OFFSHORE Sailing School
These offshore cruising courses are designed to give you first-hand knowledge, experience, and confidence to live on and navigate a sailboat. This fun and dynamic learning opportunity provides a real-world environment to train you in the skills needed to live the sailor lifestyle. Students will take part in every crew role, from sailing and navigation, weather routing, anchoring, taking care of Lintika's boat systems, and learning how to be the best crew member possible.
AVAILABLE COURSES
Browse through and apply for available courses!
La Paz ->Mazatlan
FEBRUARY 8-15, 2026
This trip is ideal for those who want to experience offshore, overnight sailing and lose site of land. There is a chance for visiting the beautiful island of Espirtu Santo as well as some other Eastern Cape anchorages while waiting for the right weather to make the 2-3 day (likely downwind) offshore sail to arrive in Mazatlan on the mainland side of Mexico.
La Cruz -> Mazatlan
APRIL 2-9 , 2026
This potentially upwind sail could present more challenging conditions. You'll have the opportunity to fine tune upwind sailing skills, as well as best practices for offshore overnight sailing. Possible stops include the UNESCO world heritage site of Isla Isabel or the anchorage of San Blas. This trip is perfect for those interested in practicing coastal navigation & exploring cultural hotspots of mainland Mexico.
Loreto -> San Carlos
MAY 3-10, 2026
Learn to plan an execute an overnight offshore passage from Baja to San Carlos on mainland Mexico. This adventure is perfect for sailors eager to lose sight of land, build confidence at sea, and dive into best practices for night watch, offshore navigation, and passage-making.
Mazatlan
->La Cruz
MARCH 3-9, 2026
This trip is perfect for those interested in practicing coastal navigation and exploring cultural hotspots of Mexico. This sail will likely be downwind and offer a great experience to fine tune your overnight passage making skills. Possible stops include the UNESCO world heritage site of Isla Isabell before arriving in the fun and funky cruisers hot spot of La Cruz.
Mazatlan
->La Paz
APRIL 12-20, 2026
This unique trip will offer both a multi-day/night passage from Mazatlan on mainland Mexico to La Paz in the Sea of Cortez, as well as cruising at its finest through the islands of southern Baja. This ~200nm passage could potentially offer upwind/challenging conditions and will provide a great experience for anyone looking to have a proper offshore sailing experience.
La Cruz -> Socorro Islands
MARCH 16-29, 2026
This 14-day expedition from La Cruz to the Socorro Islands is for sailors interested in making a serious offshore passage into the Pacific: Multi-day legs with no land in sight, unpredictable conditions, and real-time decision-making as your crew plans a route to one of Earths most remote marine parks!
La Paz -> Loreto
APRIL 23-30, 2026
This course offers a unique opportunity to build the skills needed to confidently navigate a potentially upwind passage—an essential challenge for any aspiring cruiser. Along the way, we’ll explore a string of breathtaking anchorages, from the striking red rock coves of Isla Espíritu Santo to the remote and rugged coastline of the Eastern Baja Peninsula.
customizable curriculum
Wherever you're on your sailing journey, Cruisers Academy's courses are customizable to your sailing goals. Whether you are new to sailing, have plans to set sail in the future, or are gearing up for an ocean-crossing, our real-world curriculum is modified to give you the most out of the course. Topics covered in the courses include but are not limited to, the list on the left.
In addition to learning, you get to start each morning with a coffee in the cockpit and end each day with dinner in the galley! There will be opportunities to snorkel, paddle board, relax with a book on deck, explore beautiful Baja beaches, or do anything else you'd like on this educational vacation!
SV LINTIKA
Lintika is Cruisers Academy's 1980 Passport 42', an incredibly well built and beautiful boat made in Taiwan by the reputable Passport Yachts. This classic sailboat, designed by Stan Huntingford, has gotten a massive refit over the last several years and is as modernized as they come. As a cutter rigged sloop with a fin keel and skegged rudder, her canoe stern and additional sail set up allows her to sail incredibly close to the wind while her 20 tons keep her comfortable downwind and in heavy conditions. She's the perfect boat for sailing Mexico.
Equipped with a new Yanmar 54hp engine, a Cruiser RO Zen 100 water maker, new holding tanks for both fuel and water, new rigging and sails, new interior cushions and bedding, a new arch with 820 watts of solar and 810 amp hours of lithium batteries- she is set to sail offshore and chomping at the bit to cruise the Sea of Cortez!
She is also kitted out for optimum safety at sea with satphone capabilities, star link internet, a 6 person life raft, a MOM-8 device, EPIRB, AIS and brand new radar.
Cabin Arrangements...
SEMI PRIVATE BUNK FOR ONE PERSON:
Sleeping space for one person in a bunk about the size of twin bed. The bunk is tucked away on the starboard-aft side of the boat with a privacy curtain.
V-BERTH FOR ONE-TWO PEOPLE
This cabin has a door for privacy and a bed that is the size of a full at the aft end and much narrower forward. Best suited for either one person who values privacy, or a smaller couple that doesn't mind sleeping in small spaces together.
PRIVATE CABIN FOR TWO PEOPLE:
This fully private cabin provides a sleeping space for two people in a bed about the size of a queen. The cabin has its own door and can also be booked by just one person who wants a large private cabin to themselves.
SALON BUNK FOR ONE PERSON:
Sleeping space for one person in a bunk a little narrower than a twin sized bed. It is located in the main communal salon, so it's best for someone who is a strong sleeper and feels comfortable sleeping in a bunk without much privacy. It's unlikely this bunk will be filled for longer passages but may be for shorter stints.