Do You Need a Sailing Course?
Before taking a sailing course, it's important to reflect on your goals, preferences, and expectations whether you’re a novice or experienced sailor. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What are my sailing goals?
Determine whether you want to sail for leisure, cruise, race, or engage in other specific activities. Your goals will influence the type of course that suits you.
What is my current level of experience?
Assess your existing knowledge and experience with sailing. Some courses cater to beginners, while others are designed for intermediate or advanced sailors.
Am I looking for a certification?
Decide if obtaining a specific sailing certification is important to you. Some courses offer certifications that may be required for certain sailing activities or chartering.
What type of sailing interests me?
Consider whether you are interested in coastal cruising, offshore sailing, racing, or other specialized areas. Courses may focus on different aspects of sailing, so choose one that aligns with your interests.
How much time can I commit to the course?
Evaluate your schedule and determine how much time you can dedicate to the course. Sailing courses vary in duration, from weekend workshops to more extensive programs.
Do I want to charter a boat some day?
Inquire about which level of sailing instruction you will need to qualify to charter a sailboat.
Do I want to learn safe boating skills to keep myself and passengers safe on the water?
Find out what the safe boating requirements are in your area and find courses that will cover those safety procedures in their course.
Will the course cover the specific skills I want to learn?
Check the course curriculum to ensure it covers the skills and topics you want to learn. Whether it's sail trim, navigation, anchoring, or other aspects, make sure the course aligns with your learning objectives.
Taking the time to answer these questions will help you make an informed decision when choosing a sailing course that best fits your needs and aspirations….then sailing courses from a certified instructor will help you get there.
Smooth Sailing’s Danny Foster has been racing sailboats and sailing for over two decades and brings his experience and his teaching skills to each of the courses and yacht charters,
Learning to sail is the best thing that I have done to date. It is an ongoing experience of gaining knowledge and skills that I use on and off the water. Sailing with a crew is the most rewarding team work that I have experienced and I use the term “ Making the boat go faster” in my work and life. Smooth Sailing is a term used by non sailors, but it comes from the time when you know everything is on track and your heading is clear. It is a wonderful feeling under sail and its Smooth Sailing.
~ Danny