recommendation on sailing schools fort lauderdale

[boatgirl123]

hi, new to sailing and this forum. any reco on sailing schools fort lauderdale or even miami. also anyone local in my area that would want to apprentice me on their boat would be a nice practical addition to my regular schooling and the thousands of books i have ordered and been studying. but a little overwhelmed with all your sailor terminology. jeez i did better with medical terminology.
thanks bunches salty people.

[Teknav]

Welcome aboard! Try...Blue Water Sailing School, bwss.com ; 924 NE 20th Ave, Fort Lauderdale; (954) 763-8464. The school teaches ASA certification courses. You do NOT need to learn Celestial Navigation (nowadays, most sailors use a GPS), and there is no need to take any CATAMARAN classes, as a beginner. Let's know how you're progressing. Good luck!
Mauritz

[boatman61]

Hi Boatgirl... Welcome to CF
Don't sweat the terminology.. most is self explanatory and things like Cunningham etc are only of interest to dinghy sailors/racers...
Upstairs, downstairs, fence, steering wheel, stick and rag are all acceptable...
unless you sail with someone with a spinnaker pole up their butt..

[HappyMdRSailor]

Welcome Aboard!

Others will have to help with schools... I'm sure there are tons... I would actually look for a "sailing club" like this one, but in your area... Fairwind Yacht Club Basically free use of a bunch of boats for some of your time and a VERY reasonable quarterly fee... From here you will likely meet plenty of folk who would like a hand or company...

Don't worry about terminology.... It starts to become second nature once you are using it regularly.... Boatman is correct too.... we all use stick to describe the mast, and many more that are self explanatory...

Cheers!

[boatgirl123]

thanks boatman. amazing experience you have oh mighty one. i think i am going to sign up for the one week course through water sailing">blue water sailing school. i'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

[boatgirl123]

thanks happy sailor. that is a great tip about the fairwind yacht club. ill check it out. great pic of you on your boat

[OldFrog75]

I agree with the school/club combo idea. That's what I did. Our club has a presence in 6 marinas and a fleet of 80 boats to charter once you pass the 101 and 103 exams. Don't know what the rates are in your neck of the water but our dues are $30/month and the 101/103 course was plus membership was $700.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by boatgirl123

thanks happy sailor. that is a great tip about the fairwind yacht club. ill check it out. great pic of you on your boat

You're welcome and Thanks!

Check out oldfrog's post info... THAT'S what you're looking for!... Lots of availability... and CHEAP.... After the course.... of course .......

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by boatgirl123

thanks boatman. amazing experience you have oh mighty one. i think i am going to sign up for the one week course through blue water sailing school. i'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

LOLOL.... Thanks Boatgirl.... but as they say about deliveries...
'your only as good as your last trip'...
May have been sailing around a little while... but still much to learn...

[skipmac]

Don't get too intimidated by the terminology although it is useful. The most basic example, saying port and starboard instead of left and right. Very useful on a boat because left/right is different depending on whether you are in the front (bow ) of the boat looking back (aft) or in the back looking forward.

But port and starboard are always understood no matter which way you are facing.

I started like you by reading thousands (well maybe hundreds) of books, articles and magazines and was confused but after spending just a little time on a boat it started falling into place rather quickly.

So don't sweat the small stuff. Get on a boat and have some fun. And if the instructor isn't fun and laid back, fire him or her and get a new one.