Women's Course

Ready to invest in yourself?

Cruisers Academy’s All Women Sailing Courses create a unique and empowering space for women who want to build confidence and skill on the water. These courses are designed with women’s learning styles in mind, creating an inclusive environment that fosters hands-on learning, encourages all questions, and meets each sailor at her own level.

For women who have felt sidelined or hesitant in co-ed sailing situations, these courses provide a space where everyone is not only invited but truly supported through custom coaching.

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Our hands-on curriculum and background in decades of teaching sailing bridge common learning gaps that can occur in traditional or partner-led instruction. Whether you are just starting your sailing journey, have spent lots of time on the water but are still struggling with the basics, or are experienced crew looking to level up to Skipper- Captain Heather Richards is a lifelong sailor and teacher that will get you to the next level in an engaging and fun environment. 

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This course is more than just a trip—it’s an investment in your safety, confidence, ability to be a valued crew member, enjoyment of future sailing experiences, and the best next step to reach your sailing goals and dreams... And if you are sailing with your family or partner, it is also an investment in their success on the water too!

There is no better tool or equipment you can have on board than a well-trained crew.” ~Larry Pardey 

WHAT TO EXPECT

The logistics of this course are easy, with round trip flights out of Loreto (LTO), a small, safe and vibrant town which is our favorite in all of Baja! You will board Lintika by 10am the first day the course begins and can leave any time the last day of the trip.

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With only 2-4 students per leg, each participant receives highly personalized instruction in a supportive, hands-on environment. This course creates a dynamic learning environment where students can put any previous sailing knowledge to use while being coached through our sailing & cruising curriculum. You will be taking part in every role including learning to read the weather, hands on sailing and navigation skills, prioritizing safety, exploring Lintika's blue-water systems, mastering provisioning and cooking aboard, and more!

The itinerary, influenced by weather, combines theory with practical lessons, allowing time for relaxation, exploring beautiful islands, and experiencing the cruiser lifestyle in the beauty of baja!

MEET YOUR CAPTAIN Captain Heather Richard is the real deal when it comes to female skippers. Her life long sailing career started at 8 years old. Since then, she has established her own norms as a female sailor and built serious sailing chops in a variety of settings: coaching racing at the prestigious Saint Francis Yacht Club, designing a sailing program for the US Navy in Japan, Captaining the 100' Tall Ship Matthew Turner, and living aboard her sailboat with her three kids!

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Blue shares about why she is such an incredible asset to the team,"The coolest thing about Heather is that with all these accomplishments, there is no ego. Just a love for the ocean and the wind and a clear desire to lift others up. I have recently been asking a lot of women WHAT is holding them back from gaining the knowledge around sailing they clearly desire, and to my astonishment the resounding response is that they don’t feel like they deserve it. Spending time on a sailboat with Heather will 100% change that."

But beyond being a sailor, her role as an artist, teacher, community organizer, woman, and mother have all played a role in making Captain Heather Richard who she is today. Her squeaky clean safety record, salty charm, and love for the ocean, makes Cruisers Academy’s Women's Sailing Courses in the Sea of Cortez something not to be missed. Learn more about Captain Heather’s sailing journey here.

January temps range from 77°F to a low of 52°F.

Apply for this trip today to hold your spot, no commitment necessary!

Hear from an alumni who partook in this exact course in 2023:

Leah Cooper ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"I had a great experience on my week-long Women-Only sailing course with Captain Heather. I had already taken several ASA courses and wanted to solidify my knowledge and get more hands-on experience without my husband on board. Heather is a badass captain with a lot of experience. She was very patient with the new sailors and gave thorough instructions on everything from engine maintenance to sail handling, to safety in emergency scenarios. We learned how to use both navigation technology as well as paper charts. We got hands-on experience anchoring, even in the dark. Overall I would do it again and recommend it to other women. I gained a lot of confidence and Heather will be a great resource for me in the future. Plus, Lintika is a beautiful boat!"

Karen Harris ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ "Captain Heather and Cruisers Academy provided an excellent learning opportunity during the Women’s Cruisers Course out of Loreto Mexico in December. This is the perfect and comfortable environment for anyone that wants to hone their sailing knowledge and skills. Captain Heather is the epitome of a calm, encouraging, and expert instructor. Plus the location of Sea of Cortez is breathtaking. I highly recommend this course! Thanks again Captain Heather and the CA Team!"

Celene Stamper ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"My husband and I have been sailing for a few years with intentions of living on our boat and cruising the world with our family within the next few years. I’ve never been a strong sailor and as much as my husband tries to teach me it usually ends up with him getting impatient and me getting defensive. I always knew I wanted to take a sailing course at some point so when I heard of the Women’s Sailing Course by Cruisers Academy is signed up and I’m glad I did! Captain Heather was extremely knowledgeable, patient, approachable, kind, and fun! She taught us what we wanted to learn which not only was included sailing, but ended up being a lot about diesel mechanics, electrical systems, and boat safety - all critical things for living on a boat. And the best part was she made it interesting and easy to understand. Not only did I learn a lot on the course it was also a lot of fun and the Sea of Cortez was beautiful. The course was empowering and I feel much more confident on my own boat and feel I can contribute much more now! I highly recommend the Cruisers Academy Women's Sailing Course with Captain Heather!"