More than just a week at sea, this is a fully immersive recovery experience designed to strengthen your sobriety and provide lasting mental clarity. Your registration includes:

• The Author-Led Navigation Recovery Program: 5 days of intensive recovery workshops and group sessions led personally by Matthew Ellis, LADC.

• Navigating Recovery Sober Sails Logbook: A physical copy of our proprietary curriculum, designed to be your roadmap for life during and after the retreat.

• Intimate Group Coaching: Personalized support with a small, 6-person groups, allowing for deep dives into your specific recovery goals.

• Luxury Catamaran or Monohull Accommodations: A private or semi-private cabin on a premium 40-45ft sailing yacht.

• A Culinary Experience: All meals and snacks prepared aboard, featuring a high-end, fresh-ingredients and mocktails.

• Curated Adventure & Mindfulness: Guided snorkeling at world-class reefs, island hiking, exploring sea caves, sunset mindfulness sessions, and entrance fees to iconic National Parks.

• The Sober Sails Welcome Kit: Includes a custom UPF +50 Sun Hoodie, a Sober Sails quick-dry beach towel, your copy of Navigating Recovery, and a Sober Sails enamel completion coin.

• All-Inclusive Peace of Mind: All island taxes, mooring fees, and ferry-to-boat transfers are fully covered.

To ensure a smooth and comfortable experience on the water, we recommend the following Sober Sails essentials:

1. Travel Documents

• Valid Passport: Required for all trips abroad. Ensure it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.

• Medical Documents: If you plan to use HSA/FSA funds, bring a copy of your Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) for your records.

• Travel Insurance: We highly recommend a policy that covers trip cancellation and "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) for maximum flexibility.

2. The "Boat Life" Wardrobe

• Soft-Sided Luggage: Storage on a sailboat is compact. Please use a duffel bag or backpack; hard-shell suitcases are not allowed as they cannot be stowed and can damage the boat's interior.

• Sun Protection: 2–3 swimsuits, a wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap, and polarized sunglasses (with a floating strap recommended).

• Performance Layers: Lightweight, quick-dry t-shirts and at least one long-sleeve UPF sun shirt or rash guard.

• Evening Layers: A light sweater, fleece, or windbreaker/jacket. The Apostle Islands, and even in the Caribbean, the wind chill on deck at night can be surprising.

3. Footwear

• On-Deck: We follow a "barefoot boat" rule for safety and cleanliness. However, if you prefer shoes, bring clean, non-marking deck shoes used only on the boat.

• Ashore: Sturdy water shoes or sport sandals (like Keens or Tevas) for island exploration and rocky shorelines.

4. Personal Essentials

• Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Standard sunscreens are banned in the USVI and BVI to protect the coral. Look for non-nano zinc oxide formulas. (Sunscreen is also provided)

• Refillable Water Bottle: An insulated bottle (like a Yeti or HydroFlask) to stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste.

• Dry Bag: A small (5L–10L) waterproof bag for your phone and essentials during dinghy rides to shore. (A group dry-bag will be provided if you do not have your own)

• Personal Medications: A 7-10-day supply of any prescriptions, plus your preferred motion sickness remedy (Dramamine, ginger chews, or acupressure bands). Motion sickness patches are very reliable and are available upon request.

• A PDF Packing Checklist will be provided once the charter is booked.

Regardless of our destination—whether we are sailing the breathtaking landscapes of the Apostle Islands, crystal waters of the USVI, the southern most Florida Keys, or the secluded cays of the Exumas—our retreats follow a consistent, 3-stage transformation process based on the Navigating Recovery curriculum.

1. The Launch (Pre-Retreat Integration) Your journey begins before you ever leave the dock. Once registered, you’ll receive a private 1-on-1 intake call with Matt. This ensures your goals are identified and you are mentally prepared for the immersion ahead.

2. The Immersion (On the Water) Each day on the boat is a balance of structured recovery work and the healing power of nature. We move with the winds, but our focus remains steady:

• Mornings: Sunrise mindfulness and intensive Navigating Recovery workshops on board.

• Afternoons: "Active Recovery"—we practice being present through hands-on sailing, snorkeling, and exploring local islands.

• Evenings: Sunset reflections and recovery-based games aboard.

3. The Anchor (Post-Retreat Support) True recovery is about what happens when you return to land. You’ll leave the boat with a personalized "After-Action Plan" and a scheduled 30-day follow-up session with Matt to ensure your breakthroughs at sea translate into lasting change at home.

Absolutely not! In fact sailing rookies make the best companions on a recovery charter. You will learn the basics and pick up a new skill while cruising for the week.

Yes, in many cases. Because Substance Use Disorders are recognized by the IRS as treatable diseases, expenses for our recovery-focused program are often eligible for reimbursement.

• The Key Requirement: You will typically need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your doctor or licensed healthcare provider. This letter should state that the retreat is a necessary part of your treatment or relapse prevention plan.

• What we provide: At the end of your retreat, we provide an itemized receipt (Superbill) that separates the Program & Educational Fees from the non-reimbursable portions of the trip.

• Pro-Tip: Check with your plan administrator first, as some plans have specific rules about "residential" programs.

Yes! Many modern employers provide an LSA specifically for wellness, personal development, and mental health.

• Flexibility: Unlike HSAs, LSAs are much more flexible and often cover "Non-medical counseling," "Life coaching," and "Wellness retreats" without requiring a medical diagnosis.

• How to pay: Most guests pay for the retreat with a standard credit card and submit our detailed "Recovery Workshop" receipt to their employer for 100% reimbursement.

To maximize your chances of approval, your final receipt will include:

• Professional Credentials: Program led by a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC).

• Curriculum Details: Documentation of the evidence-based recovery program sessions.

• Provider NPI: Our official National Provider Identifier for healthcare administrators.

• Lodging Breakdown: We explicitly list the IRS-compliant medical lodging rates.