When it Comes to Your Sailing Education, You’re the Boss!

One of the most important parts of beginning your sailing education is finding the right sailing school. Every individual has different strengths, weaknesses, needs, and ideal learning methods. Likewise, every sailing school has different instructors, courses, boats, and teaching methods. Even a school’s location can affect your sailing education. For example, learning to sail in San Francisco Bay’s heavy winds might scare one student and motivate another. Here at ASA, we want to provide every sailor with a sailing education that conforms to their needs and inspires them to continue sailing We know this for sure: you know yourself, and we know sailing. So it’s up to you to determine where you will be happiest and learn the most.

Aside from perusing each sailing school’s website, the best way you can determine what school is the best fit is by calling them. It might seem a little old fashioned to the younger generation, but by talking to a human being you will be able to get all your questions answered and get a real feel for the school. You are essentially interviewing each school for the opportunity to teach you how to sail. That’s one of the huge benefits of learning to sail with ASA… We have so many schools that you always have a choice!

Here are some tips for how to effectively interview a sailing school:

§ Ask what courses are offered. This is the most important piece of information!

§ Ask about specialty courses. Some schools have destination courses, courses for couples, all-female courses, racing courses, and many others.

§ See if the school offers courses at times that fit into your schedule.

    Ask about private classes and group lessons. Which do they recommend and why?

§ Ask about instructors. Some people learn best from peers, others from older mentors, and some don’t have a preference. Figure out which category you fall into and find an instructor who will help you grow as a sailor!

§ Inquire about the student demographic. Are they similar to you? Does it matter to you?

§ Take note of how the person on the other end of the line reacts to your questions. Are you looking for a basic, clear sailing education or a carefree, fun one? Their tone of voice can tell you a lot about how the school operates and what instructors, students, and administrators are like.

If you’re still stuck between a few schools and can’t make up your mind, visit them!

By Bill Schrama

                                                     If you need a sailboat loan please visit  www.boatfinance.com

P2P Boat Rentals Cruzin to Chicago!

New type of boat rental service.

Creating opportunities for new lakeshore lifestyle experiences, Cruzin announced its formal launch in the Chicago market. This secure, online boater-to-boater rental marketplace makes it easy for people to get out on the water, when and how they want. Whether a person desires to fish, cruise or sail, Cruzin.com offers a trusted community for renting directly from boat owners. Those who want to relax instead of navigate, or aren't yet comfortable with taking full command of the boat, can use Cruzin's captain service. Flexible rental listings enable boating adventures from a half-day to a week or longer. Each rental is fully insured and includes BoatU.S. towing services. Boat owners generate income from listing their vessels on Cruzin when they aren't personally being used. An otherwise idle boat can now help offset maintenance costs and slip fees. The owner has complete control over who rents his boat, for how long and for what price. "Chicago has a vibrant lakefront and river. Cruzin facilitates ways in which more people can enjoy the city from the water. Safety and fun are our priorities for both boat owners and renters," said Cruzin CEO Jaclyn Baumgarten. Cruzin screens both owners and renters to promote security for all involved. The Chicago market presents unique challenges with boat charter permitting requirements. But, Baumgarten explained, "We've worked to ensure all permitting requirements will be complied with directly through Cruzin, simplifying the boat listing process for owners.

By Bill Schrama

If you decide you want to buy a boat we can help make that dream come true.
www.boatfinance.com

Red Right Return... Right?

Red Right Return... Right?

An answer to that age-old question, "What Side of the Buoy Do I Go On???" 

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Red, Right, What? ©iStockphoto.com/Robert Rushton

Two of the “great mysteries” of boating are:

[1] how do I dock this thing in front of all these people and not look like a land-lubber, and

[2] Good Lord, what side of this buoy do I go on?

We will address #1 in a later column. We will address #2 right now and forever!

Here we go...

Imagine this. You are on one of those reality TV shows and you have won! In addition to the big job and the big bucks, the host throws in a beautiful penthouse apartment in a brand new 50-story condo overlooking the marina and harbor. You get so excited that you faint straight away. You wake up in the elevator and you see the elevator numbers flashing by…

If the numbers were going up, would you be leaving the building or returning to our new home in the penthouse? If the numbers were going down, would you be returning to your new home in the penthouse or leaving to go to work..? Clearly, if the numbers are going up, you are returning home. If the numbers are going down, you are leaving.

