We’ve already written about our Sharpen Up Flotilla, why we created it and how it is different to other flotilla’s HERE. And we touch briefly on the two ways that you can join a Sharpen Up flotilla:
Mariners Way
Charter your own yacht from the Sharpen Up fleet (for example, JANINA – Hanse 460) and YOU run the boat for the week. It’s just like a normal charter, with the Sharpen Up support structure around you.
Ideal fora first time charterer or new skipper. Taking the helm and gaining the experience and time at the helm with a safety net.
Admirals Passage
Join the 45D support team, Nick, Mahina, Blair and Kelly, on-board Mila Felice (Hanse 548 Performance Cruiser) for the Sharpen Up week. This is designed for sailors who are looking for big yacht experience and/or tentatively on a yacht-buying journey (or heading that way over the next few years).
And we’d like to go into it in more detail. Really break down the inclusions and benefits of each option and compare them side-by-side. Both are tailor-made for two different purposes, and getting the most out of your time with us starts with choosing which option will suit you best.
Mariners Way
You’re in charge of your own yacht.
Planning, check-in/out, responsibility for the yacht, and all the normal “charter week” logistics that come with that.
Because you’re on a 45D Sharpen Up Flotilla, you also get: support, coaching, briefings, debriefs, and time with Nick. Your skills and confidence soar quickly.
It’s perfect if you want to come out of the week thinking: “Yep, I feel confident to charter now.”
Admirals Passage
We’re in charge of the yacht.
So you get to focus on learning, sailing and asking any questions you want answered during the week.
You’re on-board the lead yacht with our 45D team, and the week is set up to give you big-boat experience, practical learning, and a front row seat of what boat ownership is actually like… Without the added responsibilities and stresses of being Skipper.
It’s perfect if you want to come out of the week thinking: “I’m ready for a bigger boat… and I know what I’m stepping into.”
Who Admirals Passage is really for!
Admirals Passage is reserved for people who are already on a yacht-buying journey (or planning to be within the next 3–5 years).
But it’s also a brilliant fit for sailors who are:
> ready to move up in size,
>want big boat experience with guidance,
>and want to feel how a larger performance cruiser handles in the real world.
Mila Felice is a Hanse 548 Performance Cruiser — and that’s not a typical “training yacht”. This is real-world big boat sailing, in Croatia, with the right support around you.
Let's compare what you get
Within the Sharpen Up eco-system there are two places you could fit depending on what you are looking for.
Both options include the 45D Sharpen Up Flotilla program, the difference is the level of turnkey support and responsibility.
Admirals Passage
(lead yacht 1+1 training)
- Booking basis is a set package price
- Yacht charter fees & VAT
- 45D Sharpen Up Flotilla fee
- Early Check in
- Comfort pack + eco fees
- Check-in / check-out assistance
- 45D Skippers Handbook
- 45D teeshirts (2)
- Clean Box, Bed Linen, Bath Towels
- Sailing / navigation / safety equipment
- Support (Nick & 45D Team)
- Big boat sailing experience without the risk
- Security Deposit / Deposit Insurance
- Access to Nick (24/7)
- Basic on-board provisioning
- 45D Quick Dry Beach Towels
- Crew on-board provided
- Fuel during the week
- Marina / docking fees (including tips)
- Tourist taxes
- SUP's & Snorkel Sets
- Ice Machine
- Pre/post airport transfers
- Pre-flotilla accommodation
- Dinners on shore / Welcome Dinner
- Personal Provisioning
Mariners Way
(Janina up to 5 guests)
- Booking basis is a set package price
- Yacht charter fees & VAT
- 45D Sharpen Up Flotilla fee
- Early Check in
- Comfort pack + eco fees
- Check-in / check-out assistance
- 45D Skippers Handbook
- 45D teeshirts (2)
- Clean Box, Bed Linen, Bath Towels
- Sailing / navigation / safety equipment
- Support (Nick & 45D Team)
- Big boat sailing experience without the risk
- Security Deposit / Deposit Insurance
- Access to Nick (24/7)
- Basic on-board provisioning
- 45D Quick Dry Beach Towels
- Crew on-board provided
- Fuel during the week
- Marina / docking fees (including tips)
- Tourist taxes
- SUP's & Snorkel Sets
- Ice Machine
- Pre/post airport transfers
- Pre-flotilla accommodation
- Dinners on shore / Welcome Dinner
- Personal Provisioning
So what’s the real difference?
If Mariners Way is about becoming a confident bareboat Skipper, Admirals Passage is about learning and growing to step into the future owner experience.
On Mariners Way, you’ll have an incredible Sharpen Up week and you’re learning more about running a charter: managing the boat, managing the crew, and handling all the moving parts that come with being “in charge”.
With Admirals Passage, you step onto the lead yacht and the week becomes turnkey. The 45D team handles the logistics and the responsibility, which means you get to focus on what you’re actually here for: big-boat experience, real-world learning, and asking every question you’ve ever wanted answered.
It’s also the closest thing you can get to testing ownership properly, not just sailing a bigger yacht, but experiencing how a bigger yacht is operated well: crew coordination, systems, routines, and the small decisions that make a week feel effortless.
If you want to finish the week thinking “I can charter confidently,” choose Mariners Way.
If you want to finish the week thinking “I’m ready for a bigger boat… and I know what I’m stepping into,” choose Admirals Passage.
If you’re even tentatively on an ownership path, the easiest next step is a quick call with Nick — he’ll tell you straight whether Admirals Passage or Mariners Way is the better fit for you.
Want to Sharpen Up with 45D?!
Click HERE to fill in your details and book a call with Nick. And get ready to SHARPEN UP your way!
