Introduction to Sailing:
Contact me via E-Mail or phone with the date and time of your choice. If there is not a date on the schedule that you can make, contact me anyway. We should be able to agree on a mutually agreeable date. Your party arrives at the boat with picnic baskets, cameras, and questions. I give you a short safety orientation and off we go. You are free to take the helm, work as crew or just sit back and watch me work. You and your party get a "Three Hour Tour" of lake Carlyle and the chance to ask questions and discover if sailing is for you. This program can be cost effective way to "test the waters" before investing in more formal training or just a way to take a party out sailing without all the expenses of boat ownership. There is not an exam or certification the only requirement is a smile and desire to have fun.
Basic Keelboat Sailing: "In Town"
Mail in your registration form and you will receive your student packet shortly afterward. There are 3 evening classes held in our new facility in Kirkwood, MO. Besides being centrally located for all residents of the St. Louis area, our facility also has multimedia capabilities in a comfortable conference room. The classes are held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening from 6:00 to 10:00. Half of the class will sail that following Saturday and the rest on Sunday. You can state your preferred sailing day on you registration form. There is a Maximum of 3 students for each sailing day. On your sailing day, I will meet you at the boat, located at Tradewinds Marina in Keysport, IL at 9:00 am . The marina is 1 hour east of Downtown St. Louis. You will get a chance to practice all that you learned that week. You will get as much practice as necessary to demonstrates the skills required as both helmsman and crew required by the A.S.A. curriculum. Classes usually conclude by late afternoon.
Basic Keelboat Sailing: "Travelers"
Mail in your registration form and you will receive your student packet shortly afterward. The entire class is held out at Carlyle starting at 6:00 PM Friday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon. You will need to find accommodations in the Carlyle area for Friday and Saturday night. There are many lodging and camping options and I would be more than happy to help you find a suitable place. Class begins on board the training vessel at 6:00 P.M. Friday evening. You will get a "hands on" lesson on all the parts of a sailboat, terminology, and sailing principles that first evening. The next two days are more fluid to allow us to take the best advantage of good sailing weather and practice recently reviewed material. During the weekend we will have about 12 hours of shore side conferences and 12 hours of sailing. This format is very convenient for students traveling from areas outside the metro St. Louis area. The condensed time format is also attractive to busy St. Louisens who have less time. The format does require more preparation since you will be introduced to a lot of material in a short period of time. If you have a party of 3 or more and want to schedule your own "travelers" class off the schedule, I would be happy to accommodate since these have been some of the most enjoyable classes I have taught.
Basic Coastal Cruising
Mail in your registration and I you will receive your student packet. This course requires passing Basic Keelboat Sailing standards prior to taking BCC-103. As a practical note, the student will benefit much more if he or she has some time between 101 and 103 to practice and gain some experience. Class begins at the marina at 6:00 P.M. Friday evening and concludes in the early afternoon on Sunday. The requirements of this class are 6 - 8 hours of course work and 8 to 10 hours on the water. You will learn procedures and techniques which will enhance your competence in docking, anchoring, and picking up a mooring or Crew Overboard under sail and power. You will get an orientation on the systems of a larger boat with an inboard diesel, full galley, onboard head and other systems that will be expounded on in the next ASA course, Bareboat Chartering. As with all Odyssey Classes, the student learns techniques and habits which will serve him or her well in the many "first time" challenges that will be encountered after the class in over.