Antares University

Taking ownership of your new sailing catamaran can be overwhelming. Learning new electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, and even provisioning for a long trip can be daunting. With years of experience in helping new owners take delivery of their catamarans, we’ve learned that the more equipped you are with the knowledge on how your vessel and systems work, the more successful the transition to your new liveaboard sailing life is.

When you buy an Antares sailing catamaran you get a unique opportunity to participate in Antares University – an in-depth boat orientation program. Antares University brings new owners together in a relaxed, social environment for an orientation session covering major components on the Antares sailing catamaran.

The objective is to go beyond the basics and explore the underlying principles of how and why the boat’s systems are designed as they are. The program also includes sailing days to demonstrate the use of different sails under various conditions.

With increasing number of sophisticated on-board systems, we make sure all new owners are fully equipped with the knowledge to operate their boats.

The on-board classes lead participants through the entire boat, opening each and every compartment and looking under all floorboards for a thorough orientation of the various components. Topics such as engine, generator and general maintenance are discussed at length.

Managing electrical load capacities on both the 12 Volt and 120 Volt systems is crucial for liveaboards. From understanding the role of the charge combiner to when to use the charger / inverter, participants learn about the electrical system using practical real-life scenarios.

With an understanding of the underlying principles of how and why the boat’s systems are designed, participants are introduced to boat handling and maneuvering under power with each new owner taking a hand at docking the Antares Catamaran.

Sailing instruction to demonstrate the use of the standard sails under various conditions as well as basics of Mainsail shape are introduced during the program.

With nearly ten years facilitating this program, we know how to cater to the specific needs of new owners, both experienced sailors and those who may be new to sailing and the liveaboard lifestyle. This is a unique opportunity to not only learn about the boat’s systems, but to also connect with a larger community of sailors and to benefit from their collective knowledge and experience.

Past programs have been held in North America including in South Carolina, Virginia, Florida and California to name a few. We’ve also held our program in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Brazil and, of course, Buenos Aires, Argentina.