Education; ASA, US Sailing, and others...

[AdriftAtSea]

Always enjoy the ride.   :)  I read something recently that said instead of hills and valleys in life, it is more like railroad tracks.  There is usually a track of good things going on in your life and beside of it is also a track of some bad things.  The bad would be the floating floorboards, the good is just being out there!!   ;)

Anyone, besides me, think that Connie is an eternal optimist?  Not that being one is bad, as I am often said to be one myself.

[Jack Tar]

Self taught . Nothing wrong with taking a class though.

[Pixie Dust]

Anyone, besides me, think that Connie is an eternal optimist?  Not that being one is bad, as I am often said to be one myself.

:) ;) :D  I think I am...... That is not always a good thing.  I do try to find the good in things, but sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge.   ;D  ???  :P

[starcrest]

I took sailing lessons in 1979 in marina del rey california.a 27 foot soling.but I really didnt learn until I bought my first boat---a 23 foot jolly roger.then I took a course in coastal piloting thru the coast guard auxilliary.I never heard of a "spiralling loxodrome" till then.I got lotsa experience--but sitting out there for four days at a time taught me to be patient.when the slightest of wind comes---just set it an'ferget it.dont ask for more.I will never forget daysailing with a rikky racer on his fin keel spade rudder huge genny sheeted in too tight.he wuz jumpin' all over the deck tryin' ta' go faster.to this day I cant understand why there's all this stuff---to make sailboats go faster----they buy these hi-tech super secret flying fin keel ultra light displacement hulls---then they out fit them with mast steps,full length dodgers and bimini tops,radars,self steering vane gears,-lotsa extra fuel cans on deck,obviously to extend range under power--baggywrinkles on the spreaders---life nets on the life lines- all sortsa' heavy anchor gear on deck----I mean all this suff ya see on heavy displacement hulls---maybe they're jus' tryin'ta'get the best of both worlds.its like getting an ultra light steam roller.or perhaps they will come up with a super tanker with a retractable keel.

[s/v Faith]

its like getting an ultra light steam roller.or perhaps they will come up with a super tanker with a retractable keel.

;D

[Capt. BC]

I get the hint that this forum may have some folks that are from this era, enjoy some relaxed music, and would appreciate this bit of information.

Hon 120-304 Parrothead Studies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brought to you via the Coconut Telegraph and confirmed through the University of North Carolina Wilimington, An Honors course which delves into the study of the Jimmy Buffett fans. With field trips to the Margaritvalle Cafe and interviews with Parrotheads at tailgate parties, the students embark on a journy into the world of leasure.

In an e-mail Jimmy says that if he had taken this class when he was in college he would have flunked it also.

Description: Using various theories of leisure behavior, the Office for Parrothead Research investigates the motivations and experiences of Jimmy Buffet fans (a.k.a. Parrotheads). Students in this seminar will (a) learn and apply various theories of leisure behavior, with a focus on serious leisure, to the Parrothead phenomena; and (b) learn and apply research skills in survey and qualitative methods to study Parrotheads.

[CapnK]

LOL! If they'd have had classes like that when I was in college, I might have gradyeeated!

;D

[AdriftAtSea]

i know what you mean.  :D

[Solace]

If I would have known they had courses like this - I might have gone further than high school.

We had the extreme pleasure of being able to sail to his concert in Toronto last year - the Ontario Place Marina is approximately 300 yards (don't ask me what that is in metres) away from the venue where he played. Unfortunately, tailgate parties such as you are allowed stateside, are unlawful in the great white north - but we had one heck of a sailgate party!! Was amazing to see how some of the folks had decorated their boats.

Sadly, Jimmy did not grace us with a tour date this summer. There's always next year. sigh

Cheers!

John

[Joe Pyrat]

Why didn't they have classes like that when I was in college???   :)

[pamdemonium]

Ahhh, jeez...
I am a big parrothead.  I grew up in Colorado -- Jimmy had a place in Aspen.  I saw him several times at the summer ritual called "Deaf Camp Benefit".   Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Eagles and Jimmy.  It was held on the green slopes of Snowmass resort...man those were the days. I have seen him several times since and although always a GREAT show, nothing comes close to my memories. 
Is the class long distance? 

[Captain Smollett]

So far as I can tell, the curricula for US Sailing and ASA Basic Keelboat are the same.

Anyone know of any key differences?  Anyone familiar enough with both to recommend one over the other?

