Crystal Coast Sailing Excursions offers a 3-day sailing course on board “Bravado” a 47-foot cruising sloop. The course is based on the American Sailing Association keel boat class with the addition of Cruising Boat instruction. Our course is scheduled for the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month – May through October. The course is taught by Captain Tony Fox a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain. Captain Tony has 40 years sailing experience including a trans-Atlantic crossing. Upon completion of this course, you will have a sound foundation and basic knowledge of sailing concepts, including points of sail, sail trim, navigation, rules of the road, safety, docking, large boat systems, as well as other general piloting knowledge. You will be mailed a textbook once you register for the class. Please feel free to call for more information.
Day One
Morning
- Meet Greet
- Goals for the class
- Safety
- The Language of Sailing
- Anatomy of a Sailboat
- Basic Sailing Theory
- Points of Sail
- Knots
- Using a Winch
- Running Rigging
- Standing Rigging
- Rigging the Sails
- Reading the Wind
- Tacking and Jibing
- Quiz
- Lunch
Afternoon
- Let’s go Sailing
- Leaving the dock
- Use of a Sail Furling systems
- Concepts of Steering
- Reading the Wind
- Day marks and lights
- Basic Rules of the road
- Points of sail
- Tacking and Jibing
- Docking
Day Two
Morning
- Coffee, Q&A about previous days activities
- Cruising boat systems
- Engines
- General Maintenance Schedules
- Navigation
- Navigation Lights
- GPS
- Quiz
Afternoon
- Anchoring
- Lunch at Ancohor
- Open sailing
- Man Over Board procedures
- Practice Sailing Maneuvers
Day Three
Morning
- Coffee, Q&A about previous days activities
- Radio Use
- Tides and currents
- Dinghies types basics
- Quiz
- Lunch
Afternoon
- Open sailing
- Practice Sailing Maneuvers
The fee for the Sailing Class is $1150 per person. This includes an instruction book and lunch each day. Payment will be made at the time the class is reserved. Our cancellation policy for the Sailing Class is different from our other charter options. This is because of the extended length of the course which makes it more difficult to book other guests. A 100% refund will be made if you cancel at least 4 weeks prior to the course start date. A 50% refund is made if you cancel 2 weeks prior to the course start date. No refund will be awarded within 2 weeks of the course start date.
The above itinerary is a general outline for the class but is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Most weather conditions will not affect the class schedule since the course consists of both classroom and on the water instruction. This allows us to adjust the schedule around inclement weather.
We recommend bringing a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, light jacket, rain jacket, swimsuit and deck or tennis shoes. We will be within cell phone service at least 90 percent of the time during the class hours, however please be courteous and do not use your cell phone during instruction unless in cases of emergency.
Bravado is insured for general liability with State Farm insurance company. We are not insured if you go in the water to swim or while you are ashore. Those activities will be conducted at your own risk.
“To sail successfully, you need to observe with great care. You need to identify what the wind and the water are telling you and then find a way to execute, to reach whatever goal you’ve set, be that simply making it home or winning a race.”
-Diane Greene-