Re: [MassBaySailors] Sailing Instructions in the Boston area
Granted, there is nothing like experience.
I have been sailing in the Med for years, bareboat chartering, as well as sailing a lot on my fathers keelboat.
However, when I started up over here, I wanted to learn the rules of the road, refresh my navigation skills, and be formally thaought by a professional.
The time I spent in the classroom at the BHYC with instructor Bill Connor (I think that was his name) was incredibly valuable. we spend hours and hours going over the rules, and he spent a lot of time just telling us his own experiences. And those stories sink in. Then I went down to florida and took a one week liveaboard offshore sailing class. That again though me a lot. At least in terms of "Thinking" like an ocean sailor, instead of the "Seat of the pants" Mediterranean sailor I was
Subject: RE: [MassBaySailors] Sailing Instructions in the Boston area
IMHO, the best way to learn to sail is spend a lot of time at the helm skippering a boat, learning the sweet spots etc. Where you do this depends on a lot of things. The next step is to get skipper experience, learning how to make decisions etc, based on weather, tides, currents, the works. This can be done as a passenger, or drinking a lot of beer w/ other sailors. The latter is very effective, but the former works too. You need to start the former by polishing and painting a boat, and mine comes to mind. Seriously, learning to sail requires time and experience, and there are some great books and magazines out there. I've been sailing for over 60 years and I usually learn something new from some of the stuff I read.
-----Original Message----- From: MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bill Scanlon Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:54 PM To: MassBaySailors@yahoogroups.com Subject: [MassBaySailors] Sailing Instructions in the Boston area
Hi,
I strongly agree with Ahmet, and here is why;
If you are going to learn sailing in the Metro Boston area you are most likely going to sail on or near the harbor which of course is “ocean” though costal day sailing.Unless you sail on the Charles which is more closely aligned with “lake” sailing.
If you are a beginner or sharpening your skills you may not fully understand the ASA, seamanship importance that Ahmet mentions.
IMHO once you take sailing lessons you’ll most likely enjoy it and get hooked on sailing and everything will progress from there.So most of us would suggest you start out learning as much and being exposed to as much as you can, even if it means spending a little more than you intended to.
In the Boston area “my” personal preference, because I was a student/member there is BHSC.
Though we have members of our group from most of the area sailing schools and they feel the same about theirs as well.
I think the first 2 listed below are the most popular sailing schools in Boston that prepare their students (those who chose to) for longer distance sailing (hence seamanship and coastal piloting).
They each offer at least 2 services, sail training (class room and on-water) and seasonal membership for varying durations, boat class size, and rates. Obviously the larger the boats and the longer the membership the more expensive they are.
I’ll speak of BHSC because of my familiarity with it, but please don’t quote me, I have not been a member since 1998.If you go to their site you see all kinds of courses and memberships at varying prices some of which will make you gag. Though, they do offer discounted/special programs.
Here is what worked best for me, they often promote early & late season shortened programs to try and pad their mid-high season with students & members.My first season at BHSC in 1995 I took their Coastal Cruising course that included several classroom session, several on-water training (about ½ on their Solings and the other ½ on their Pearson 26’s) sessions and a 30 day membership.The program began right after labor day, by the time we finished the course, my 30 days of P26 membership ended up being more like 7 to 8 weeks (40 to 45 days) and I used it more than most, almost every Saturday & Sunday and a few evenings per week.This cost me about $750, in 1995.The same course is now being offered for $1,145.
Though seemingly pricey (it really isn’t if you knew the expense of owning, running & maintaining such a school/business) I feel this is a bargain.I feel this course (and the equivalent at the other schools) will prepare you very well to crew on boats, first day sailing and then near coastal and eventually off-shore.If you were to follow this training up with 1 or 2 seasons of membership you will be very “qualified” to become a sailboat owner. Of ocurse if you took this April course and were to crew for other BHSC members and with many of us here at MassBaySailors by fall you could be moderately skilled an on your way to bare boating in the Carabean or saliboat ownership. ;-)
Of course you could go right out and buy a sailboat and get some on-board/on-water training and/or invited skilled crew to get you on your way.Whatever works, thought the “training” is certainly a “safety” issue.
If you go to their site now you’ll find they are offering a “Special”
NO APRIL FOOL SPECIALS
Now through Wednesday April 19th, the Club is offering special prices on many popular lesson and membership programs. The April No Fools Promotional Prices Expire Wednesday April 19, 2006 and are lower than any prices that will be offered from now through our May 1 opening including our Open House specials.
Open Houses are April 22, 23, 29 and 30. Be sure you are on our mailing list to receive an invitation.
SAILING INSTRUCTION All instruction program prices include materials. Click on a class name to read more about it. Lesson packages include a 30 to 45-day student sailing period and class materials.
