genuine passion for getting people out on blue water.

No. 07 · Student Resources

Prepared before you arrive.
Supported after you leave.

Students get access to a dedicated resource library and learning portal before the course begins.

Exumas Base Guide

Everything You Need to Know

A complete pre-arrival guide covering flights, hotels, restaurants, the itinerary, Nassau area tips, and what to pack.

  • Flights & transfers to Nassau Harbour Club
  • Hotel recommendations (Margaritaville, British Colonial Hilton)
  • Nassau restaurants and things to do
  • Packing checklist (interactive, saves to your device)
  • Sea sickness tips specific to the Exumas
  • Travel insurance guidance
happysailing.ca/student-portal/exumas-base-guide
Student Portal

Your Online Learning Hub

Every student gets access to the Happy Sailing student portal — course modules, reference materials, and tools built for the course.

  • Course modules & curriculum for Basic and Intermediate
  • Navigation course materials
  • Provisioning calculator for passage planning
  • Float plan builder
  • Video sessions & study notes
  • Pre-departure Zoom session recordings
happysailing.ca/student-portal
No. 08 · What Students Say

Straight from the cockpit.

Every review is from a student who completed a Happy Sailing course in the Exumas.

"

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.

S
Stephen
"

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.

H
Hilary
"

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 made learning both effective and enjoyable.

D
Don Fraser
"

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 and would highly recommend this course.

S
Sara Williston
No. 09 · Pricing

Straightforward rates.
All-inclusive.

One price covers the boat, the cabin, all meals, all instruction, all fees, and both certifications.

Per Person
Group Rate
$3,700
CAD · all-inclusive · 3–4 students
  • Private cabin for the week
  • All meals aboard
  • Sail Canada instruction
  • Both certifications
  • All fees & permits
  • Pre-departure Zoom sessions
Solo
Single Occupancy
$5,200
CAD · all-inclusive · private cabin
  • Exclusive private cabin
  • All meals aboard
  • Sail Canada instruction
  • Both certifications
  • All fees & permits
  • Pre-departure Zoom sessions
Booking agent: Catherine Davis · Zebrano Travel / Virtuoso · 416-566-5264
TICO #: 50013277
Questions: hello@happysailing.ca
No. 10 · Available Dates

2026 Season.
January through April.

Courses run weekly from Nassau. Spaces fill early — book through Catherine Davis at Zebrano Travel.

January 2026
Jan 10 – 17 Full
Jan 24 – 31 Full
February 2026
Feb 7 – 14 Full
Feb 21 – 28 Full
March 2026
Mar 7 – 14 Full
Mar 21 – 28 Open
April 2026
Apr 11 – 18 Open
Apr 25 – May 2 1 Spot Left

Dates for the 2026–2027 winter season will be published in September 2026. Contact hello@happysailing.ca to be notified first.

No. 11 · All Programs

Three ways to sail
the Bahamas.

From first-time cruiser to experienced skipper building sea miles — there's a course for where you are right now.

Mileage Builder
Build Sea Time

Mileage Builder

Already certified? Come back and build sea miles in the Exumas with an experienced coach. Ideal preparation for Advanced Cruising or bluewater passage.

7 days · $3,700 CAD · vessel & coaching · 2–4 sailors
Catamaran
Coming 2026

Catamaran Endorsement

Shallow draft access, stability, and space. The catamaran course is for sailors with Basic Cruising who want to add cat handling to their credentials.

5–7 days · ~$7,500 CAD · min 3 students
No. 12 · How to Book

Simple process.
Expert support.

Booking is handled through Zebrano Travel, a Virtuoso-affiliated agency. Catherine has booked every Happy Sailing Bahamas student to date.

1

Choose Your Dates

Review available courses and select the week that works for your schedule.

2

Contact Catherine at Zebrano

Call or email Catherine Davis to confirm availability and reserve your spot.

3

Deposit & Confirmation

A deposit secures your place. Balance due 60 days before departure.

4

Pre-Departure Prep

Access the Exumas Base Guide and student portal. Join your pre-departure Zoom session with Evan.

5

Fly to Nassau

Arrive at Nassau International (NAS). Take a taxi to Nassau Harbour Club. Board by 5pm.

Booking Partner

Zebrano Travel / Virtuoso

Zebrano Travel is a Virtuoso-affiliated agency specializing in sailing and adventure travel. Catherine Davis has handled every Happy Sailing Bahamas booking and knows the course inside out.

Catherine Davis
TICO # 50013277
No. 13 · Get in Touch

Ready to sail
the Bahamas?

Questions, custom trips, or a quick call with Evan — we're happy to talk.

Booking
Catherine Davis · Zebrano Travel
416-566-5264
Happy Sailing Academy · Bahamas · Sail Canada Certified · Est. 2022