Blue Water Sailing School

Pattyh · #1 (**permalink**) 09-18-2008

Hi,

Is any one familiar with Blue Water Sailing school? My boyfriend and I are planning to go cruising when we retire in 4 years. Both of us have experience sailing small boats, but not much experience on larger boats. Is this the a good school or is there a better one in the Southeast to learn what we need to know about cruising and handling a larger boat? We plan on purchasing a 38 - 44 foot monohull but have not decision on the boat yet.

Thanks,

Patty

dgiuliana · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2008

Patty,

I would recommend Offshore Sailing School. They have boats in that size range as well as cruising and live aboard classes. Steve Colgate is very well respected in the sailing school community. Definitely worth a look.

Doug

denverd0n · #3 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008

There are LOTS of sailing school in the Southeast. I would suggest checking with ASA and USSA. They are the two main agencies that accredit sailing schools, and they both have lists of sailing schools at their websites. Here are links to the websites...
Learn to Sail and Earn Your Sailing Certification With the ASA
US SAILING - National Governing Body of Sailing in the U.S.

Between the two agencies, I would say that USSA is a little bit more geared towards racing while ASA is a little bit more geared towards cruising, but in reality you'll get a very good education from either.

As for specific schools, I've attended this one-- Florida Sailing - Florida Sailing School - Florida Sailboat charter Or Fractional Yacht Ownership -- and had an excellent experience.

pegasus1457 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008

I had a good experience about 8 years ago with J World in Key West. I took a 5 day live aboard class, and found the material and the teaching worthwhile. They close up shop in Key West starting in April to move north (to Chesapeake Bay, I think).

I have since done a lot of cruising on bare boat charters, most of it with people with much more experience than I had. I realized that what you can learn in a 5 day course is just the tip of the iceberg. After that you should probably charter in some relatively tame locale on several occasions before you set out seriously on your own. Chartering can also help you to decide what you want in a cruising boat before you buy.

lharmon · #5 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008

Patti

I had not sailed much in many years when I bought a 30' keelboat for my family. I went down to Blue Water Sailing School before I attempted to deliver the boat +/- 200 miles to where we were going to keep her. I had sailed dinghys and some keelboats way in the past.

I was completely satisfied with the school and felt comfortable continuing to learn on my own afterwards. It was a wonderful format. You leave. You are gone on a weeks cruise. The idea is to stuff a bunch of sailing information into your brain while praticing the art. I think we covered three tests. But my advice is to learn the texts beforehand so the captain can spend more time on the nuanances beyond the certification tests.

My experience with Blue Water Sailing School is that they are good folks and deliver on what they promise. On a 1 -10 value scale I'd give them a 15. Sometime I'd like to go back down and take their next levels. Not because I need to but because it was a lot of FUN and a completely different cruising ground than what we have up here in the NE.

Good luck in your education. If you want more info PM me and I'll give you my number and we can talk.

LH

Melrna · #6 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008

I went thru a number of years ago. Good school. Do a search on the forums here and there are a few reviews from past post .

US27inKS · #7 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melrna

I went thru a number of years ago. Good school. Do a search on the forums here and there are a few reviews from past post .

Ditto. Except that I did the class on a cat instead of a mono. They are one of the few schools that have cruising cats.

diverdad69 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-24-2008

thanks for the info

gary0boy · #9 (**permalink**) 09-27-2008

Hi Patty,
I as well did some homework on this school and ask for ref. etc.
I went down last year and talked with them and picked up my books....I am hoping to schedule my weeklong school this fall or early winter.
They were school of the year several times and I found them to be just what they say they are....looking forward to going!
I hope this helps you!
Gary