Daysailing Course (30 days sailing): Reg. $699 NO APRIL FOOL PRICE: $645
Cruising Course (35 days sailing): Reg. $1199 NAF PRICE: $1145
BostonHarbor Sailing Club At RowesWharf downtown Boston Instruction, Racing, Memberships, Charts, Clothing, Moorings Phone: (617) 720-0049
BostonHarbor Sailing Club At RowesWharf downtown Boston Instruction, Racing, Memberships, Charts, Clothing, Moorings Phone: (617) 720-0049 Email: info@... Website: Boston Harbor Sailing Club
Courageous SailingCenter At Charlestown Navy Yard Next to the Constitution 617-242-3821 . . Fax: 617-635-3263 One First Ave., Boston, MA02129 E-mail: Bryan@... Website: Courageous sailing center
Community Boating, Inc. On the Charles River next to MassGeneralHospital 617-523-1038 . . . Fax: 617-523-6959 21 Embankment Rd., Boston, MA02114 Web site: www.community-boating.org
Boston Sailing Center North End Boston Lewis Wharf 617-227-4198 . . . Fax: 617-227-5644 54 LewisWharf, Boston, MA02110 e-mail: info@... web site: www.bostonsailingcenter.com
Can Am Windsurfing School 617-661-7702 . . . Fax: 617-661-7716 48 Charles St., Cambridge, MA02141 web site: www.ne-sports.com
Sailing and Small Craft Safety 617-375-0700ext.4 . . . 800-564-1234 . . . Fax: 617-375-0727 American Red Cross, 285 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA02116
NorthShore
Atlantic ChartersBoston/Marblehead Sailing Instruction | Sail Charters | Day Sail Rentals | Ocean Racing Atlantic Charters welcomes you to experience the thrill, excitement, and the pleasure of sailing. Whether you have never sailed before or you are an experienced sailor, we can meet your needs. Atlantic Charters 13 Drumlin Rd. Marblehead, MA 01945 Phone: (781) 639-0055 Web site: Atlantic-charters.com
Coastal Sailing School 781-639-0553 or 978 287-0707 P.O. Box 1001, Marblehead, MA 01945 Marblehead's oldest sailing school. Adult instruction on cruising sailboats by Coast Guard licensed captains. Group or private lessons. Excursion rides. Navigation training. Gift certificates for any occasion. Sailboat rentals. Caribbean charters. e-mail us for our latest newsletter. e-mail: bertw1@... web site: www.coastalsailingschool.com
MarbleheadSailingCenter New England and the Caribbean For the Ultimate Atlantic Excursion Marblehead Sailing Center offers sailboat charters on boats from 20 ft. to 40 ft. Sit back and enjoy the ride, or take the helm. http://www.marbleheadsailing.org
Old Colony Power Squadron Spring 2002 Basic Boating Course 8 week course starting March 12, 2002 at 7:00PM South Shore Vo-techHanover, MA Contact John Gardner at 508-378-7928 or email: OldColonyPS@... for information Please visit our website www.usps.org/localusps/ocps
DuxburyBay Maritime School Selected by US Sailing as 1998's Best New Community Sailing Program. DBMS offers a curriculum for both juniors and adults that includes sailing, sailboat racing, seamanship, marine coastal ecology, navigation, boat building and repair, and DuxburyBay history. Mattakeeset CourtPO Box 263A Duxbury MA 02331 Tel: 781-934-7555. Web: www.duxbayms.com Email: dbms@...
Cohasset Sailing Club, Inc. 617-383-1932 P.O. Box 111, Cohasset, MA02025
Bare Cove Power & Sail Squadron Winter 2001 Boating course schedule lDownload Schedule Here South Hingham Middle school 1103 Main St. (Route 228) Hingham For more information call (781) 749-2994 Visit our website @ www.usps.org/localusps/bare
I am not sure how the sailing instructions in Charlestown work. I would suggest that you take lessons from a scool that will give you accreditation from either...
Hi, I strongly agree with Ahmet, and here is why; If you are going to learn sailing in the Metro Boston area you are most likely going to sail on or near the...
Again any & all of these schools are good, they each target a different market and interest. In my previous e-mail I said that the first 2 schools I listed...
Hello all, I am located in RI and am an owner of a 25 Catalina. I would not classify my self as a novice but I would love to learn some new skills and refine...
As we all know, we never stop learning and that also goes for the most season of mariners. All I can suggest is that our "passion" will direct our free time,...
IMHO, the best way to learn to sail is spend a lot of time at the helm skippering a boat, learning the sweet spots etc. Where you do this depends on a lot of...
richard usen
UsenR1@...
Apr 11, 2006 9:49 pm
MessageGranted, there is nothing like experience. I have been sailing in the Med for years, bareboat chartering, as well as sailing a lot on my fathers...
Where are you thinking of signing up in Charlestown? Courageous sailing club? There are a number of possibilities in Boston, and from what I've heard/seen of...
I learned at Community Boating, back during the 40's, and I'd recommend it highly. You'll check out in a boat fairly quickly, and then spend a lot of time solo...
richard usen
UsenR1@...
Apr 11, 2006 7:53 pm
I'm planning on taking sailing lessons this spring, as I only have about 2 years experience. I need more help with trim, sailing on and off a mooring etc. I...
Hello Theresa/All, Below is a list of Boston area Sailing schools the I retrieved from. http://www.bostonboating.com/instruct.htm I changed the order of the...
Both the Boston Sailing Center and Boston Harbor Sailing Center are for-profit, professional places. You will sail in Boston Harbor for the beginners course...
There is a major difference between the community sailing schools and the professional,fASA and USSAIL certified places. The nonprofit small school basically...
You have a good point. That being said, there is something for places like Community Boating. I knew a bit about sailing when I joined as a kid of 12, but...
richard usen
UsenR1@...
Mar 11, 2007 9:57 pm
Richard, Thank you for your very kind offer to take on aspiring skippers as crew on your sailboat this season. That was one of "my" personal hopes of what...
Check out these links for sailing instruction, http://www.atlantic-charters.com/about.html http://www.sailmarblehead.com/ ... We are about to sign up for some...
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