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Sailing Certifications Tips
US Sailing Association Offers Progressive Sail Training
Sailing is something you have to learn in steps. If you don't master the basics such as winch safety, anchoring and trimming a sail, you'll never understand how to manage difficult sailing situations such as heavy wind, a rudder breaking or bad weather. If you don't know how to manage the helm, you'll never feel comfortable going farther away from shore. That's why the US Sailing Association has determined seven levels of standardized training which must be taught by certified instructors. When you begin at the first level, Basic Keelboat, you'll begin a log book in which you'll record all your course completions and the stickers sent to you by US Sailing. This information will also be submitted to a national database and your official log book will serve as a passport for renting or chartering boats locally and around the world (once you receive the proper certifications).
After Basic Keelboat you will progress to Basic Cruising certification, allowing you to advance to larger boats with hull sizes as big as 35 feet. You'll spend more time docking and learning the handling maneuvers of larger boats. Once you earn this certification, you'll be ready to take your family on a day trip.
After you get enough experience day-sailing larger keelboats, you can move to Bareboat Cruising, Passage Making and Coastal Navigation certifications. By this time you'll be an experienced sailor capable of dealing with difficult situations like current and wind. You'll also be skilled at dead reckoning techniques, chart reading and deteriming fixes (your position).
If you choose a sailing school, make sure your instructors have been certified by US Sailing. If they have, they will then be able to offer US Sailing certifications upon successful completion of courses and you can feel safe that the curriculum was adequate. For more information, visit ussailing.org.
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Four Florida Locations Offer US SAILING Certifications
Offshore Sailing School Tip: Offshore Sailing School offers its sailing courses at three metro NY locations, the windswept British Virgin Islands, Bahamas and at its Florida sailing school with four easy-to-reach locations designed for singles, couples or families who desire a learning vacation under sail.
Offshore Sailing School provides US SAILING official certification at its Florida Sailing School. This organization offers a series of certifications that allow you to continually build your sail training. Begin with a Basic Keelboat certification and move on to Basic Cruising when you master the skills. Then, as your sailing confidence soars, you’ll be ready for Bareboat Cruising certification and be able to rent a sailboat without a hired skipper.
Offshore Sailing School has a Florida sailing school on Captiva Island, Ft. Myers Beach, the Florida Keys and St. Petersburg. Choose from a variety of courses at various skill levels, all of which come with US SAILING certification. In a basic sail training course, this highly-respected association ensures that sailors understand nautical terminology, rigging, heavy weather techniques, spinnaker techniques and crew overboard rescue. At a more advanced level, you’ll earn Basic Cruising certification and feel confident taking your family and friends out for a sail while you skipper the boat.
Whether you are new to sailing or have already studied the first levels of US SAILING’S official certification process, learning to sail in Florida is exciting, relaxing and rejuvenating. Offshore is a Florida Sailing School that offers many outstanding custom learning vacations under sail.
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Investigate Boat Certificates Needed in Your State
If you just bought your first sailboat, you might be tempted to load it up on a trailer and get it in the water the first chance you get. But, that could get you into trouble in some states. The laws relating to boat ownership differ from state to state so the first thing you should do is investigate what is required where you live. You can do this at boat-ed.com. There you will find online tests for boat licenses and any other types of certifications you must obtain before sailing. Even if your state does not require a safety certification, consider taking a course and obtaining one anyway. You may prevent an accident and even save a life--and that life could be your child's or your own. Luckily, with the advent of the Internet you can now take many boat certification courses online. You can also study boat safety requirements and read official state handbooks. If you ever get stopped while boating by the authorities, having a boat certification--even if your state does not require it--may help you out.
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New Jersey Sailing School Offers Superb Sailing
Offshore Sailing School Tip: Want to learn to sail? If you live near Liberty Landing, NJ, you're in luck! Offshore Sailing's New Jersey sailing school offers classes to help you earn your US Sailing certifications.he classrooms and on-site office are located within a historic harbor's edge lightship near the Liberty Science Center.
Once you pass a learn to sail course--which requires no prior training--you'll obtain a US Sailing certification in Basic Keelboat sailing. This unique site is sure to take you away from the pressures of everyday job stress. If you've already mastered basic sail training, you can learn to compete in the sport by taking Offshore Sailing School's Fast Track to Performance Racing course earning both your US Sailing Performance Sailing and Performance Racing certifications. You can do all this in a nine day, two course immersion experience. To earn these certifications, US Sailing requires that you know and understand the following: advanced sail trim, spinnaker set, jibe, douse and control, squall management, sailing in current, practical navigation and mooring pick-up.
The metro-New York-New Jersey Sailing Club is also located in New Jersey. After the taking classes at the New Jersey sailing school, you'll have the confidence to take the helm whenever you like. There is no initiation fee to join the club, and you get use of club boats on your next vacation.
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Get Certified at a Bahamas Sailing School
Only 100 miles from Florida's mainland lies an easy sailing destination for anyone seeking a Bahamas sailing school. Once populated by swashbuckling privateers, this area is now one of the most placid sail cruising areas for intermediate to advanced sail training. The water in the Abacos is clear with good navigational aids, and is a popular destination for families and couples. Offshore Sailing School guarantees that you earn US SAILING Certification in whatever course that you take. At Offshore’s Bahamas sailing school, you can take a Catamaran Live Aboard Cruising Course, A Live Aboard Coastal Navigation Course or if you have a need for speed, Offshore's unique Fast Track to Power Cruising course.
With Live Aboard sail training, you can combine the pleasures of cruising a larger yacht with US SAILING Certification in both Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising. Bareboat Cruising Preparation qualifies you to cruise without a hired crew. Basic Keelboat certification is required for this course. Taught on luxurious 38- 46-foot cruising yachts, you'll enjoy amenities such as hot showers, air conditioning and share learning experiences with no more than three other classmates. The experience will be unforgettable.
Ready for something more advanced? Obtain advanced US SAILING Certifications in Coastal Navigation, too. Or, in just five days you can get certified to take the helm and skipper a 46-foot power catamaran.
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New York Sailing School at Chelsea Piers, NYC
Offshore Sailing School Tip: In the midst of busy Manhattan exists a New York sailing school run by the prestigious and reputable Offshore Sailing School. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of New York city life, you don't have to travel far to get sail training and even earn US SAILING official certifications. If you want to train with the best instructors, make sure they have instructor certifications from US SAILING, like Steve and Doris Colgate, the founders of Offshore Sailing School. The school has trained more than 100,000 people since its inception in 1964.
At its New York Sailing School you can take Learn to Sail, Performance Sailing and Coastal Navigation courses --all of which earn you US SAILING certification. Rated as having the best sailing lessons by New York Magazine, Offshore Sailing School seeks to offer its certification courses in the some of the best places in the world, including Chelsea Piers. To help you earn your certifications, Offshore Sailing takes you aboard the Colgate 26, the best training boat there is and the training choice of the US Naval Academy, US Coast Guard Academy and many other sail training schools in the world. For New Yorkers, Offshore Sailing's New York sailing school offers easy access by car, taxi and public transportation.
