The Bluewater Summit is for people who feel the pull of this life and are in research and planning mode. Five days to see what cruising really looks like up close, get honest answers from people who actually live it, and leave with a clear next step and a community behind you.
1
Learn from real cruisers
Every session is led by people who have lived aboard and crossed oceans, not theorists. Ask the real questions and get the honest answers you have not found in the forums or at the boat shows.
2
Get on the water
On the water activities throughout the week, plus a full day of Sunday sailing on real boats with experienced crew. Time on deck to get a real feel for the cruising life.
3
Find your community
Mixers, shared meals and a family-friendly kids program. The people you meet here become the community you cruise alongside for years.
Who the Summit is for
For cruisers in the making
People who want to go cruising and are ready to learn what the life is really like.
You're researching cruising through YouTube and forums
You've done the boat shows but never seen real liveaboard cruising
You want to understand what the cruising life is actually like
You want the real steps to get out cruising, with clarity, confidence and direction
You've done the boat shows where everything is new and polished. The Summit shows you the real thing: lived-aboard boats, the people actually cruising them, and honest answers you won't get on a sales floor.
A boat show
Brand-new boats, staged and polished
Salespeople and a sales floor
You walk the docks and look
You leave with brochures
The Bluewater Summit
Real lived-aboard boats and the people cruising them
Cruisers with nothing to sell you, just honest answers
You get on the water and actually sail
You leave with a plan, a next step, and your people
Real cruisers, real miles
Built by people who have done it
Your hosts learned this life by living it. Chris Biasutti bought his first boat with zero experience and crossed oceans to figure it out. Keith Whitaker of Sailing Zatara sold everything in 60 days, took one sailing lesson, and sailed around the world with his wife and four kids. Together they've logged 100,000+ miles and built Bluewater Cruising so you don't have to learn it the hard way.
1,000+
Members
100
Boats out cruising
4 to 5
Casting off each month
The cruising lifestyle is absolutely doable with the right plan and the right people.
Spots are limited by the size of the venue and the boats. Reserve yours before they go.
Not a sit-and-listen conference. Five days of real sessions, a full day out on the water, and evenings with the people who'll become your crew, plus a kids program so the whole family can come.
Video: cruiser testimonials
Placeholder: same testimonial video as the home page.
1
Learn from real cruisers
Every session is led by people who have lived aboard and crossed oceans, not theorists. Ask the real questions and get the honest answers you have not found in the forums or at the boat shows.
2
Get on the water
On the water activities throughout the week, plus a full day of Sunday sailing on real boats with experienced crew. Time on deck to get a real feel for the cruising life.
3
Find your community
Mixers, shared meals and a family-friendly kids program. The people you meet here become the community you cruise alongside for years.
Want to feel what cruising is really like? Sailing Sunday is your day on the water. Get out on real liveaboard boats with experienced crew and see up close the life you've been dreaming about.
Included with your ticket
No extra charge
Sailing Sunday is included with your Summit ticket. Boat spots are limited, so they're filled first come, first served. You'll claim your place when you complete your guest details after checkout.
What is included
A spot on an assigned boat for the day
Experienced skipper and crew aboard
Time at the helm if you want it
Safety briefing before you leave the dock
[TBD] food and drinks aboard
Good to know
Wear white, soft-soled shoes and bring a light layer
Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
No experience needed, all levels welcome
Boats run 10:00am to 3:00pm, back at the marina by 3:00pm
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For families
Kids program
Bring the whole family. While the sessions run, kids have their own program of supervised activities built around the water, so parents can be fully present and children have the time of their lives.
Included
Comes with a child's ticket
The full kids program and every activity is included with each child's ticket. It's not a separate add-on.
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Activities
Juggling and face paint, knot tying, a dance party, a pool snorkel lesson, a banana split party, a kids YouTube Q&A, paddle board races and beach s'mores. Run by the Be The Show crew.
☻
Ages and groups
Grouped by age so every child is with the right peers. [TBD] confirmed age ranges and group sizes.
