Annapolis Sailing schools

Slartibartfast · #1 (**permalink**) 09-23-2003

Can anyone who has taken a course at either of these schools tell me something about them? The first is Annapolis Sailing School. It looks really good except that they only ffer certification on their 5 day course. The other school is Getaway sailing. They offer certification on all their courses but Baltimore isn''t as close as Annapolis. I know certification isn''t neccesary but it would still be nice to have included. Any thoughts?

Stede · #2 (**permalink**) 09-23-2003

Slartibartfast,

I attended the 5 day course at the Annapolis Sailing School many years ago.I thought the school and the curriculum were excellent. We spent the first part of each day in the classroom,and then would go out on the water to reinforce what we had learned with "hands on" experience. I achieved my bareboat charter certification from the school.I chartered several times in the Caribbean shortly after,and each of the facilities gladly accepted the credentials of the school as proof that I knew what I was doing (little did they know ;^) just kidding..I really enjoyed the school,and I''m sure you will too if you choose to go there. Good luck!

Slartibartfast · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2003

But you need to take ANOTHER course to get bareboat certification, right? Does the beginners five day course take you up to that level?

Stede · #4 (**permalink**) 09-25-2003

Slartibartfast,

I''m going to try and answer your question the best I can. I never took a "beginners" class because I had already done some sailing and felt confident that I knew the basics. The first sailing class I attended was called "Advanced Sailing" through the "Offshore Sailing School" in Captiva,Florida.The advanced class was very good for learning navigation and sail trim.I assume that the Annapolis School has an equivalent, but I don''t know this for fact. I went from the "Offshore" class to the "Annapolis Sailing School" the following year to take the 5 day "Bareboat Charter Certification" course.That course covered a lot of different areas of sailing and seamanship,with emphasis of course on a cruising sailboat.Navigation,sail trim,preparing a cruising boat,lots of hands on docking procedures,safety,regulations,and more.If you''ve not taken any courses,but have done some sailing, I recommend the path I took if you''re wanting to get a "Bareboat Charter Certification." If you''ve not done any sailing,then a beginners class would be appropriate.Also,if you''re an experienced sailor,you might be able to talk to the instructor at the Annapolis School and go right into the "Bareboat" course.I don''t know this for fact, but I have heard others say it can be done.I hope this helps.Good luck!

flicker · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-2003

I''m just curious. How many sailors know who Slartibartfast was?

Chas

Stede · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2003

flicker,

I don''t know if Slartibartfast is a he,she,or they, but who ever it is, I hope I convinced them that Annapolis Sailing School is a good school,because it is ;^)

DuaneIsing · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2003

flicker,

Slartibartfast was a character in the late Douglas Adams'' wonderful book, "Hitchhiker''s Guide to the Galaxy". I believe he was one of the designers in the factory that manufactured planets.

Duane

flicker · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2003

Geeze, now everyone knows. It''s the only five-book trilogy I''ve ever seen.

Chas

Slartibartfast · #9 (**permalink**) 09-26-2003

He(I), was also in "Life, The Universe, And Everything." I think that was it.