USVI-On-Line

RickG wrote:I hope to do the keel boat cert in the Chesapeake in the summer and do the bareboat charter training in Spring 2009. I'm afraid to try and do both at the same time. We have a couple of places to do small boat sailing in the Potomac that are convenient.

Don took 3 courses a few years ago that got him bareboat certified; he started with the Beginners course (4 weekends); then the next class which was another 4 weekends - then a Cruising class that was a weekend overnighter (2 nights). He started in Mid-May; and the cruising was mid-September. It's doable, but a commitment for a good chunk of the summer - but then boating in general is a full-time hobby.

Hi everyone, We did our sailing school through Fair Wind Sailing School out of St. Thomas. Our course books were sent to us well in advance of our sailing week. Included with the course books was a sailing log book which contained the offical internationally recognized certification(s) issued by the american sailing assocation. Most of the material on the tests are covered in this log book. Yes, it is most definitely a good idea to read the course books provided, but the log book could be considered the "cliff notes" for the tests. I can't tell you how many times I fell asleep while trying to study. With no knowledge of sailing, the material was greek to me until I actually got there and started putting the vocabulary terms to use and learning the parts of the boat. For example, port means left, starboard means right, (go figure??) and there are just all these sailing terms to be learned. The week included testing and certification of the following: Basic keelboat sailing 101, basic coastal cruising 103, bareboat chartering 104 & cruisng catamaran sailing 114. I passed 101 & 103 and declined the test for 104 which concentrated on the mechanics of the boat (I barely know how to add oil to my car) and navigation (again, not one of my strong points) and could not take 114 without having passed 104. However, had I had really felt the need to, I am confident that I could have taken and passed these last two tests. My husband passed all 4 and this is certainly the goal of the sailing school and the captain/instructor. Yes, I do believe that the conditions played somewhat of a factor in our limited free time. However, there is a lot of material to cover so when you're not sailing, you spend time with your captain reviewing for the test and then studying some more and then taking the test. Even more important is the hands-on actual sailing. This includes anchoring, tying to a mooring ball, alternating captains for the day, coordinating the navigational course, man-over-board and other sailing drills, etc. The contact person is Captain Dave and he assigned Captain Clyde to our catamaran for the week. Clyde is an excellent and patient instructor and sets a high standard for his students. I would totally recommend the Fair Winds. Don't be concerned about the lack of free time, you are there to get certified and do not think of the week as a vacation; it's demanding and exhausting but also invigorating and you walk away with a real sense of accomplishment. You learn respect for the seas, admiration for accomplished sailors and being the captain is a huge responsibility. In addition to the sailing and academic requirements, we also alternated the cooking and clean-up throughout the week. Just being aboard the boat for the week gives you a perspective on living aboard a boat, the limited space in the sleeping quarters and then the bathroom thing is a whole nother thing in itself. We were told to try and conserve the water on board. Okay, I admit it, I only washed my hair twice during the week. To all husbands, I definitely recommend bringing your wife along. My main reason for going was to learn whatever I could in the unfortunate event something should happen to my husband during a sailing trip together. I do not want to feel helpless out there in the open seas. Whatever they learn is more than they knew before they took the course and can only prove to be advantageous, even if it means just figuring out how to get the motors started and steer the boat. I wouldn't have missed this experience for anything! Ali~

Alright the reason for Port and Starboard. And how to remember them.

Early sailing vessells had a rudder system that hung over the side, this was called stearboard side. When boats came into port they had to tie up on the side without the rudder to keep from damaging the rudder. Stearboard eventually became starboard. They are still used because if someone said right or left it could mean completely different things depending on the direction you are facing.

How to remember them port and left both have four letters if you are at the helm facing forward port is on your left.
Jay

Interesting report and thanks for sharing. My grandparents were sailors and I have fond memories of the boats. Once in a while I get the idea in my head that a it would be fun to get back on a sail boat for vacation.....

Sounds really thorough Ali........thanks for the info about the way to learn port and starboard capt jay.....

captainjay wrote:Rick and or anyone else interested. The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is basically the textbook for alot of Sailing Courses. Also Chapmans Piloting & Seamanship is the bible for boating and the book used for most captains courses.

Jay

Thanks for the tip!

Ali, it sounds like my kind of fun. The crammed week is one reason I want to do the basic keel boat part first. That, and Christine will kill me if we do a full week type-A vacation, unless it involved visiting 8 breweries a day in the Czech Republic!

Cheers, RickG

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b-as-u-r gave an excellent comment about wanting to know how to handle things aboard. It is very important for spouses to at least know how to handle the boat in the event of an emergency. None of that thinking 'oh nothing will ever happen to me'. Plus it makes boating more fun!

b-as-u-r, I am glad you chose Fair Winds. Capt Dave runs a great school from what I know.

Rick G. You are wise to do 101 first. It allows you to absorb the knowledge a little more easily. b-as-u-r should be very proud for completing all that you did! Congrats! And I fell in love with place in Maho Bay just like you have. Went snorkeling there yesterday. Welcome to the boating community.
Merry Christmas from Capt Jack!