Draft

Finally make your cruising dream real

Five days with real cruisers to get the clarity, confidence, and community you need.

☼ January 6 to 10, 2027 ☉ The Perry Hotel, Key West
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What the Summit is

A live gathering for cruisers in the making

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.

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.

3

Find your community

The people you meet here are chasing the same dream you are. Like-minded friends who become your community out on the water for years to come.

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
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Explore the experience

Five days you'll be talking about for years

Day by dayAgendaFive days mapped out, from the welcome mixer to the send-off. SundaySailingGet out on real cruising boats and feel the life for yourself. For familiesKids programSupervised, water-based fun so the whole family can come. FloridaKey WestIt all happens at The Perry Hotel, right on the water.

It's not a boat show

See the life, not just the boats

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. Together they've logged 100,000+ miles and built Bluewater Cruising so you don't have to learn it the hard way.

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.

1,000+
Members
100
Boats out cruising
4 to 5
Casting off each month

What last year's attendees said

Don't take our word for it

“

Loved meeting all the other members in person. Felt like a family reunion. I wish this was something we could have attended before buying a boat. There is nothing like it.

2026 Summit attendee
“

The number one thing for me was the opportunity to get our kids engaged. The content was excellent. We had a blast and are grateful to have had the chance to attend.

Travis M.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Good value, and it was very evident BWC wants to get us on the right boat at the right time. Everyone was really helpful and the conversations were great.

Joe T.
2026 Summit attendee
“

An excellent event, and we will attend next year. Our deposit has already been paid!

Kieran C.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Loved it! We walked away with a huge appreciation for this boating community that we are just getting to know. Y'all are amazing!

Allie L.
2026 Summit attendee
“

The BWC conference? Outstanding! I don't know how y'all did it. So many moving parts, and you made it look effortless. Well done!

Douglas F.
2026 Summit attendee

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.

Buy tickets
January 6 to 10, 2027 · The Perry Hotel, Key West

Agenda

Five days at The Perry Hotel, built to move you from dreaming to doing. Real sessions, time out on the water, and evenings with your people.

TimeSummit sessionsKids program ›
10:00am to 5:00pm

Guest and member arrival

Check in at the hotel lobby, pick up your welcome drink and settle in.

Check in

Kids sign in with the Be The Show crew.

Afternoon

Free time

Explore the resort and meet a few faces before the week begins.

7:00pm

Welcome mixerFamily event

On the pool lawn, open bar. Your first chance to meet the people you'll spend the week with.

TimeSummit sessionsKids program ›
8:00 to 9:00am

Freediving sessionOn the waterOptional

An early session for the first 100 guests, at Longitude.

9:00am

Welcome from the HelmFamily event

The full group together to open the day.

10:00 to 11:30am

First session

Breakout sessions across the meeting spaces.

Session 1: juggling and face paint

11:30am to 12:30pm

Second session

Breakouts continue.

Session 2: knot tying

1:00 to 3:00pm

Lunch

At the hotel.

3:00 to 4:30pm

Third session

Afternoon breakouts.

Session 3: dance party

4:30 to 6:00pm

Fourth session

Final breakouts of the day.

Session 4: boat building, boat race and pool snorkel

6:00 to 9:00pm

Pool hang out

9:00 to 11:00pm

Pool hang out

The group winding down together.

TimeSummit sessionsKids program ›
9:00 to 10:00am

Welcome from the HelmFamily event

Group together before heading out.

11:00am to 5:00pm

Boat tour day on the waterFamily dayOn the water

The whole family out at the marina and on the water all day.

12:00 to 2:00pm

Lunch buffet

At the marina.

4:00 to 5:00pm

Boat debrief

At the Casino Pavilion.

Kids YouTube Q&A

7:00 to 9:00pm

Beach dinner and s'moresFamily event

Down at Beach North, dinner on the sand with the whole group.

TimeSummit sessionsKids program ›
9:00am

Welcome from the HelmFamily event

The full group at the Casino Pavilion.

10:00 to 11:30am

First session

Breakouts across the hotel meeting spaces.

Banana split party

12:00 to 2:00pm

Lunch

At the hotel.

