I just completed my first season sailing and I've been bitten by the bug. My training in the mechanics of sailing came through a local club and I read everything about sailing that I encounter. I would like to improve my abilities and ultimately bareboat charter. There appears to be primarily two different training programs. One is under the guise of the ASA and the other is US Sailing. I'd like to hear opinions on which is the most practical, most well respected and typically has better instructors.
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Lighthouse Landing KY
Len, I went to Lighthouse Landing on Kentucky Lake about 3 years ago. They have an ASA program -- I loved it. Class size was limited to 4 the instructor was really easy going with a lot of on the water time. He made sailing seem so easy. Plus for me it was close (I am near St Louis, MO, and it is only a 3-4 hour trip down there). You will get a lot of different views about schools but I thought it was worthwhile.
Len, I went to Lighthouse Landing on Kentucky Lake about 3 years ago. They have an ASA program -- I loved it. Class size was limited to 4 the instructor was really easy going with a lot of on the water time. He made sailing seem so easy. Plus for me it was close (I am near St Louis, MO, and it is only a 3-4 hour trip down there). You will get a lot of different views about schools but I thought it was worthwhile.
ASA .vs. US Sailing
Len, IMHO, I dont think that it matters much whether a sailing school belongs to ASA or US Sailing. The texts and instructors may be different but the course material should be about the same. Be happy if there is a school affilliated with one of these groups in your area.
Len, IMHO, I dont think that it matters much whether a sailing school belongs to ASA or US Sailing. The texts and instructors may be different but the course material should be about the same. Be happy if there is a school affilliated with one of these groups in your area.
The two programs do not recognize each other
I have done courses with each. A problem is that a certificate from ASA is not recognized by US Saling, and vica versa. So if you want to take a US Sailing course that requires you to have completed Basic Keelboat or Basic Cruising, and you did it with an ASA school, you may have to re-take the written test to qualify for the course. This is really stupid and abusive to the sailing community; it is nothing more than each side setting up fences to protect their turf. Other than that, each experience was great and I think taking a course is both a bood education and a good holiday for us cold weather types. I did one in Key West and one in Ft. Lauderdale. Tough life.
I have done courses with each. A problem is that a certificate from ASA is not recognized by US Saling, and vica versa. So if you want to take a US Sailing course that requires you to have completed Basic Keelboat or Basic Cruising, and you did it with an ASA school, you may have to re-take the written test to qualify for the course. This is really stupid and abusive to the sailing community; it is nothing more than each side setting up fences to protect their turf. Other than that, each experience was great and I think taking a course is both a bood education and a good holiday for us cold weather types. I did one in Key West and one in Ft. Lauderdale. Tough life.
Doesn't matter
Go to the JWorld site and take a week of 24s sailing in Key West. It's fabulous training and a great vacation as well. I've been twice.
Go to the JWorld site and take a week of 24s sailing in Key West. It's fabulous training and a great vacation as well. I've been twice.
Good Schools
Len, Both ASA and US Sailing have good programs and provide certificates as proof of your abilities. That is a big help when you go somewhere to 'bareboat' charter. I would encourage you to take the classes and to even attend classes somewhere away from home. Jworld in the Keys is a great idea. Also, Baysail here on northern Chesapeake Bay is a good option...there's a ton of places to go. Anyway, make your sailing school experience a vacation too. You'll get to cruise around in a new area with folks who have a LOT of local knowledge. Then you can go back later and charter there. It's kind of a 'two-for-one" thing
Capn Steve
Len, Both ASA and US Sailing have good programs and provide certificates as proof of your abilities. That is a big help when you go somewhere to 'bareboat' charter. I would encourage you to take the classes and to even attend classes somewhere away from home. Jworld in the Keys is a great idea. Also, Baysail here on northern Chesapeake Bay is a good option...there's a ton of places to go. Anyway, make your sailing school experience a vacation too. You'll get to cruise around in a new area with folks who have a LOT of local knowledge. Then you can go back later and charter there. It's kind of a 'two-for-one" thing
Capn Steve
On the Boat
Check both schools to see which offers the highest ratio of on the boat vs. classroom time. The classroom time is important, but nothing can top the learning you will get while sailing with a good instructor. Might also check which boats the schools use. Pick one with boats most similar to yours. Having said that, I believe they are both very good.
