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NEW OFFSHORE SAILING SCHOOL FAST TRACK TO PASSAGE MAKING COURSE PROVIDES RARE TRAINING EXPERIENCE FROM CHESAPEAKE TO CAPTIVA ISLAND, FLORIDA
Ft. Myers, Florida – (July 6, 2011) – Offshore Sailing School is offering an extended Fast Track to Passage Making course this fall – departing St. Michaels, Maryland on November 2 with expected arrival in Ft. Myers, Florida by November 14.
This 12-day odyssey takes participants through the Chesapeake, parts of the Intercoastal Waterway, and out into the Atlantic as they learn in depth the techniques and skills of sailing non-stop while standing watches on one of Offshore's new Hunter 50's.
Two of Offshore Sailing School’s US SAILING certified and Coast Guard licensed instructors teach this course – each heading up a team of three participants. All instruction is conducted underway, starting with the comprehensive US SAILING Coastal Navigation course the first three days of the voyage, a pre-requisite for achieving US SAILING Coastal Passage Making certification. US SAILING Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certification are all pre-requisites for this course.
The new Hunter 50 is a comfortable, spacious cruising yacht with four cabins, allowing each of the four members on a watch to sleep in a private cabin when not in learning sessions and "off watch."
In addition to the Coastal Navigation sessions, the course includes round-the-clock instruction on how to manage a cruising yacht in all conditions. While navigating and sailing for maximum efficiency, the course also focuses on safety, seamanship, efficient use of sails, how to safely provide meals underway, engine and electronics maintenace and use, and time management while making a passage.
The maximum number of students allowed for this course is just six. The package price per person is $4995 and includes: The Coastal Navigation and Coastal Passage Making courses taught by two instructors (one instructor for three students), text books for each course, all meals aboard, diplomas, logbook (or specific pages for those who already have the US SAILING logbook), and certification for those who pass the tests for each course, administered underway.
“For those contemplating taking their own boat or helping others deliver a yacht from northern waters to winter warmth someday, or sailors who just want to experience a long passage and learn as much as they can during that time, this is the ideal program,” states Offshore Sailing School Director of Operations, Charlie Adams.
Offshore Sailing School was founded in 1964 by Olympic and America’s Cup sailor Steve Colgate, whose passion for ocean sailing is a catalyst for offering this extended course. “There is nothing like being out at sea, getting the most out of your boat, experiencing the vagaries of mother nature and the joys of being one with the wind,” says Colgate.
The school has seven locations in Florida, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and the British Virgin Islands. A full range of courses are available for beginners and experienced sailors . Over 125,000 graduates have taken an Offshore course and gone on to experience the sailing lifestyle – daysailing, racing and cruising.
For more information on this program please visit www.offshoresailing.com/passagemaking (I need to update the appropriate page so not linked correctly yet), call 800-221-4326 or email Sail@OffshoreSailing.com.
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