✓
Safety and supervision
Supervised by trained staff at all times, with a sign-in at check-in. [TBD] ratios, certifications and pickup details.
The kids schedule, day by day
Wednesday · Jan 6
10:00am to 5:00pm
Check in
Kids sign in with the Be The Show crew when your family arrives.
7:00pm
Welcome mixerFamily event
On the pool lawn with everyone.
Thursday · Jan 7
10:00 to 11:00am
Session 1: juggling and face paint
11:30am to 12:30pm
Session 2: knot tying
Afternoon
Session 3: dance party
Afternoon
Session 4: pool snorkel lesson
6:00 to 9:00pm
Pool hang out
Friday · Jan 8Family day
11:00am to 5:00pm
Boat tour day on the waterOn the water
The whole family out at the marina.
4:00 to 5:00pm
Kids YouTube Q&A
7:00 to 9:00pm
Beach dinner and s'mores
Down at Beach North.
Saturday · Jan 9Family day
10:00 to 11:30am
Kids session: banana split party
2:00 to 3:30pm
Paddle board racesOn the water
7:00 to 9:00pm
Bon Voyage Bash and AwardsFamily event
Sunday · Jan 10
10:00am to 3:00pm
Sailing Sunday with the familyOn the water
Out on the boats together to close the week.
Kids schedule from the Perry Hotel plan, subject to change. Some session times will be confirmed closer to the event.
Parent questions
Where do I drop off and pick up my kids?
[TBD] drop-off location and times will be confirmed closer to the event.
Are meals included for kids?
[TBD] meal details for the kids program.
What should my child pack each day?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and closed shoes. [TBD] full packing list.
Speakers and hosts
Who you will learn from
Real cruisers with real miles behind them. Your hosts are the founders of Bluewater Cruising, with more presenters announced as the agenda comes together.
Your hosts
Led by the founders of Bluewater Cruising
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Founder & host
Chris Biasutti
Captain & Co-Founder, Bluewater Cruising
More than a decade living aboard, and the founder who has helped hundreds of cruisers get on the water with a real plan.
Founder & host
Keith Whitaker
Captain & Co-Founder · Sailing Zatara
Sailed the world with his family and built one of the most-followed cruising channels on the water, with 100,000+ miles behind him.
Fly into Key West International (EYW), about [TBD] minutes from the venue. Miami and Fort Lauderdale are options for connecting drives.
☼
Weather and packing
January in Key West is mild and sunny. Bring layers for the water, sun protection and comfortable shoes.
Pricing
Book early, pay less.
Your Summit pass covers the whole experience, including Sailing Sunday. Boat spots are limited and filled first come, first served, so when it's full, it's full.
What's included
Summit pass
$[TBD]
per person · price to be confirmed · includes service, gratuities and tax (25%)
All five days at The Perry Hotel
Every session, Thursday to Saturday
Welcome mixer and Bon Voyage Bash
Daily lunches and all group activities
Bluewater members save. Your code's in your email. Apply it at checkout.
Early birdAvailable now · through Sep 30 · lowest price
$[TBD]
StandardOpens October
$[TBD]
Final releaseJanuary to the event
$[TBD]
Kids pricing
Per childIncludes the full kids program and activities · $[TBD]
Included
✓
Sailing SundayIncluded with your ticket · spots limited, first come first served
Not a member yet?
See what Bluewater Cruising is
We're the education and community that turns “someday” into a departure date. Founded by full-time cruisers, now 1,000+ members with 100+ boats launched and out there cruising. Thinking about joining, or want to know more about our programs?
All prices include service, gratuities and tax (25%), broken out at checkout. Prices provisional, pending final confirmation [TBD]. See our refund and cancellation terms. Questions before you buy? See the FAQ.
January 6 to 10, 2027 · Key West
Buy tickets
Choose your tickets, add your group, and check out. Spots are limited.
1 · Tickets
2 · Payment
3 · Guest details
Early-bird pricingLock in the lowest rate before [date].