Check both schools to see which offers the highest ratio of on the boat vs. classroom time. The classroom time is important, but nothing can top the learning you will get while sailing with a good instructor. Might also check which boats the schools use. Pick one with boats most similar to yours. Having said that, I believe they are both very good.
Blue Water Sailing School
They're located in Ft. Lauderdale, and will put you on a boat with several other people and take you out to the Keys for a week. You stay on the boat for the entire trip. If cruising is your goal, this is a good way to get experience with anchoring, docking, navigating, boat systems, etc. They also have more advanced offshore trips. Kind of expensive, but then you don't have to pay for hotels. Also, you're not responsible for filling up the boat - just your spot. As far as bareboating goes, if you show up with reasonable experience, cash deposit for the "deductable", and a credit card -- you'll be sailing.
They're located in Ft. Lauderdale, and will put you on a boat with several other people and take you out to the Keys for a week. You stay on the boat for the entire trip. If cruising is your goal, this is a good way to get experience with anchoring, docking, navigating, boat systems, etc. They also have more advanced offshore trips. Kind of expensive, but then you don't have to pay for hotels. Also, you're not responsible for filling up the boat - just your spot. As far as bareboating goes, if you show up with reasonable experience, cash deposit for the "deductable", and a credit card -- you'll be sailing.
Lake Superior in the summer
I took an ASA and a US sailing basic keel boat class. I thought they were both great. I went on vacation to Florida and took two more classes from the ASA. They were basic coastal cruising and bareboat chartering (I think that is what they were called). I thought they were both worth the time. I notice your are from Moline Illinois. Up in Bayfield Wisconsin on Lake Superior in the summer you can take these courses over a week or so as a vacation. There is a school that is probably very good called the Northern Breezes Sailing School. I have been to Bayfield and loved it and I talked to the owner of Norther Breezes at the Chicago Strictly Sails show. He seemed fist rate.
I took an ASA and a US sailing basic keel boat class. I thought they were both great. I went on vacation to Florida and took two more classes from the ASA. They were basic coastal cruising and bareboat chartering (I think that is what they were called). I thought they were both worth the time. I notice your are from Moline Illinois. Up in Bayfield Wisconsin on Lake Superior in the summer you can take these courses over a week or so as a vacation. There is a school that is probably very good called the Northern Breezes Sailing School. I have been to Bayfield and loved it and I talked to the owner of Norther Breezes at the Chicago Strictly Sails show. He seemed fist rate.
J-World
J-World will push your limits. By the 3rd day (5 day course) you will be tired but ready for more. There is none better if you are really serious about learning to sail. Annapolis has a great school/instructors and really great places to stay and drink beer. Good luck!
J-World will push your limits. By the 3rd day (5 day course) you will be tired but ready for more. There is none better if you are really serious about learning to sail. Annapolis has a great school/instructors and really great places to stay and drink beer. Good luck!
We Took the ASA Keelboat Course
And we really got a lot out of the experience. We spent two days in the course and it was exactly what we needed. The first day we spent 4 hours in the classroom and about 5 on the water. The second it was more like 6 on the water and 2 in the classroom. While we are far from being expert sailors now, we are comfortable on our boat and know that it is now up to us to practice what we have learned. We took to course last fall (October 2005) and then bought our C-25 in March of this year. I wouldn't hesitate to do it the same way again if I was starting out.
And we really got a lot out of the experience. We spent two days in the course and it was exactly what we needed. The first day we spent 4 hours in the classroom and about 5 on the water. The second it was more like 6 on the water and 2 in the classroom. While we are far from being expert sailors now, we are comfortable on our boat and know that it is now up to us to practice what we have learned. We took to course last fall (October 2005) and then bought our C-25 in March of this year. I wouldn't hesitate to do it the same way again if I was starting out.
ASA -- Bay Breeze, Traverse City, MI
We took Basic Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising ASA 101/103 in 2002 and Bareboat Chartering and Coastal Navigation ASA 104/105 in 2003 with Bay Breeze. http://www.bbyc.com/ See our story at: http://home.att.net/~beneteau331owners/ Scroll over the "Sailing Adventures" then select "Traverse Bay." Their instructors were great. The cost for the training was only about $150 per day more than just the bareboat fee. The ASA certification allowed us to bareboat with Sun Sail a Beneteau 393 in BVI last summer.