And the same is true of the buoyage system in the entire United States… While certain pearls of wisdom work in local waters (“keep the reds and the ocean on the same side of your boat”), they don’t work everywhere and they also fail to educate you as a mariner as to “how the system works” and why…

Of course, many of us have heard and used the old saw of “red, right, return” – meaning when returning from sea/to your harbor/home, keep the red buoys on your right. But often harbors line cheek-to-jowl along a shore. Are you leaving one or returning to the other? So, let’s extend the old saw and get it right forever more…

“Red - Right, Return; Left, Leaving.” Keep the red buoys on your right when returning and on your left when leaving. And, if the numbers are going up, you are returning (to your penthouse in the sky!) If the numbers are going down, you are leaving (to that great job you just won!)

Be wary of one thing – “discontinuous numbers”, meaning big jumps between buoy numbers or the numbers starting to go the opposite way. This means you have entered a new seaway or road and you need to recalibrate the direction of the numbers. For example, if returning from sea via an inlet, you will certainly see the buoy numbers go up in step. But what if, for examples, pass Nun#4 and see ahead Can#15? That’s a big jump and undoubtedly means you are entering a new seaway. Now, what side? Quickly check your chart. If the next buoy after this hypothetical Can#15 is Nun#16, you are still “returning from sea.” If, however, it is Nun#14, you are “leaving harbor” as far as the buoyage system is concerned! Remember: Red-Right-Return; Left-Leaving. In this case (leaving), you would now take Can#15 to starboard so that you can subsequently take Nun#14 to port (left leaving!). Never fails (in North America).

Want to know why our reds are on our right when returning from sea and not the other way around as in Europe? Well, when we were at war with the mightiest navy in the world over 230 years, the revolutionaries turned all the buoys around so that the English men-of-war would run aground… and we just kept them that way ever since…!

“Red - Right, Return; Left, Leaving.” If the numbers are going up, you are returning as far as the rules of the road are concerned… Always…

BTW, if you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go direct to the D1SR Human Resources department, who are in charge of new members matters, at DSO-HR and we will help you "get in this thing…"

 

                   Need a boat loan. Loans from $5,000-$35,000 for anything you need to boat!

                                                  www.boatfinance.com

What is a Catamaran?

A traditional sailboat is a monohull–in other words, it has only one hull centered around a heavy keel. A catamaran is balanced on two hulls, with the sails in the middle. It’s as simple as that. Depending on the size of the boat, the space separating the two hulls might be filled by a cockpit, a main cabin, and usually some netting (which can be a great place for relaxing in the sun).

Why are Catamarans Popular?

Size and stability are the main factors. With two hulls and the space in between, there tends to be more room on a catamaran, both above and below decks. Vacationers chartering a boat love cats for this reason. There’s space for a lot of people and a lot of stuff. Additionally, the stability offered by having two hulls means that the boat doesn’t heel over like a monohull–it stays pretty much level. This means the sailing experience is less tiring, as you aren’t battling gravity. Catamarans don’t need as much water underneath them, so you can sail in shallower places than a monohull, and in your anchorage at night you won’t roll around. There’s also a bit more privacy for those onboard, as the two hulls are completely separate from one another. Lastly, they tend to be faster!

How is Catamaran Sailing Different from Monohull Sailing?
As noted above, catamarans don’t really heel over. This makes the entire sailing experience different; the motion of the boat is different, you have to trim the sails differently, and pay attention to other factors that you might not be used to. In light wind and upwind sailing conditions, it can be harder to make headway. When the wind is strong, because the boat doesn’t seem to “react” to the wind, it can be more challenging to tell when you are overpowered and need to reef. In heavy weather (which most casual sailors tend to avoid) a catamaran can be a liability, though with the proper training they can be handled safely. When the conditions are right, catamarans are sweet sailing, smooth performing, and comfortable, so it’s no surprise that more and more of them are appearing in the world’s best sailing destinations.


Where Can I Get Training in Catamaran Sailing?

In response to their rise in popularity, ASA developed a new course, 114: Cruising Catamaran. This course is ideal for people who already have monohull cruising experience and want to translate that over to the catamaran. You’ll learn all the advantages and disadvantages of multihull sailing so that you’ll always be making an informed decision when considering which boat to charter or buy. You’ll also get the practical sailing skills you need to be confident and have a great time on your cat. Contact an ASA school near you to see if they offer ASA 114: Cruising Catamaran.

Article taken from Sailing Blog and Social Hub from American Sailing Association - http://www.asa.com/social_media
URL to article: http://www.asa.com/social_media/2013/01/18/catamaran-sailing/

By Don Schrama

Finance your next boat at http://www.boatfinance.com/