Good Day I may have a chance to take the Cooper Boating week-long Gulf Islands Cruise and Learn course next month. I would be on the course that leaves from Granville Island and sails the South Gulf Islands for the week. QUESTION: Have any of you taken a course from Coopers or know anybody that has been on one of their cruise and learn courses. I believe they have an excellent reputation in the industry for training and their fleet of boats is impressive. I just thought I'd seek some intelligence from members of the forum in the event that they have experience that I can benefit from. Thanks
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Ask a lot of questions
and have a great time. I now live just east of the Gulf Islands (in the US) and the sailing here is wonderful. Bring a camera and post some pictures here if you don't mind. I haven't any experience with Coopers specifically but many years ago, I took a similar course from Windworks in Seattle. It was very informative. I will never forget the spontaneous man overboard drills. If you want a head start, learn everything you can about chart reading. Getting and learning how to use a current guide would be good too. If they provide a course book, study it well. You could also ask your skipper for ideas. It is hitting the mid 60s (foreignheit) here with a lot of sunshine today.
and have a great time. I now live just east of the Gulf Islands (in the US) and the sailing here is wonderful. Bring a camera and post some pictures here if you don't mind. I haven't any experience with Coopers specifically but many years ago, I took a similar course from Windworks in Seattle. It was very informative. I will never forget the spontaneous man overboard drills. If you want a head start, learn everything you can about chart reading. Getting and learning how to use a current guide would be good too. If they provide a course book, study it well. You could also ask your skipper for ideas. It is hitting the mid 60s (foreignheit) here with a lot of sunshine today.
Go for it
I took the course 2 years ago. We used a 34ft Hunter. Had a great time. You get to see some great sailing areas. Last year I took my intermediate course out of Naniamo just to have something to compare Coopers with. Again had a great time. Sailed the same area. This fall I am going back. This time we have booked a private charter, 36 ft Island Packet and are going up to Desolation Sound, set some crab traps, sail and fish for salmon. Its a wonderful part of the world especially from a sailboat.
I took the course 2 years ago. We used a 34ft Hunter. Had a great time. You get to see some great sailing areas. Last year I took my intermediate course out of Naniamo just to have something to compare Coopers with. Again had a great time. Sailed the same area. This fall I am going back. This time we have booked a private charter, 36 ft Island Packet and are going up to Desolation Sound, set some crab traps, sail and fish for salmon. Its a wonderful part of the world especially from a sailboat.
I hope they don't mind my snoring
I trust that they have dealt with four strangers on-board before and that they have some method to deal with a snoring client (at night - not during the course).
I trust that they have dealt with four strangers on-board before and that they have some method to deal with a snoring client (at night - not during the course).
Hey Richard
My brother in law and his wife took the course last summer with a skipper on a catalina 34 - my brother in law's first experience with sailing - he loved it, the boat was brand new, the skipper was the owner. I have sailed in the gulf islands lower Georgia strait for 25 + years - you should have a great time. Like Patrick says ask lots of ? - heating system ? should have one - it's still cool on the water out here, (even though we are ready to harvest the second crop of bananas
)Gulf islands are great this time of year - no crowds, good winds, have fun !!
My brother in law and his wife took the course last summer with a skipper on a catalina 34 - my brother in law's first experience with sailing - he loved it, the boat was brand new, the skipper was the owner. I have sailed in the gulf islands lower Georgia strait for 25 + years - you should have a great time. Like Patrick says ask lots of ? - heating system ? should have one - it's still cool on the water out here, (even though we are ready to harvest the second crop of bananas
)Gulf islands are great this time of year - no crowds, good winds, have fun !!Coopers
A couple of years ago I took the 2 wk. combined Advanced & Offshore circumnavigation. I can't imagine anyone could do it better. They are very good. Go for it.
A couple of years ago I took the 2 wk. combined Advanced & Offshore circumnavigation. I can't imagine anyone could do it better. They are very good. Go for it.
Confirming the booking today
After putting on a fire, watching Survivor, two glasses of red wine and a foot rub, the Vice Admiral has granted her permission for me to proceed to the booking stage. Thanks for the great comments. I called over yesterday to the "other side of the rocks" and got Amber to send me the text so that I can start reading-up on the course material (Good tip Patrick). I'll endeavor to take some digital photos and post them here with my "post-course" summary. Thanks again. P.S. Tom (Calgary) Do you sail on the Glemore or Ghost? My 22 footer is (will be when the ice retreats) bobbing on a bouy in the Glenmore.
After putting on a fire, watching Survivor, two glasses of red wine and a foot rub, the Vice Admiral has granted her permission for me to proceed to the booking stage. Thanks for the great comments. I called over yesterday to the "other side of the rocks" and got Amber to send me the text so that I can start reading-up on the course material (Good tip Patrick). I'll endeavor to take some digital photos and post them here with my "post-course" summary. Thanks again. P.S. Tom (Calgary) Do you sail on the Glemore or Ghost? My 22 footer is (will be when the ice retreats) bobbing on a bouy in the Glenmore.
Good job Richard
Do not be surprised if the skipper takes a fender, draws a smiley face on it and throws it overboard. He will then tell you to go back and get it as if it were an actual person. That is what I like to do. You might want to study up on that beforehand. It will really wake you up and make you pay attention to what you are doing when you find how difficult it can be. It was 71 degrees here yesterday. We flew 300 feet over the top of Mt Baker and took photos of the steam vent. Least amount of snow in 30 some years. You guys are going to have to send a lot of water south this year.
Do not be surprised if the skipper takes a fender, draws a smiley face on it and throws it overboard. He will then tell you to go back and get it as if it were an actual person. That is what I like to do. You might want to study up on that beforehand. It will really wake you up and make you pay attention to what you are doing when you find how difficult it can be. It was 71 degrees here yesterday. We flew 300 feet over the top of Mt Baker and took photos of the steam vent. Least amount of snow in 30 some years. You guys are going to have to send a lot of water south this year.
Snow in the Mountains
Patrick Thanks for the note and the "heads-up" re the fender overboard drill. There is some snow in the Mtns up here, but not much. Lake Louise and Banff are still skiing, but much of the X country stuff in the back country is getting if'y. 60 degrees f here during the day all week. I'm not sure that the runnoff will be even "normal" this year. We'll see what we can send you. On this side of the Rockies, we are anticipating another very dry summer (fourth in a row). With the fourth year of drought and the borders closed to cattle, some of the farms and ranches are getting pretty close to the line now.
Patrick Thanks for the note and the "heads-up" re the fender overboard drill. There is some snow in the Mtns up here, but not much. Lake Louise and Banff are still skiing, but much of the X country stuff in the back country is getting if'y. 60 degrees f here during the day all week. I'm not sure that the runnoff will be even "normal" this year. We'll see what we can send you. On this side of the Rockies, we are anticipating another very dry summer (fourth in a row). With the fourth year of drought and the borders closed to cattle, some of the farms and ranches are getting pretty close to the line now.
Richard
I think you're trying to get ahold of me, not Tom - he's in Sydney. I sail my boat at Ghost but race at Glenmore. My email is kiprichard@shaw.ca
I think you're trying to get ahold of me, not Tom - he's in Sydney. I sail my boat at Ghost but race at Glenmore. My email is kiprichard@shaw.ca
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