When it comes to selecting a sailing school, there are numerous factors to consider. You’re ready to spend a significant amount of money on your education and experience, so you want to make sure you enjoy and benefit from it. When you don’t know what to ask, deciding what questions to ask before picking a sailing school might be difficult.
Here’s a start on the kinds of questions you should ask and some advice on what you should listen to.
We’ll inquire about a potential training facility. These questions will almost certainly prompt you to ask about any sailing school in Florida.
The Age of the Boats
You may or may not care about the age of the boats that a sailing school utilizes for classes. While an older boat may be just as well-maintained and possibly even more seaworthy than a contemporary boat, the difference may be significant to you. If you plan to rent a charter boat in the islands, gaining experience on a boat comparable to what you plan to rent could be beneficial. Rental fleets are typically made up of newer kinds of boats.
Sailing is sailing, and it’s all about the wind, but keep this in mind if you want to learn more about the type of boat you’re going to buy or rent. Consider the types and sizes of boats offered, the maintenance and condition of the boats, the safety features and equipment, and even the surrounding marina – all of these factors will reveal a lot about the organization.
Boat Dimensions
Inquire about whether your class will be aboard a small keelboat or a larger vessel. The debate over whether you should learn to sail with a tiller first and subsequently go to a wheel is never-ending. What matters is that you use it the way that you prefer. While some would want to go into larger boats with full keels and wheels, others would instead start “from the beginning.” ASA and US Sailing schools frequently start their programs on smaller, mid-20 footers. They usually have tillers, and heels, don’t have any sun or wind protection and may have outboard engines.
You can learn on both large and small boats. The theory is the same in both cases. One disadvantage of knowing on a larger vessel is learning all of the sailing and systems simultaneously. It implies that learning to sail on a smaller boat allows you to focus entirely on the sailing element of the experience, leaving the details of engines, holding tanks, windlasses, and other equipment until later.
Course Curriculum
While studying from a friend has its advantages, something is comforting about following a predetermined curriculum. You can learn systematically if you have a standardized set of skills, techniques, knots, terminology, etc. Also, you should remember that the school must have ASA certifications programs in Florida.
This is another advantage of being self-taught. Unlike your friend, a sailing school with a structured curriculum will check off abilities as you learn and demonstrate them who may not drill you ruthlessly on the areas they don’t wish to emphasize. That means no slacking on docking practice, safety exercises, or maneuvers.
