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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Annapolis Sailing School

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/31/2004 : 16:22:28

Would appreciate any insights or opinions on this school. I'm looking to take a course this winter so I am actually able to sail my boat next summer without having to have a more knowledgable friend along since they would prefer to sail their own boats.

Are there other course/schools besides this one that might also be worth a look. Somehow, the 4 day course package in the Virgin Islands for a grand seems like a great way to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Thanks.

Rick

Rick

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 19:04:12

I took a two-day beginner's course and a five-day cruising course from Annapolis Sailing School in St. Petersburg, Florida 25 years ago, and was very satisfied with both courses. Annapolis has been teaching longer than any other commercial sailing school to my knowledge, and at that time, they were considered the biggest and best. Now, there are other good schools. One of the best is the Colgate school on Captiva Island, Florida. After taking those courses, I was able to take my own C22 to Florida's Gulf coast and find my way around the intercoastal waterway and along the Gulf Coast, and to charter bigger boats. But, if what you want is to learn the fundamentals, I suspect all of the major sailing schools teach the same general principles, and any of them would do well.

Four days sailing in the Virgins for a grand sounds good to me.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 20:10:00

Rick: Their reputation is great, based on everyone I'm aware of that took one or more of their courses.

Don't give up on your sailing friends... Sailors are almost always anxious to give up some time to get a new sailor going. Having somebody experienced with you on your boat can be very valuable--especially if something isn't rigged correctly the first time out. I helped some friends route their jib sheets around the shrouds on their maiden voyage...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/31/2004 20:10:46

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 21:07:00

I took out some friends, who'd never sailed by themselves, on their new to them Nacra 5.2 this past summer to show them some basics of sailing. I was just excited with the prospect of teaching someone interested in learning how to sail. So don't give up on your friends to help you.

Thing is, I hadn't sailed a catamaran in 30 years and had forgotten the difficulty in tacking one without a jib and relearned something myself in the process of teaching them. So it was a learning experience for all of us.

As my grandfather always told me "Its what you learn after you know it all that counts".

Now it seems I learn something new every time I go out and hope I always will.

CVick
PanaceaII '81 C25 #2439 SRSK

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 23:17:49

Whew--a Nacra 5.2 as a first boat! That's like learning to drive in a Formula One! I'd suggest a Sunfish first...

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Charlie Vick
Captain

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423 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2004 : 23:50:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Whew--a Nacra 5.2 as a first boat! That's like learning to drive in a Formula One! I'd suggest a Sunfish first...

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thats what I thought, I also thought I could pick that Nacra up cheap at the end of the summer but they both are really interested in pursing their sailing interests so thats fine with me. There are lots of sailboats on this lake but not many sailors so two new ones is ok with me.
Only drawback is their sailing is is directly related to the temerature of the water so they're done for the season!

CVick

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Jgood1223
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2004 : 20:11:37

My husband and I took lessons from Baysail in Havre de Grace, MD. You can check them out at Baysail.net We were thrilled with the whole experience. We're going back next summer for the 103/104 combination course. I would highly recommend them. I don't have any other sailing school to compare them with but we had the best experience!! Hope this helps.

Joanne

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2004 : 20:53:11

Welcome to the forum, Joanne! We're glad to have you aboard.

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mday
Navigator

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197 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2004 : 23:46:46

Rick,

I took courses from Annapolis Sailing School some time ago. Even though I had many years of small boat sailing (Sailfish/Sunfish and Hobies) and had crewed many times on larger boats, I wanted hands on training on larger boats to start chartering. I took a course out of Annapolis that was a good introduction to sailing larger boats and followed it with a cruising course in the Florida Keys. Both were excellent. The only thing lacking was some better training on docking in those tight marina spaces I always seemed to encounter in the Chesapeake marinas -- especially around Annapolis. So I took a docking course offered by AYS in Annapolis, which was outstanding. All was much better training than I would have gotten from my sailing friends -- in fact they benefited from some of the things I learned and passed along.

I'd definitely go for a course in the Virgin Islands --- especially if you're sailing around BVI. It's sailing heaven down there and will be great experience. Stay longer if you can afford it! 4 days is not nearly enough time to enjoy it all.

Max

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2004 : 07:41:47

For a comparitive look, Jworld in Annapolis (and elsewhere) also has a number of cruising and racing courses. I've had a number of friends utilize their school and have heard nothing but the positive comments..

http://www.sailjworld.com/

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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2004 : 14:01:38

My wife & I took the Basic Keelboat/Learn to Sail course with Steve Colgate's school in St. Pete back in August. The original plan was a week at Captiva, but they got blasted about 2 weeks before we were supposed to go. The company put out a lot of effort to get us relocated.

We had a great time except for the heat. The wife had zero prior sailing training, but is now OK skippering the boat in winds up to about 15 knots.

If that trip had not panned out the Annapolis school was the next choice. I've heard lots of good things about them.

FYI: Captiva is still off-line until 2005. They have temporariliy moved operations to Ft. Meyers Beach. Best bet is to call or check the website <http://www.colgate26.com/lessons.htm>.

Edited by - Jeff McK on 11/03/2004 13:57:20

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