As a part of our big outside sailing trip, I wanted to make sure that my sailing knowledge was "shored up". I've been sailing for some time, and although I took a class back in college (and did a little racing), a basic keelboat course (by US Sailing), crewed on a friend's boat, and owned our own boat for two years - but from a risk perspective, I didn't have a good, formal knowledge base which included sailing outside or spending the night onboard!
My brother Alex and I decided to try the American Sailing Association's Liveaboard Course (which results in certifications in Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter). We selected the Blue Water Sailing School in Fort Lauderdale, FL because we're from that area, and we'd be sailing south into Miami and some of the Keys. The class started on a Saturday and ended on the next Friday, so it was perfect for our schedules.
When we arrived, we found out that we'd be sailing with Captain Wayne, two other students (Nick N. and Matt H.), and ourselves onboard the DuFour Gib'sea, a 50' foot yacht. I was immediately daunted; I'd never sailed aboard anything bigger than 34', and I didn't know how I would be able to handle this huge boat. Stepping onboard was like stepping into the dreams of my future - the boat was only a few years old, and was in great condition. It was huge, with a gigantic saloon, five separate staterooms and five heads with showers. Heaven.
My brother Alex and I decided to try the American Sailing Association's Liveaboard Course (which results in certifications in Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter). We selected the Blue Water Sailing School in Fort Lauderdale, FL because we're from that area, and we'd be sailing south into Miami and some of the Keys. The class started on a Saturday and ended on the next Friday, so it was perfect for our schedules.
When we arrived, we found out that we'd be sailing with Captain Wayne, two other students (Nick N. and Matt H.), and ourselves onboard the DuFour Gib'sea, a 50' foot yacht. I was immediately daunted; I'd never sailed aboard anything bigger than 34', and I didn't know how I would be able to handle this huge boat. Stepping onboard was like stepping into the dreams of my future - the boat was only a few years old, and was in great condition. It was huge, with a gigantic saloon, five separate staterooms and five heads with showers. Heaven.
The first night was provisioning the boat, and getting her ready to sail the next day. This part was pretty fun, because I didn't know much about how to provision a boat in terms of food for a long trip. It turned out that Captain Wayne was a gourmet chef, and he planned some spectacular meals for us (salmon and rice, tilapia, shrimp pasta, and a Cuban black bean dish). Our snacks were delicious and nutritious (no Oreos here) - hummus, carrots, strawberries, blueberries, salads, etc.
The first day of sailing, we sailed south on the Intracoastal through two bridges and learned how to communicate with the bridge tenders. We did some tight turns and maneuvers waiting for the bridges to open. This is where Captain Wayne showed us his teaching style - he'd demonstrate it once, then we'd each do the evolution. This style of teaching paid off in huge dividends throughout the class.
We jetted outside of Port Everglades, and headed south in the Atlantic to Miami. It was a beautiful sail, and we got to see how to raise the sails, motorsail, and we learned about basic navigational items at the helm station. Before I knew it, the four hour sail was complete and we headed into the Port of Miami, heading south into Biscayne Bay and to our first anchorage. It was a Saturday night, and there were a bunch of party boats anchored out. That first night, learning how to anchor was wild, and learning to sleep at anchor was invaluable. (Of course, being nearly 6' tall, I somehow drew the straw for the V-berth. Luckily, I got the most ventilation at night!)
The first day of sailing, we sailed south on the Intracoastal through two bridges and learned how to communicate with the bridge tenders. We did some tight turns and maneuvers waiting for the bridges to open. This is where Captain Wayne showed us his teaching style - he'd demonstrate it once, then we'd each do the evolution. This style of teaching paid off in huge dividends throughout the class.
We jetted outside of Port Everglades, and headed south in the Atlantic to Miami. It was a beautiful sail, and we got to see how to raise the sails, motorsail, and we learned about basic navigational items at the helm station. Before I knew it, the four hour sail was complete and we headed into the Port of Miami, heading south into Biscayne Bay and to our first anchorage. It was a Saturday night, and there were a bunch of party boats anchored out. That first night, learning how to anchor was wild, and learning to sleep at anchor was invaluable. (Of course, being nearly 6' tall, I somehow drew the straw for the V-berth. Luckily, I got the most ventilation at night!)
