Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 22-06-2007, 23:46   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: - San Diego and Fort Collins, CO
Boat: 38' Homebuilt Cutter - "Atticus"
Posts: 136
Colgate Sailing School

I just got my info today on the Colgate Offshore Sailing School. I was thinking about taking their "Fast Track to Crusing". I was wondering if anyone else here has done that, and has any feedback. Private Message is ok if you dont want to publicly post.

Would also appreciate any tips on other schools with similar programs that are respected.

Thanks in advance. - Michael
Colorado Dreamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-06-2007, 02:23   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2006
Boat: MacGregor 26M Lynx
Posts: 352
Go to a school. Any. It is up to you to make the best of it. However, you will need water time/miles to become really good.
Lynx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-06-2007, 18:52   #3
elf
Registered User
 
elf's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: North Carolina
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 105
My husband and I did the Basic Keelboat class through Offshore Sailing, and a few other students were doing Fast Track to Cruising at the same time (on a larger boat). They are a first class operation - I would highly recommend the school. We learned a great deal, the instructors were highly professional, and we left with nothing but good feelings about our experience in Ft. Myers Beach.

They are expensive, but you get what you pay for. Good luck!

elf
elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 13:23   #4
Registered User
 
S Campbell's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canada
Boat: Hughes Columbia 8.7
Posts: 23
I was considering taking the same course (Fast Track to Cruising).How Much does it cost?..

My Captain....er wife wants to go to.
S Campbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 15:32   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cayuga Lake NY - or on the boat somewhere south of there
Boat: Caliber 40
Posts: 1,382
I went to the Maryland School of Sailing for some of the courses and Annapolis Sailing School for others. They were both really good. You can do combo courses that will get you through the bareboat cert pretty quickly. They run them in Florida and the Caribbean in the winter
sck5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 15:59   #6
Registered User
 
svHyLyte's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
Images: 25
Excellant Programs

The Colgate School has excellant programs. We have been acquainted with Steven and Doris since they opened their first "Offshore", Offshore program, in Tortola back in the mid 70's, based at a hotel then owned by friends of ours (they let us use one of their Soling's to sail around the BVI!). There is a very good program at South Sea Plantation on the West Coast of Florida. We have met some of the young instructors and were impressed. You'll like it!

Cheers,

s/v HyLyte
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
svHyLyte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 16:03   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,413
I took the Learn to sail course in 84 in City Island and found it excellent. No complaints. First class.
Sandero is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 17:22   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2008
Boat: Tartan 30- Immrama
Posts: 44
Bluewater Sailing in Fort Lauderdale is first rate as well. About 9 years ago my wife and I did a five day course that took down to the top of the Keys and back. We stayed on board the boat (Beneteau 463, I think) so had a very valuable experience and my introduction to bigger boats. I felt very confident when I got to Tortola that summer for my first bareboat charter, both sailing and boat systems. So really recommend a stay aboard class. Figuring out water system problems has more urgency when you know you won't be going back tto the hotel for a shower that evening.
__________________
Robin
S/V Immrama
on water-Oriental, NC
on land- Nashville, TN
fastfilm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2009, 17:54   #9
elf
Registered User
 
elf's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: North Carolina
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 105
Quote:
Originally Posted by S Campbell View Post
I was considering taking the same course (Fast Track to Cruising).How Much does it cost?..
Depends completely on the school. Exotic locations (for example, the BVI) cost more than stateside. Taking it on a catamaran is more than on a monohull. Taking a private couples class is more $ than taking it with other classmates. Check out the websites of the school(s) you are interested in - many post costs online.

Good luck and enjoy!
elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-04-2009, 14:40   #10
Registered User
 
S Campbell's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canada
Boat: Hughes Columbia 8.7
Posts: 23
Wow, I put in an e-mail request & that same day (night) I got a call at home. Very friendly knowledgeable person on the other end (of the phone) too !.
Very Impressed. My wife says that will definately be the Next Vacation. Yippie......I'm stoked!...
Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone.
__________________
Love, Life, Money, & the Time to Enjoy Them !:cubalibre
S Campbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29-06-2009, 09:41   #11
Registered User
 
Tom and Maje's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cruising the southern coast of Portugal and Spain
Boat: Leopard 40
Posts: 764
We have just committed to the COAST program. The first segment is the Fast Track to Cruising, or what I call 0-60. The second is Fast Track to Costal Navagation which we will take next Spring. We are going to try to, if money and time allows, charter a boat so that we can practice between the first course and the second.

Maje
Tom and Maje is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-08-2009, 20:11   #12
Registered User
 
Tom and Maje's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cruising the southern coast of Portugal and Spain
Boat: Leopard 40
Posts: 764
We just finished the Colgate School's Fast Track to Cruising. I would highly recommend it. You will be pushed, pulled and exhausted. But after 10 days I, who cannot back a minivan up, can stern dock a 43' catamaran. We passed with good grades the first three US sailing qualification courses and felt very confortable sailing without our instructor on the last two days.

Maje
Tom and Maje is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2009, 13:18   #13
Senior Cruiser
 
GordMay's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 51,347
Images: 241
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom and Maje View Post
We just finished the Colgate School's Fast Track to Cruising. I would highly recommend it...
At which location did you take your Fast Track to Cruising course?
Captiva Island, Ft. Myers Beach, The Keys, St. Petersburg, British Virgin Islands, Spanish Virgin Islands, Chelsea Piers NYC, or Jersey City, New Jersey.

Are there differing prices for the same course, at differing locations?

Colgate / Offshore ➥ Sailing Schools, Catamaran Sailing Schools, Sailing Vacations, Sailing Lessons
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"



GordMay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-08-2009, 10:07   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 7,100
I (and others) would recommend that couples who attend sailing schools be split up (different boats, or different times), so each person gains the self-confidence that comes with dealing with the various situations by themselves instead of deferring to the dominant partner.
donradcliffe is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 17-08-2009, 10:15   #15
Registered User
 
Tom and Maje's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cruising the southern coast of Portugal and Spain
Boat: Leopard 40
Posts: 764
[quote=GordMay;318153]At which location did you take your Fast Track to Cruising course?

Are there differing prices for the same course, at differing locations?

We took it in Tortola, BVI. The prices very by location, time of year and the type of boat you want for the crusing portion of the course. The boat charter cost and hotel (the first four nights) were the major cost. We committed to the entire COAST program which includes the 10 day Fast Track to Costal Navigation which is a savings over booking both Fast Track Courses separately.

Maje
Tom and Maje is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
sailing school

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Upper Bay Sailing School jobran Seamanship & Boat Handling 2 18-06-2007 19:54
Sailing Lessons in Maryland, what school??? jobran Training, Licensing & Certification 10 18-06-2007 19:51
Lessons sluissa General Sailing Forum 15 12-05-2006 05:57
Yacht Charter Company Sunsail Earns "Outstanding" Award CaptainK The Library 0 10-04-2006 20:15

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 17:58.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.