Sailing and Passage Making: New Offshore Sailing School Course

Quick connect

New Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making Course
From Offshore Sailing School

St. Michaels, Maryland to Captiva Island, FLorida
November 2-14, 2011

If you have been yearning to experience a true passage in coastal and open waters, this Passage Making sailing course is for you!

Chesapeake Bay to Florida on a Hunter 50

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 Passage Making course will take you through the Chesapeake Bay, parts of the Intracoastal Waterway, and out into the Atlantic as you learn in depth techniques and skills for sailing non-stop while standing watches.

Unique sailing course experience for six lucky sailors

Two of Offshore Sailing School’s US SAILING certified and Coast Guard licensed instructors will conduct the course – each heading up a team of three participants. All instruction is conducted underway, including the comprehensive US SAILING Coastal Navigation course the first three days of the voyage. The Coastal Navigation course is a pre-requisite for achieving US SAILING Coastal Passage Making certification.

Course pre-requisites for participation

US SAILING Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising certification is required for participation in this course. If you do not yet have these certifications, all you need do is take the Offshore Sailing School Fast Track to Cruising course and earn all three certifications in 7 days. Call 888-454-7015 or fill in the quick connect above to find out more.

Four cabins and comfort on a new Hunter 50

The new Hunter 50 is shown at right. It is a comfortable, spacious cruising yacht with four cabins, allowing each watch (three of you and your instructor) to sleep in a private cabin when not on duty.

Round-the-clock sailing instruction

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, safe galley operation for producing daily meals underway, proper use and maintenance of engine and electronics, and time management while making a passage.

All-inclusive package is $4495 per person

The maximum number of students allowed for this course is 6. The boat will depart around noon on November 2. If you need accommodations the night before, we will work with you to make your arrival convenient. St. Michaels is about 1-1/2 hours drive from BWI (Baltimore) airport. You should plan to return home from RSW (SW International Airport in Ft. Myers, FL). If the boat arrives prior to the 14th, shore arrangements can be made if you booked a flight on the 14th or later. All of these arrangements and a complete list of what to pack for this voyage will be sent upon enrollment. A 30% deposit is required when you reserve your berth, full payment must be made no later than August 31, 2011. At that point no refund on cancellations will be made due to the limited capacity of this course. Please - purchase trip insurance!

The package price per person includes:

The US SAILING Coastal Navigation and Coastal Passage Making courses taught by two US SAILING certified Offshore Sailing School cruising instructors
Text books for each course
All meals aboard and while underway
Diplomas
Logbook (or specific pages for those who already have the US SAILING logbook)
Certification for those who pass the tests for each course, administered underway
And . . . the sailing experience of a lifetime!

Why you should do this course . . .

Long time small and big boat sailor Charlie Adams, Director of Operations at Offshore Sailing School, says: “For those contemplating taking their own boat from northern waters to winter warmth some day, 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.”

Offshore Sailing School was founded in 1964 by veteran ocean racer, Olympic competitor and America’s Cup sailor Steve Colgate (shown at right rounding Cape Horn). His passion for ocean sailing and passage making is a catalyst for offering this Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making 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.