Distant Shores - Sail Away Weeks
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Dreaming of sailing away but still have a lot of questions?


Need to convince your partner that traveling on a sailboat could be wonderful?


Or maybe you just long to be out sailing in sunshine on sparkling seas but commitments are holding you back.


We have a solution…

We have been offering our very popular Sail Away Weeks program since 2007 and participants have gone on to carry out their own cruising adventures with confidence and improved skills!

Some, who worried about sea sickness learned how to manage it (Paul is an expert at this), and realized that they could expand their horizons and sail further afield than they ever dreamed possible!

Others have used the opportunity to test out the cruising lifestyle and, as a result, have modified their plans or bought new boats to make their families feel more safe, comfortable and excited about undertaking a sailing adventure.
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Welcome Aboard


We're Paul and Sheryl Shard, the fun-loving hosts of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series and the authors of Sail Away! A Guide to Outfitting and Provisioning for Cruising (now being updated to a third edition). We are also instructors/consultants for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS), Canada's largest educational institution for boating safety and navigation, and helped design their Extended Cruising course.

Sheryl and I have sailed over 120,000 nautical miles and have made 9 ocean crossings during the 32 years we have cruised to exotic ports around the world while living aboard and maintaining four different sailboats.

Through our television shows, YouTube videos, magazine articles, books and cruising seminars we share our experiences to help those dreaming of sailing away themselves to plan and carry out safe, happy and successful voyages aboard their own boats.

You're Invited!


If you are considering the cruising life for retirement, an upcoming sabbatical or a lifestyle change, Sail Away Weeks offer hands-on sailing fun in exotic locales.

Live the experience you have watched on the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series, watch the making of this internationally syndicated television show en route and be featured in an episode (optional), all the while enjoying some great sailing with the hosts of the show.

Sail Away Weeks are always a great time!
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Watching the Distant Shores TV series and sailing vicariously with Paul and Sheryl got us through a lot of winters so it was such a thrill to be able to sail with them for a week in the British Virgin Islands. We learned so much from them in that one week such as how nice it can be to anchor overnight under the stars. As a result we were a lot more confident with our own boat when we got home and tried many new things.
Peter OConnor and Stephanie Bowman

An All-Inclusive Sailing Retreat in Paradise


The days will be info-packed, just like one of our cruising seminars, but rather than sitting in a classroom we’ll take you out on the water to sail in the world's top cruising destinations.

It will be a memorable time whether it's island-hopping you're dreaming of, coastal cruising to build your offshore experience or bluewater passage-making on an ocean crossing. You will be safe with us aboard, learn a lot and have time for leisure activities too.

During our time together, Sheryl and I will tailor activities to meet your interests and concerns about long-term cruising. We like to think of Sail Away Weeks as on-water retreats so you can forget the work-a-day world, relax, recharge and fuel up your dreams of sailing off into the sunset by trying it out with us.
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Who Else is Going?


You will be in the friendly company of a small select group who are considering the cruising lifestyle too. They will be like-minded sailors who share and support the same dream. Possibly like you, they want to help their partner overcome concerns about traveling long-term on a sailboat. Plus you will have the time with us to get answers to all the questions you have about the cruising lifestyle.

What You'll Learn


Besides offering our guests fabulous days of sailing together, we'll also be sharing the methods we've developed over 32 years of international cruising to help you plan a successful voyage of your own in the future. We’ll cover topics such as cruise planning, navigation, reading the weather, anchoring techniques, sail trim, meal design, provisioning, cooking on board, creating a budget for cruising that works for you and your crew, plus many other subjects while sailing across sparkling seas in paradise!
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I was interested in getting into sailing. My wife, Julie, and I enjoyed watching the Distant Shores sailing TV series so I hoped that a week of sailing with Paul and Sheryl in the tropics might bring her around to the idea of buying a sailboat. 100% success! We bought our first sailing boat 6 months after returning home.
Richard Thomas
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We have been so privileged to have been able to learn from Sheryl and Paul. Maggie and I just discovered sailing four years ago and "sharing the sail" with the Shards has allowed me to cross an ocean and for us to buy our dream boat. We will now confidently be moving on to our boat with plans of sailing the world.
Doug Kimmerly
And there will be lots of time for relaxing and exploring as well. We have chosen routes with interesting stops along the way, many of them offering great swimming, snorkelling, diving, hiking, historical sites or just lounging on the beach with a frosty drink in hand if that's your pleasure.
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What is Included in the Cost?

Cost includes all meals, beverages and accommodation onboard, fuel, marina and mooring fees, insurance, cruising permits, gratuities and training.

Not included is all airfare to and from the boat, airport transfers, meals and drinks ashore, shoreside excursions.

Please contact us for more information. Our office manager, Dawn Cox, will get back to you with answers to your questions.
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How Do I Sign Up?


1. An initial non-refundable deposit of $250 US is required to reserve your cabin.* Reservations are accepted on a first-paid first-served basis. An application and questionnaire form will be sent to you.
2. Within 7 days of your confirmed reservation, your second deposit is required bringing the deposit total to 50% of the cost of the Sail Away Week leg you have chosen.
3. The final payment, (50% of total) is due 90 days before the start date of the Sail Away Week leg you have chosen.


*Please contact us by email and our office manager, Dawn, will send you instructions for payment. Or call our office in Toronto, Canada, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time with any questions.

Telephone: (705) 484-0061
We look forward to having you aboard!

Warm regards,


Paul and Sheryl Shard
Hosts – Distant Shores sailing TV series
Authors – Sail Away! A Guide to Outfitting and Provisioning for Cruising
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