1:00 to 5:00pm

Paddle board races at Higgs BeachFamily dayOn the water

Conch Train shuttle over; sessions also run at the hotel for those who prefer to stay.

4:00 to 5:30pm

Third session

Final breakouts of the day.

6:00 to 7:00pm

Zatara Q&A with Keith and Renee Whitaker

On the pool lawn.

7:00 to 9:00pm

Bon Voyage Bash and AwardsFamily event

Dinner buffet and a DJ on the pool lawn and marina pool.

TimeSummit sessionsKids program ›
8:30am

Mandatory safety briefing

Everyone sailing must attend. Gather on the pool lawn.

10:00am to 3:00pm

Sunday sailingOn the water

Out on assigned boats from the marina.

Sunday sailing with the familyOn the water

3:00pm

Back at the marina

Return to dock.

4:00pm

Departure

Say your goodbyes and head home with a real plan.

General itinerary for the Bluewater Summit 2027, subject to change.

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The experience

Five days on and off the water

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.

1

Learn from real cruisers

Every session is led by people who have lived aboard and crossed oceans, not theorists.

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.

3

Find your community

The people you meet here are chasing the same dream you are. Like-minded friends who become your community out on the water for years to come.

Take a closer look

On the waterSunday sailingTake a look → For familiesKids programTake a look →
See the full agenda

From last year's Summit

“The BWC Summit should not be missed.”
Patti C. · 2026 Summit attendee
“

Loved meeting all the other members in person. Felt like a family reunion. I wish this was something we could have attended before buying a boat. There is nothing like it.

2026 Summit attendee
“

The number one thing for me was the opportunity to get our kids engaged. The content was excellent. We had a blast and are grateful to have had the chance to attend.

Travis M.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Loved it! We walked away with a huge appreciation for this boating community that we are just getting to know. Y'all are amazing!

Allie L.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Good value, and it was very evident BWC wants to get us on the right boat at the right time. Everyone was really helpful and the conversations were great.

Joe T.
2026 Summit attendee
“

An excellent event, and we will attend next year. Our deposit has already been paid!

Kieran C.
2026 Summit attendee
“

The BWC conference? Outstanding! I don't know how y'all did it. So many moving parts, and you made it look effortless. Well done!

Douglas F.
2026 Summit attendee
Out on the water

Sunday sailing

A day where we take the boats out so you can feel what cruising and sailing are really like. Get aboard with liveaboard and cruising members who are already living it, see up close what life on a boat is really like, and ask all the questions you've been wondering about.

Limited spaces
Save your spot early

Sunday sailing comes with a Summit ticket. Spaces are limited to 100 and filled first come, first served.

Good to know

  • Wear white, soft-soled shoes and bring a light layer
  • No experience needed
  • Open to guests ages 5 and up; children must bring a properly fitted life jacket
  • Children's spots are very limited
  • Safety briefing at 8:30am; boats run 10:00am to 3:00pm, back at the marina by 3:00pm
For families

Kids program

While you're in sessions, the kids are having the week of their lives. Think knot-tying and boat-building, a dance party, a snorkel lesson and a banana split bar, all run by the Be The Show crew. They'll be begging to come back next year.

Included
Comes with a child's ticket

As part of their ticket, every child joins the full kids program and all its activities.

The kids schedule, day by day

The kids program runs alongside the daytime Summit sessions all week. The full agenda shows exactly what the children are doing during each session, mapped right next to the Summit sessions.

View the agenda →
⛵

Activities

Juggling and face paint, knot tying, a dance party, boat building and a boat race, 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

Open to children ages five to sixteen. More details confirmed closer to the event.

✓

Safety and supervision

Supervised by trained staff at all times, with a sign-in at check-in. [TBD] ratios, certifications and pickup details.

Parents
Questions about the kids program?

Drop-off and pickup, meals and what to pack are all answered on our FAQ. See the kids FAQ ›

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

Chris Biasutti, Co-Founder of Bluewater Cruising
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.

Keith Whitaker, Co-Founder of Bluewater Cruising
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.

