Yacht Club Offers Adult Sail Lessons
Adult sailing lessons on keelboats will be offered by the St. Maarten Yacht Club and Lagoon Sailboat Rentals beginning in November. The course while open to all adults will cater to people working in the marine trades.
"The aim of the course is to teach the employees how to sail in Jeanneau Sunfast 20's," said organizer Daniel Penning. "And also to show them the etiquette in the yachting world so they know what is what on board of a yacht."
The course consists of four 2.5 hour long lessons for a total of 10 hours of sailing and instruction. Lessons will be held Mondays November 12, 19, 26 and December 3. All sailing will be done on the protected waters of Simpson Bay Lagoon. "After the course there are many possibilities to continue sailing, like renting the boats," said Penning. He also explained the new sailors would also be able to compete in "friendly" evening races.
The adult program is divided into three levels of six classes each. Level 1 begins with the new sailors developing a general feel for sailing a keelboat on their own. They will learn how to rig and sail the boat by themselves.
International Safety Rules covering who has the right of way on the water, safety on the water, and what to do in emergency situations will be discussed.
Level 2 continues to build on Level 1. The sailors will learn how to dock the boat, deal with man over board situations and how to sail to wind in an efficient way. There will be a continuation of International Safety Rules as well as a lesson on commonly used knots.
Level 3 begins with how to a day sailing trip. Discussion will include sailing to wind, anchoring, what to do if the boat runs aground and how to handle heavy weather sailing.
The cost is $200.-- per person.
For more information contact the Yacht Club.
» Simpson Bay Yacht Club
» Lagoon Sailboat Rental
