Win a Hunter 15 Sailboat Contest - Third Place Winner
Our “Learn to Sail” Adventure
I was sitting in my office on a cold December morning, wishing I was in a warmer climate, and sorely missing my daughter (Caroline), who was away as a freshman in college.
A brilliant idea!
It was then that the brilliant idea came forth. I would steal her away for a week over the holiday break, and we would spend a father-daughter week together in Florida.
My daughter voiced a desire to learn to sail, and the choice was obvious. We enrolled in the Offshore Sailing School “Learn to Sail” course, the industry standard, in my view.
I had taken Colgate’s course some 30 years ago in City Island, NY, and sold my last boat some twenty years ago - a 1983 Hunter 30, which provided me with years of fond memories on the Chesapeake.
It was the perfect prescription for a father-daughter “get-away”
The venue was the beautiful South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, Florida, and the week together with my daughter met every expectation.
Learning to sail or refreshing your skills is the perfect activity in which to spend time with a loved one. We immersed ourselves for a week with the goal of becoming a sailing duo second to none. Morning lectures, afternoon sailing with our instructor, and reliving the day’s activity every evening over dinner.
An experience to share for many years to come
The week culminated in our both passing our written exam, and we concluded our final sail in 20-25 knot winds in exaltation. Our Colgate 26 was equal to every challenge presented.
But in reflection, the real beauty of our week together was the acquisition of a shared experience and skill that we can build on and share for many years to come.
Robert Stinger
Dunn Loring, VA
rstinger@cox.net
Robert and Caroline Stinger took the Offshore Sailing School five-day Learn to Sail course at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Florida, April 2011