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13-05-2010, 10:38
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Posts: 115
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Greetings from Georgia, USA
Hello All!
My wife and I have been bitten by the sailing bug. We know nothing about it, but can't seem to shake the dream of sailing the Caribbean, so we've decided to start planning for the adventure.
We were thinking of taking a couple of ASA classes down in Florida. I really want to learn as much about sailing and get some experience on a boat before we buy and start out on our own.
Are these courses a good investment?
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13-05-2010, 11:11
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 1,296
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Welcome aboard.
Yes, the ASA courses are well respected and they cover pretty much everything you need to know. The certificates are nice, but the "investment" is in the knowledge they represent. You can also get much of this knowledge through inexpensive Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxiliary, yacht/sailing club classes, crewing on club racers, or just reading on your own. Learning to sail, in the sense of controlling and maneuvering a sailboat and becoming reasonably competent at it, is really quite easy and doesn't take long at all.
__________________
"There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats."
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)
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13-05-2010, 11:47
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Posts: 115
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Re: Reef Runners in PCB?
Thanks for the advice, I'm looking at the USCG and Powersquadron now. I'm thinking of taking the ASA certification 101/103 w/ Reefrunner's in PCB, Florida.
Anybody heard/used them?
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13-05-2010, 12:04
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: By the River of Silver
Boat: FPD 1760 LCD 17"screen
Posts: 304
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Welcome. I am also new here . My other half and I have got similar plans as you. In fact he is starting his helmsman´s course in Argentina today . I can't wait for us to get out on the water together ,any water bigger than a puddle will do . And after practising a while we will go cruising too . Tristan da Cunha is on our map ,but also the Polynesian islands . Slowly slowly .
Good luck with your courses .
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14-05-2010, 07:05
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#5
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 30,585
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Hi.. welcome SH..
Curiosity..
if your bitten by sailing why the Powerboat Squadron...??
You'll not learn much re-sails there.. or will you..??
Over here(UK)Powerboat is exactly that... motor not sail...
Rules of the road, navigation etc is mainly theory..
I'd have thought sail handling, boat management and seamanship would be more suitable than learning to drive a car on water...
No offence intended with this post...
__________________
It was a dark and stormy night and the captain of the ship said.. "Hey Jim, spin us a yarn." and the yarn began like this.. "It was a dark and stormy night.."
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14-05-2010, 07:08
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Posts: 115
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Re: Power Squadron
I was just checking out their website per the advice of one of the posters here. I probably won't use that site it for anything, as I quickly found the site to be based mostly on power boating. As you said, it really has very little on sailing.
I'm in the process of booking the 101/103 ASA courses now.
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14-05-2010, 07:23
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: May 2007
Location: St. Simons Island, Ga.
Boat: Hunter Legend 37.5 1993
Posts: 240
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Welcome to the CF. I am a Georgia boy myself and recommend the ASA courses. Have fun. Fair Winds
David
__________________
Eat Well. Savor Life.
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14-05-2010, 09:09
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 1,296
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I sort of thought it goes without saying that the Power Squadron focus is on power boats. However, it does (or did) teach aids to navigation, chart reading, weather and communications, anchoring and how to deal with tide and currents, basic engine troubleshooting, docking, etc. - all things which might be useful for sailboat owners.
__________________
"There's nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats."
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (River Rat to Mole)
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14-05-2010, 09:33
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Marathon, FL
Boat: 1984 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34
Posts: 85
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Welcome - we're GA folks too!
__________________
Bill & Lisa Ballard
Cruising US East Coast (Currently)
S/V JO BETH
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14-05-2010, 09:34
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Posts: 115
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Powersquad./ASA
It did have a lot of those things on it. Very useful for that, but I'm hoping to learn that in stuff w/ ASA. If not, might have to check those out too.
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14-05-2010, 09:34
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama
Posts: 115
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It's good to see so many Georgia folks on here. Maybe yall can help me with the land to sea conversion.
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10-06-2010, 23:44
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Aloha and welcome aboard!
I'm glad you'll be taking a course. I like them all but a basic sailing course is a very good thing to start building your skills on.
regards,
__________________
John
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