[Epiphany]

I am a rank neophyte when it comes to sailing, but I''m going to spend my retirement years sailing around the world until I die. I''ve had a lot of feedback from fellow SailNet message boarders that I should just skip all the formail instruction and go do it. But I spent several years whitewating canoeing and am convinced I survived it and enjoyed it so much because I invested in courses taught by some of the best paddlers in the world.

I''ve surveyed the courses sanctioned by both the American Sailing Association and U.S. Sailing, and they seem pretty much congruent. Any opinions on which is best for a "senior" neophyte who wants to learn all there is to know about cruising?