Early bird · ends [date]
Bluewater member?
Enter your member code to apply your discount.
Your tickets
Adult ticket$2,000 each
2
Child ticket$524 each
0
Sunday sailing adventureIncluded · adults only · spots limited, first come first served
Included
You'll claim Sunday sailing spots when you add your guest details. Limited boats, first come first served.
Payment received! Now the quick part: add your guests below and you're all set for Key West.
Demo: in production, payment redirects to this branded thank-you page, which embeds the guest-details form (Jotform). Waiver wording is a placeholder pending legal.
Your spot at The Bluewater Summit is confirmed and your guest details are saved. See you in Key West, January 6 to 10, 2027.
One last thing
Book your room at The Perry Hotel
We all stay on-site at The Perry Hotel and Marina, right where everything happens. Book your room directly with the hotel to lock in your stay. [TBD] Summit room rate and booking link.
A confirmation email with your booking link is on its way too.
Demo: in production the Jotform redirects to this branded page after guest details are submitted.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
About the Summit
How is this different from a boat show?
A boat show is brand-new boats, polished displays and salespeople. The Summit is the opposite: real lived-aboard boats and the people actually cruising them, honest answers from cruisers with nothing to sell you, a full day on the water actually sailing, and a community behind you. You leave a boat show with brochures. You leave the Summit ready to go.
Tickets and pricing
What is included in my ticket?
Your Summit pass covers all sessions, the welcome mixer, the Bon Voyage Bash, daily lunches and Sailing Sunday. Sailing spots are limited and filled first come, first served, so you'll claim yours when you complete your guest details. A child's ticket includes the full kids program. [TBD] final prices.
What is your refund policy?
You're covered by our cancellation schedule. Cancel 60 or more days before the Summit for a full refund less a 20% administration fee, cancel 30 to 59 days before for a 50% refund, and within 30 days of the event tickets are non-refundable. You can also transfer your ticket to someone else. See the full Terms and cancellations for the details.
Getting there and lodging
What is the closest airport?
Key West International (EYW) is the closest. [TBD] distance and transfer options.
Is there a hotel room block?
A room block at the host hotel is being arranged. [TBD] booking link and Summit rate.
Kids and families · the boat
What ages does the kids program cover?
[TBD] confirmed age ranges and group sizes. The program runs alongside the sessions.
Do I need sailing experience for Sailing Sunday?
No experience needed. Every boat has an experienced skipper and crew, and there is a safety briefing before you leave the dock.
Still have a question? Contact us at [TBD email] and we will help.
The fine print
Terms and cancellations
Cancellations and refunds
Plans change, and we understand that. If you need to cancel your registration, the refund you receive depends on how far ahead of the Summit you let us know. Send cancellation requests in writing to [TBD email]. Your refund is based on the date we receive your request, measured against the first day of the Summit (January 6, 2027).
60 or more days beforeFull refund, less a 20% administration fee (you receive 80% of what you paid)
30 to 59 days before50% refund of the total ticket price
Fewer than 30 days beforeNon-refundable
Refunds are calculated on the full amount you paid, including the service, gratuities and tax (25%) built into every ticket price. The kids program is included in each child's ticket and follows the same schedule.
Sailing adventure spaces
The Sunday sailing adventure has limited spaces, with even fewer spots for children than adults, set by how many each boat can safely carry. Spaces are first come, first served, so add it to your tickets early to secure a place.
Transfers and name changes
Can't make it but know someone who can? You may transfer your registration to another person at no charge up to [TBD] days before the Summit. Email [TBD email] with the new attendee's details and we will take care of the rest.
If we have to cancel or reschedule
In the rare event Bluewater Cruising cancels the Summit, you will receive a full refund of your ticket. If we reschedule, your ticket carries over to the new dates, and you may request a full refund if the new dates do not work for you. We are not responsible for travel or lodging costs, so we recommend booking refundable flights and rooms where you can.
Questions before you book? Email us at [TBD email] and we will help you sort it out.
