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EXCESS 14 CATAMARAN 2026 SEASON
Full
Circle
AN OFFSHORE SKILLS-BUILDING PASSAGE — FLORIDA TO BERMUDA
6
VOYAGE LEGS
39+
TOTAL DAYS
I
VESSEL
May- July
SEASON
One boat.
Your journey.
Every leg your own.
The Excess 14 "Full Circle" is a structured offshore seamanship program aboard a single catamaran making a coastal and offshore passage from Punta Gorda, Florida to Bermuda. Each leg is a self-contained instructional module — you may join for one, several, or all.
This is not a destination trip. Every mile is a classroom. Every watch rotation, weather window, and anchorage approach builds the kind of seamanship that textbooks can't teach.
THE ROUTE
Punta Gorda to Bermuda
& Beyond
Punta Gorda
Florida Keys
Dry Tortugas
Leg 1
PG
Keys
Tortugas
May 15-19
Leg 2
Keys
Miami
May 21-25
Miami
Leg 3
Miami
Abacos
May 27-30
Abacos
Leg 4
Miami
Charleston
June 1-5
Charleston
Newport
Bermuda
Leg 5
Charleston
Newport
7-8 Days
Leg 6
Newport
Bermuda
10 Days
THE LEGS
Choose your passage
01
Punta Gorda → Florida Keys → Dry Tortugas → Florida Keys
Night Sailing Introduction · Offshore Fundamentals
May 15 – May 19
5 DAYS
Instructional Focus
Introduction to Night Sailing
Offshore Fundamentals
Watch Rotations
Passage Planning
Catamaran Systems Underway
Training Components
First overnight offshore experience
Coastal navigation techniques
Anchoring in remote locations
Heavy weather awareness
Catamaran sail plan management
Program Note
This module is positioned as an overnight offshore skills-building experience — not a destination trip. Return logistics (plane or ferry from Dry Tortugas / Keys) are the student's responsibility.
02
Florida Keys → Miami
Foundations of Bareboat Cruising
May 21 – May 25
5 DAYS
Skills Gained
Boat systems management
Anchoring and mooring procedures
Docking under varying conditions
Passage planning between short hops
Sail trim refinement
What to Expect
Time at helm under instructor supervision
Relaxed coastal cruising environment
Perfect for complete beginners looking to build confidence
Structured skill development, every day on the water
Leg Description
Structured skill development in a relaxed coastal environment. This is the ideal entry point for sailors new to live-aboard cruising and coastal passage making.
03
Miami → Abacos, Bahamas (Roundtrip)
International Coastal Navigation & Offshore Procedures
May 27 – May 30
4 DAYS
Instructional Focus
Gulf Stream crossing strategy
Weather window analysis
International clearance procedures
Night navigation offshore
Offshore watch systems
Program Highlights
Your first international offshore crossing
Gulf Stream real-world routing decisions
Bahamas clearance & cruising permit procedures
Structured seamanship, not a charter holiday
Advanced sail configurations (Code 0 / Spinnaker, conditions permitting)
Operational Note
We are confirming regulatory exposure regarding Bahamas entry. As an instructional program originating in the U.S., it may not fall under Bahamas charter licensing requirements. Legal review is underway. All Bahamas cruising permit and entry costs will be built into pricing.
04
Miami → Charleston, SC
Coastal Navigation & Sea Time Intensive
June 1 – June 5
5 DAYS
Training Focus
Offshore routing strategy
Loggable mileage accumulation
Watch rotation leadership
Coastal navigation
Weather interpretation
Instructional Stop
Possible stop in St. Augustine, FL
Tide calculations in practice
Inlet navigation techniques
Marina approach & docking under pressure
Ideal for sailors building offshore qualifications
Systems redundancy management
Who This Is For
This leg is designed for sailors actively building confidence and offshore qualifications — loggable offshore mileage, night watches, and real routing decisions on every passage.
05
Charleston → Newport, RI
Bay Sailing · Canal Navigation · Tidal Waters
June
7–10 Days
Preferred Route Options
Option A – Direct Offshore: Charleston → Newport (7–8 days offshore)
Option B – Chesapeake Charleston → Annapolis → Delaware Bay → Route: Block Island / Newport
Chesapeake Route Advantages
Bay sailing in protected waters
Canal navigation experience
Night sailing in varied conditions
Tidal current management in practice
More dynamic instructional opportunities
Route Note
Rather than staging multiple days in Jersey City or NYC for day sails — which adds operational complexity and limited instructional value — Option B via the Chesapeake provides substantially richer seamanship content. Newport and Annapolis are stronger instructional and airport hubs than Jersey City if access is required.
06
Newport → Bermuda
Offshore Passage-Making & Ocean Routing Intensive
June
10 DAYS
The Pinnacle Offering
True open-ocean passage making
Advanced ocean routing and weather routing
Multi-day watch system management
Blue-water navigation techniques
Emergency seamanship at distance from shore
Program Position
Highest-level offering in the Full Circle program
Prerequisites: offshore experience strongly recommended
Arrival in Bermuda — a genuine offshore accomplishment
Loggable blue-water ocean miles
Prerequisites
This is the Full Circle capstone. Prior offshore experience — whether from earlier legs or elsewhere — is strongly recommended. This leg is not structured as a learning introduction but as an advanced passage-making intensive.
Anchor 1
Join the Full Circle Voyage
Register your interest for one leg, multiple legs, or the complete passage. We'll follow up with detailed program information, pricing, and availability — and answer any questions before you commit.
Single or multi-leg enrollment available
One vessel — the Excess 14 catamaran
Professional instructor-captain aboard
Limited berths per leg — early interest prioritized
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