Sailing Lessons

[Joseph Washburn]

My wife and I bought our first boat just over 9 years ago. Last year we bought our current Catalina 22. Since buying our first boat we have sailed in lakes, the ICW, harbors and in the ocean. The standard proceedure is that I take care of the sailing while she takes of the kids. Recently I have been thinking about taking some sailing lessons. In the back of my mind I would like for us to do some local chartering, maybe even someday going to Maryland. Here is my question. Which would be better, an ASA Certified sailing school, working through Bareboat certification or private lessons. I have contacted a local sailing school and have been reviewing their course outlines which are ASA classes. I have also talked to a gentleman who teaches sailing. While he is ASA certified he is not currently affiliated with a school and so is not able to offer certification. There are several advantages to this approach. He is much cheaper. We would begin on our boat then move up to larger boats that he has access to. He is willing to work with both me and my wife, provided she is interested. He would do this on an individual basis at first then move to working with us together. These lessons would generally follow ASA guidelines would be better designed to meet our particular needs. I am struggling with whether or not I want/need ASA certification. I would like to charter one day but this is no guarentee. I think I would also like a larger boat one day. This gentleman seems to be well known in an area very near to hear and with a chater company that I have talked to in the past. Any thoughts or suggestions you have would be welcome!Joseph Washburn"Disciple Ship"C-22 #14408

 

[Bayard Gross]

Socrates

One must remember that while Socrates handed out degrees, he had none himself.Yet, he did hand out degrees.As I feel that truth lies between two extremes, perhaps your best course is to use a combination of ASA certified courses and the “ancient mariner”. That is, courses such as navigation, emergency sea repairs, radio use, etc. may be best achieved through some ASA certified organization. However, sail trim, choosing the best tack for various winds, heaving too, etc., may be best taught by your kindly gentleman.

 

[Joe]

Call a few charter companies....

... and ask them specifically what their bareboat charter requirements are.Most charter companies require new skippers to qualify through their staff anyway. I like the idea of the private instructor. I know people who have taken classes and still don't know diddly-squat.

 

[Dan]

Log your time

For Coast Guard certification, you need to keep a log. It's not a bad idea in any case. Have the instructor, whoever it may be, sign off on it.

 

[RonD]

Experience factor

Joe's advice was sound. I chartered here in New England but never did the "ASA" route, just a local sailing school.The charter guys always asked about courses & experience in their applications. They never demanded a check ride, though they always expressed that option. I had taken the basic sailing & advanced cruising local hand's-on course (20 hrs each on a 30 foot boat). I also had taken the USCG Auxiliary seamanship and basic coastal navigation courses. And, I had two or more years of rental experience in 24 foot boats.One tactic I've used is that the minute we shook hands at the dock office and headed for the boat, I insisted on reviewing the innards first -- through-hulls, engine, steering, plumbing, rigging, fire extinguishers, safety signal devices, PFDs, ground tackle, etc. before ever mentioning the niceties (galley, bunks, etc.) My theory was if you approached these people like a pro, they treated you like one from the start. Seemed to work, as one charter actually complimented me on the seamanlike approach being a "refreshing difference" that immediately eased his mind about me. Try it.--RonD