Presenters and guests

⛵

More presenters announced soon

We're lining up the rest of the lineup. Check back as we announce more cruisers and guests joining the Summit.

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Getting there

Key West, Florida

The Summit is hosted at The Perry Hotel and Marina, 7001 Shrimp Road, Key West, FL (Stock Island): easy to reach, right on the water, and warm in January.

Where to stay
Stay with us at The Perry Hotel

We all stay on-site at The Perry Hotel and Marina. Book your room directly with the hotel to be right where everything happens. [TBD] booking link.

Book your room
✈

By air

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.

The Perry Hotel and Marina

The Perry Hotel and Marina, Key West
Photo coming
Photo coming
Photo coming

More hotel photos coming soon.

Pricing

Book early, pay less.

Your Summit pass covers the whole experience. Sunday sailing spots are limited and filled first come, first served.

What's included
Summit pass
$2,200$2,000

per person · early-bird price

  • Welcome mixer
  • Full session pass
  • Daily lunch
  • Paddleboard race and other water activities
  • Bon Voyage dinner
  • Sunday sailing (limited spaces)
Bluewater Cruising members save. Your discount codes are in your email.
Buy tickets

Pricing windows

Early birdAvailable now · through Sep 30 · lowest price
$2,000
StandardOpens October
$2,200
Final releaseJanuary to the event
$2,400

Kids pricing

Per childAges 5 to 16 · includes the full kids program and activities · $524
Infants & toddlersAges 0 to 4 · free

Worth every mile

“The wealth of knowledge we received on this trip was priceless.”
Justin F. · 2026 Summit attendee
“

Good value, and it was very evident BWC wants to get us on the right boat at the right time. Everyone was really helpful and the conversations were great.

Joe T.
2026 Summit attendee
“

An excellent event, and we will attend next year. Our deposit has already been paid!

Kieran C.
2026 Summit attendee
“

The BWC conference? Outstanding! I don't know how y'all did it. So many moving parts, and you made it look effortless. Well done!

Douglas F.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Loved meeting all the other members in person. Felt like a family reunion. I wish this was something we could have attended before buying a boat. There is nothing like it.

2026 Summit attendee
“

The number one thing for me was the opportunity to get our kids engaged. The content was excellent. We had a blast and are grateful to have had the chance to attend.

Travis M.
2026 Summit attendee
“

Loved it! We walked away with a huge appreciation for this boating community that we are just getting to know. Y'all are amazing!

Allie L.
2026 Summit attendee
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?

Get in touch
Buy tickets

See our refund and cancellation terms, or the FAQ if you have questions before you buy.

January 6 to 10, 2027 · Key West

Buy tickets

Choose your tickets, add your group, and check out. Spots are limited.

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
1
Child ticket$524 each · ages 5 to 16
0
Infant/toddler ticketFree · ages 0 to 4
0

If you'd like to join Sunday sailing, add it when you register your guests after checkout. Spaces are limited and first come, first served.

Order summary

Total$4,000

Continue to secure checkout

You'll pay securely by Stripe, then add each guest's name, dietary details and waiver.

Refund policy

  • 60 or more days before the Summit: full refund, less a 20% admin fee (you receive 80%)
  • 31 to 59 days before: 50% refund
  • 30 days or fewer before: non-refundable

Tickets are transferable to someone else up to 30 days before. See the full terms and cancellations.

Good to know

Know before you go

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 Sunday sailing. 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 31 to 59 days before for a 50% refund, and 30 days or fewer before 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 program

What ages does the kids program cover?
The kids program is open to children ages five to sixteen and runs alongside the daytime sessions. More details will be confirmed closer to the event.
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.

On the water

Do I need sailing experience for Sunday sailing?
No experience needed, all levels welcome. There is a mandatory safety briefing that morning that everyone sailing must attend, and Sunday sailing is open to guests ages five and up.
Still have a question? Contact us at support@bluewatercruising.com and we will help.
Ready to set sail? Buy tickets
Get in touch

Contact us

Questions about the Summit, tickets, or Bluewater Cruising? Send us a note and we'll get back to you.

Prefer email? Reach us any time at support@bluewatercruising.com.