Live Aboard Classes?

[nscillcl]

Hi All,
Im new to these forms and am looking for a little advice.

I would like to learn how to sail. Ive been sailing a few times before with friends but dont really know anything. I have some vacation time coming up from work and a little bit of money stashed away. Im currently looking at a few schools down in the Caribbean that have a live aboard option for some period of time. Does anyone have any experience with these or recommendations?

Ive been looking at sailingschool com but they seem to be booked up for this season.

Thanks!

[sailingdog]

You might be better off looking at schools locally. Many schools have memberships that allow you to sail the boats after taking classes there. IMHO, that makes a lot more sense than going down to the Caribbean to learn to sail, as you can make connections with sailors that own boats near you—providing even more opportunities to sail and gain experience.

I'd also recommend you read the post in my signature. It has information on how to do things like search the forums, etc. which is good for the n00b.

[eryka]

One of our good friends used to do private liveaboard learn-to-sail charters in the Virgin Islands - he's since retired but might be able to recommend a colleague if that's what you're looking for. For schools, you might try this: Maryland School of Sailing; Chesapeake, Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda We know two of the instructors - both of whom are highly competent sailors - and one of them does a weeklong course in the Virgins. You might be able to do some of the basics here in the US, then go to the Virgins to really maximize your vacation time.

[aqwert5]

I am in the exact same position as you, having looked at liveaboard classes in the Channel Islands or San Juan Islands.

Being from the SF Bay Area, learning to sail on much "easier" places will not prepare me to sail my own waters. Instead, learning and sailing in my own backyard will give me the confidence of sailing anywhere else due to the difficulty of sailing the bay.

The other thing I'm being told is that it is more important to just "do it" and not over think the school, as the real learning happens on the water after all the certs are done.

But don't take my word for it. I won't be starting my classes 'till end of April

[nscillcl]

Thanks for the responses.

I was thinking about it as learning something that ive always wanted to do and take a bit of a vacation simultaneously. It does make sense to try to do something locally to ease yourself into a community though.

Plenty to think about.