Monday found us heading south. It was a relatively light wind day, and we did tacking and gybing maneuvers. We practiced sailing all over the bay, but overall, we headed south to our next anchorage. Normally, the course directs us to go south to a marina for close-quarters maneuvering, but Captain Wayne recognized that the wind was going to be in the bay the next day (to the north). We all agreed that sailing practice was more fun, and decided to head north on Tuesday.
Tuesday, we returned to the bay, and got some great winds. We did man overboard drills - these were the most nerve-wracking for me. I didn't think that I could single-hand such a large boat, but before the day was out, we were all doing it. We'd call out Man Overboard, and then it was off to the races! Each of us did it at least two times, and throughout the week, Captain Wayne would randomly let go the pole and call out the drill. We also reefed the main (twice), getting 9 kts with two reefs in. We spent the night in a protected cove, surrounded by multi-million dollar homes.
Wednesday, we headed out in a low-wind day to do the docking maneuvers. South of Miami is a little protected anchorage in a park, and we used it to do docking maneuvers, spring line practice, and reversal drills. Before 11 am, we were reversing this 50' yacht around all of the anchored boats. I can only imagine how much coffee was spilled when boat owners would clamber into their cockpits seeing us in reverse! Afterwards, we headed out into the bay again, and we noted an unusual dive flag. Nick N., being a diver, recognized that something was wrong, so we went to go check it out.
Tuesday, we returned to the bay, and got some great winds. We did man overboard drills - these were the most nerve-wracking for me. I didn't think that I could single-hand such a large boat, but before the day was out, we were all doing it. We'd call out Man Overboard, and then it was off to the races! Each of us did it at least two times, and throughout the week, Captain Wayne would randomly let go the pole and call out the drill. We also reefed the main (twice), getting 9 kts with two reefs in. We spent the night in a protected cove, surrounded by multi-million dollar homes.
Wednesday, we headed out in a low-wind day to do the docking maneuvers. South of Miami is a little protected anchorage in a park, and we used it to do docking maneuvers, spring line practice, and reversal drills. Before 11 am, we were reversing this 50' yacht around all of the anchored boats. I can only imagine how much coffee was spilled when boat owners would clamber into their cockpits seeing us in reverse! Afterwards, we headed out into the bay again, and we noted an unusual dive flag. Nick N., being a diver, recognized that something was wrong, so we went to go check it out.
Apparently, it was a Coca-Cola advertisement! It wasn't connected to a diver, and it was obviously not regulation. When we pulled it up, it was simply a float that had a note attached to it, declaring that we could win money sending in a map of where we found it. Looking around, we saw that there were more flags out there - so we went out to get them too. In the low winds, we were sailing at only 2-3 kts, but we picked up 4 of the 5 fake dive flags (another school boat picked up the last one).
Thursday, we headed back up to Fort Lauderdale. By the end, Captain Wayne was just hanging out in the cockpit while we were sailing. By this point, each of us had been "captain" for all of the evolutions, including anchoring, tacking, gybing, man overboards, etc. In fact, Captain Wayne caught a mahi-mahi on the way in! We grabbed some diesel on the way up the Intracoastal, and by the end of the day, were docked back at our starting point.
Friday was the final exam, and we all passed it. Overall, I felt that the experience was invaluable. Alex and I had a great time and we made new friends. We learned about all of the systems on the boat (including the engine, and I got to help change out a belt when the original belt ate itself). I grew in my confidence as a skipper, and I had no qualms or fears about staying out overnight on the boat.
I would HIGHLY recommend the class to anyone else interested in learning more about sailing!
Thursday, we headed back up to Fort Lauderdale. By the end, Captain Wayne was just hanging out in the cockpit while we were sailing. By this point, each of us had been "captain" for all of the evolutions, including anchoring, tacking, gybing, man overboards, etc. In fact, Captain Wayne caught a mahi-mahi on the way in! We grabbed some diesel on the way up the Intracoastal, and by the end of the day, were docked back at our starting point.
Friday was the final exam, and we all passed it. Overall, I felt that the experience was invaluable. Alex and I had a great time and we made new friends. We learned about all of the systems on the boat (including the engine, and I got to help change out a belt when the original belt ate itself). I grew in my confidence as a skipper, and I had no qualms or fears about staying out overnight on the boat.
I would HIGHLY recommend the class to anyone else interested in learning more about sailing!