My wife has decided she would like to take some lessons.  We have an ASA group about 45 minutes from here (on an inland lake), another about 2 hours from here and a US Sailing school about 5-6 hours from here (but near some good areas to visit).

Costs are roughly the same.  ASA is 16 hours (2 days), US Sailing is 24 hours (3-4 days, depending on weather).  But again, from the simple descriptions on the web sites, the material covered looks identical, so I don't know about the 16 vs 24 hour differences.

[AdriftAtSea]

US Sailing is more racing oriented, especially in the later courses IIRC.  ASA is more cruising/daysailing oriented.

[Tim]

My experience has been in researching them no matter the method, the individual class and teacher can be very different.

The firstmate and I took from keelboat to bareboat ASA courses grouped together in an onboard classroom situation. Although it was great for us because primarily all we wanted was the bareboat certification, it would not have been ideal for someone with little experience.

I suggest getting references from people that have taken the class as to its effectiveness.

[AdriftAtSea]

A very good point...the instructor makes a huge difference... some instructors are far better than others.  If you're looking to cruise, getting an instructor who is primarily a racer may not be a good fit. 

[newt]

Ahoy Captain! I have taken from 101 to 106 with ASA, and I would agree with the instructor is the most important part.  Talk to the ones teaching the course, even over the phone you can learn quite a bit.
With that caveat however,
I would say that the best instructor I have ever had was a 70 year old fossil that seemed to do things that I thought were highly questionable on the trip. I think if I had talked to him in depth before the course I would have walked. (He had a great distaste for doctors and the medical field in general) Man would I have missed out. He could have sailed a dingy through a hurricane, and probably has. There was nothing he has not done (at least twice) during his forty years on yachts. He sails out of south Florida and to this day I have a great deal of respect for the old pirate. I review notes from his class every time I go out in the ocean. The stories from those 7 days have become some of the family folklore.  I would go on, but you get the idea.
Good luck in your search... :)

[Norm]

Hello All:
This winter I had the opportunity to teach both USSA and ASA courses through Coastal Passage Making/Advanced Coastal Cruising.  I am an ASA Instructor Evaluator certified through 106/ACC.

I agree completely that the instructor, boat, sailing venue, and classmates are the biggest contributor to success or disappointment.  Love the story about the old codger!

The ASA tests are the same ones I took in 1985.  Much of the material is out of date.  The ASA exams are a bit harder than the USSA ones.  However, the USSA exams follow the text well.  The ASA exams assume a rich discussion in class that prepares one for the exam.  (Chuckle...)

If the instructor is able to stay on track and not get too distracted by the students, either program will do. 

Charter companies don't care which you have.  (They mostly care that you have a sufficient limit on your CC to cover "mistakes."  More on charter companies later.)  The ASA is more widely recognized than USSA.  There are more schools and students.  I hear that 80% of USSA certifications come from the Offshore Sailing School program which feed Moorings and Sunsail.

In general, more time on board with an instructor is a plus.  The second part is practice after the classes.  If you have a place to practice and do get in sailing practice, the learning experience is solid.

Best,
Norman

[Lost Lake]

I finally signed up for the classes June 26th in Ludington, MI. It's a Wednesday night - Sunday night class never leaving the boat except to eat breakfast and supper on Thursday and Friday.

I plan to test out of the basic keelboat course (I understand this is a common challenge). So far the only students signed up are myself and a friend of mine. The boat is a 38.5 Hunter. The skipper says he'll sail with just us two on board.

What have you salty sailors learned over the years that I should be seeking from my teacher? I think navigation will come fairly easily for me as I have piloted small planes for years, and the knots I can pick up, but I was hoping you could tell me what I should ask and really wring out of the instructor.

I would like to bareboat this winter in the BVI or AVI.... Maybe take along another more experienced couple...

[Norm]

The things that go wrong on most cruises are related to stopping the boat.  You know:  docking, mooring, anchoring, man overboard, and reefing. 

Night sailing and night navigation are important skills.  If you can get some night sailing where you practice steering without the compass, stay on course by feeling the wind angle, heel angle, etc that will be very useful.

BVI and USVI sailing requires a credit card only.  The sailing is so simple.  It is all line of sight and there are few buoys.  Where folks get wrapped up is going alongside the water and fuel dock.

have fun and write about your adventures

[AdriftAtSea]

Norm's points are excellent... boats far from objects to hit are generally not going to have as many possible problems as they are when they get close to land, docks, moorings, etc.