First Reef Sailing

★★★★★Ron V

What an incredible week with Captain Jake in the USVIs aboard the 40' Fountaine Pajot Isla, Astra Mare! Five of us circumnavigated beautiful St. John, enjoying unforgettable sailing along with stunning scenery, beaches, swimming, snorkeling, restaurants, and bars. Astra Mare was clean, comfortable, and a truly solid sailboat. Jake’s instruction at the helm was outstanding, and when we left the boat handling to him and chose to relax, his knowledge and experience gave us complete peace of mind.

★★★★★Sue Babb

We had a great time taking the ASA 103/104 course/cruise in the USVI. Captain Forrest is not only a patient sailing instructor, he is also very good at teaching classes and all of the students on the boat passed their exams with no problems. Days were full and interesting, and every night was at a different anchorage or mooring. After breakfast, there were a couple of hours of class, then a break for lunch and time for a swim or snorkel. Afternoons were for sailing practice and to travel to our next destination. Some spots were secluded and quiet, so we ate on board (as a bonus, Forrest is a great cook and his dinners were excellent!) Other nights we went ashore and had crew dinners in restaurants. I especially enjoyed the dinghy ride into Cruz Bay for a stroll and delicious dinner at Longboard. It was the tropical vacation I wanted with the added bonus of improving our sailing skills. I highly recommend First Reef!

★★★★★Mark McElwee

I recently finished an incredible week with First Reef Sailing and it was an absolute blast. We sailed all around St. Thomas and St. John, hitting a new beautiful anchorage or mooring every night. The balance of hands-on sailing and short lectures was perfect for getting my ASA 103, 104, and 114 catamaran certs all in one trip. Beyond the sailing itself, it was a total immersion in the live-aboard lifestyle—learning how to provision and manage the boat, and the meals were actually great. We even took the dinghy out for some amazing snorkeling and hikes with killer views and plenty of wildlife. I'm leaving with the confidence I need to bareboat charter on my own in the future. If you're looking to level up your skills in paradise, I can't recommend them enough!

★★★★★Christopher Robin

I recently completed the ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising course with First Reef Sailing, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. The program was well-structured, the boat was high quality, well-maintained, and the company made the entire process smooth and professional. Captain/Founder Forrest Hardy deserves special recognition. Forrest is highly knowledgeable, with deep firsthand sailing experience, and has a natural ability to teach. His explanations of advanced navigation concepts, strategies, and even the finer details (like knot techniques) were clear and easy to understand. He showed remarkable patience with both questions and mistakes, always turning them into valuable teaching moments. What impressed me most was how much Forrest clearly cares...about sailing, about his students’ success, and about the overall experience. I learned so much and had an absolute blast alongside Forrest and the other students who participated. This was the best ASA certification course I’ve taken, and I left feeling much more confident in my skills and prepared for future cruising. I highly recommend First Reef Sailing for anyone pursuing ASA certifications, and to anyone who simply wants an introduction to sailing in general. I’m impressed with the excellent programs that Forrest Hardy, Paul Sullivan, and their team have built, and I especially cannot thank Forrest enough for such a thorough, practical, and encouraging learning experience.

★★★★★Boston Carpenter

I just completed ASA 101 today with First Reef Sailing, and I’ve already signed up for the next level ASA 103! The curriculum was well-structured and easy to follow, even for someone like me with zero prior sailing experience. Our instructor, Jake, was not only incredibly knowledgeable and patient, but also made the learning experience fun and engaging. He struck the perfect balance between thorough instruction and relaxed, confidence-building coaching. The classroom sessions helped me clearly understand terminology, sailing theory, and safety fundamentals, and every day we got hands-on time on the water to reinforce what we learned. The balance between theory and practice was spot on. Great school and great instructors. I’m really looking forward to continuing with the next course next week!