Small-group ASA instruction and private charters aboard Yemaya, a classic Shannon 38, led by a USCG 50-Ton Master and ASA-certified instructor.
We're an American Sailing Association school based in Marathon, in the heart of the Florida Keys. Every course is hands-on, aboard a real bluewater cruiser, not a classroom simulator.
Sail a small-to-midsize keelboat by day, in moderate winds and sea conditions. Your first step to independence on the water.
Skipper a 30–35 ft cruising boat by day, close to shore, in moderate winds. Docking, anchoring, and boat handling.
Take command overnight. Provisioning, passage planning, and multi-day cruising aboard a full-keel bluewater boat like Yemaya.
Chart work, dead reckoning, tides and currents — the classroom half of coastal cruising, taught with real charts and real waters.
Family crews, couples, or solo sailors — courses built around your schedule and your goals, from first tack to first passage.
Prefer to just enjoy the ride? Book a captained sunset sail or day charter and let us handle the sailing.
From the first knot we tied to the moment we brought Yemaya alongside the dock, the whole crew felt like family. Patient, funny, and genuinely stoked to be out there — the best kind of teacher.
A Recent Student
Named for the ocean spirit of the sea, Yemaya is a full-keel, offshore-capable Shannon 38 — built for comfort, stability, and real bluewater passages. She's as happy teaching a first-time sailor to reef a main as she is carrying a crew across open water.
Positive Vibrations Sailing is owned and operated by a licensed USCG 50-Ton Master with a Sailing Endorsement and full ASA instructor certification for courses 101 through 105. Every lesson and every charter is led personally, on board, start to finish.
Marathon sits in the middle of the island chain, which puts three very different kinds of sailing within a short run of the dock. Where we take you depends on your course, the weather, and what you want to see.
Shallow, flat, and well protected on the Gulf side of the Keys — mangrove islands, sand flats, and skinny water that stays calm in nearly any wind direction. This is where we teach points of sail, tacking, and docking fundamentals with plenty of room to make mistakes.
The main sailing thoroughfare of the Keys, running between the islands and the offshore reef tract. The reef takes the edge off the Atlantic swell, so it's open water with real sailing conditions — without the full ocean fetch. This is our go-to for coastal cruising and navigation days.
Beyond the reef line is open ocean, with the Gulf Stream running not far to the south. Bigger swell, real offshore motion, and true bluewater conditions aboard a full-keel boat built for exactly this. Reserved for experienced students, bareboat certification, and passage-style days.
None at all. ASA 101 is designed for first-time sailors and covers everything from terminology to basic boat handling.
Yes — custom multi-day courses can blend levels so everyone in your crew works toward their own certification on the same trip.
A captained sail aboard Yemaya, safety gear, and local knowledge of the best anchorages and sunset spots. Reach out and we'll build the day around you.
Questions about courses, charters, or availability aboard Yemaya — reach out below or find us on the water.
