Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•
A “ketch” is a two-masted sailboat, not something you do with a ball.
•
They're
sheets
or “lines,” not ropes.
•
They're “shrouds” or “stays,” not wires.
•
It's “port” and “starboard,” not left and right.
•
It's
fore
and
aft
, not front and back
Beginner classes are ordinarily taught on stable, idiot-proof keelboats. While a false step
can still pitch you into the drink—an embarrassing blunder, no doubt—the boats themselves
are virtually impossible to capsize. Cruising courses focus on navigation, teaching you how
to read charts, operate, and make basic repairs on all manner of shipboard equipment, from
engines to depth finders.
Both the American Sailing Association (www.american-sailing.com) and the U.S. Sail-
ing (www.ussailing.org) maintain rosters of approved North American sailing schools. You
can also consult
Yachting
magazine's annual boat buyers' guide. In the meantime, here's a
short list of well-known schools with stellar reputations, an impressive variety of courses,
and decades-long track records.
Annapolis Sailing School.
With two locations, Annapolis is the oldest salt among the sailing
schools. It has been in business since 1959, and more than 150,000 students have learned to
sail and cruise in its straightforward, step-by-step classes. Packages offered at both the An-
napolis, Maryland, and St. Petersburg, Florida, campuses range from the “Become a Sailor in
One Weekend” course at $375 for the Annapolis location or $525 for St. Petersburg (with a
bigger boat) to the five-day “Preparation for Bareboat Chartering” at $1,045.
Annapolis
Sailing
School,
7001
Bembe
Beach
Road,
Annapolis,
MD
21403,
800-638-9192 or 410-267-8082, www.annapolissailing.com.