We took Basic Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising ASA 101/103 in 2002 and Bareboat Chartering and Coastal Navigation ASA 104/105 in 2003 with Bay Breeze. http://www.bbyc.com/ See our story at: http://home.att.net/~beneteau331owners/ Scroll over the "Sailing Adventures" then select "Traverse Bay." Their instructors were great. The cost for the training was only about $150 per day more than just the bareboat fee. The ASA certification allowed us to bareboat with Sun Sail a Beneteau 393 in BVI last summer.
ASA Training
I've taken several ASA courses at Bay Breeze in Traverse City, MI and found the instruction and materials excellent. You can just mess around on your own and learn as you go, but you'll be safer and more competent taking professional sailing instruction.
I've taken several ASA courses at Bay Breeze in Traverse City, MI and found the instruction and materials excellent. You can just mess around on your own and learn as you go, but you'll be safer and more competent taking professional sailing instruction.
Neither ASA or US Sailing
There is another alternative, and that is to take sailing lessons from a sailing school that does neither ASA or US sailing. Like Windsong Sailing School in the Tampa Bay area. Classroom time is ZERO - it's all on one of their 30' boats. You DON'T share with anyone else, the rates they charge ($475 for each 1 day long course) are for the instructor and the boat and you can bring 3 people with you for free or just go on your own. IT's a unique concept. They cover everything ASA does, but from the point of view of a 30+ foot sailboat only - there is no learning on smaller boats, from day 1 you're on a big boat and only big boat stuff is taught. So you don't get a recognized certification... so what? Bareboat charter companies are more concerned with your sailing resume than a certification. http://www.windsongcharters.com/sailing_school.htm
There is another alternative, and that is to take sailing lessons from a sailing school that does neither ASA or US sailing. Like Windsong Sailing School in the Tampa Bay area. Classroom time is ZERO - it's all on one of their 30' boats. You DON'T share with anyone else, the rates they charge ($475 for each 1 day long course) are for the instructor and the boat and you can bring 3 people with you for free or just go on your own. IT's a unique concept. They cover everything ASA does, but from the point of view of a 30+ foot sailboat only - there is no learning on smaller boats, from day 1 you're on a big boat and only big boat stuff is taught. So you don't get a recognized certification... so what? Bareboat charter companies are more concerned with your sailing resume than a certification. http://www.windsongcharters.com/sailing_school.htm
Lighthouse Landing Great!
I took sailing lessons at Lighthouse Landing in 1998 after buying my first sailboat a Hunter 260. Lighthouse Landing ASA sailing school is a great place to learn to sail. I know all the instructors very well and they WANT you to learn and have a good time. The accomodations are also excelllant! You can't go wrong there. If you decide to go there, look us up. By the way, don't wait too long to get signed up - their classes are in high demand.
I took sailing lessons at Lighthouse Landing in 1998 after buying my first sailboat a Hunter 260. Lighthouse Landing ASA sailing school is a great place to learn to sail. I know all the instructors very well and they WANT you to learn and have a good time. The accomodations are also excelllant! You can't go wrong there. If you decide to go there, look us up. By the way, don't wait too long to get signed up - their classes are in high demand.
Sailing School
Len, My wife and I took our ASA course through Santa Barbara Sailing School and we're VERY happy we did. Good instructors, quality boats...oh and nice scenery. The quality of the school (instructors and equipment) is probably more important than which organization certifies you. So IMHO, get the certification. 1. It will make you a better sailor. I've sailed with several self-taught with more "sail time" and their amazed at my wealth of sailing skill and knowledge. 2. If you plan on chartering, where and what certifications do they take? We've never had a problem with getting a bareboat charter with our ASA certificaiton. The Naval Academy accepts ASA (I don't know about US Sailing, even though the Navy runs their own certification program. 3. It's worth the money for the peace of mind. Deucer
Len, My wife and I took our ASA course through Santa Barbara Sailing School and we're VERY happy we did. Good instructors, quality boats...oh and nice scenery. The quality of the school (instructors and equipment) is probably more important than which organization certifies you. So IMHO, get the certification. 1. It will make you a better sailor. I've sailed with several self-taught with more "sail time" and their amazed at my wealth of sailing skill and knowledge. 2. If you plan on chartering, where and what certifications do they take? We've never had a problem with getting a bareboat charter with our ASA certificaiton. The Naval Academy accepts ASA (I don't know about US Sailing, even though the Navy runs their own certification program. 3. It's worth the money for the peace of mind. Deucer
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