Our Sailing School Methodology

Private Sailing School on Florida's Emerald Gulf Coast

How do we teach our classes?  First of all, we spend as much time on the water as possible.  We begin by teaching the appropriate classroom materials to ensure the students are prepared to execute the practical requirements on the water. Then it's out of the slip for practical application.  The instructor demonstrates the procedure and then it's the student's turn.

Students will alternate as either crew or helmsman for each procedure.  After the student has successfully completed the procedure as helmsman, it's time to swap places and act as crew.  Back in the slip, we have a critique of the day's activities and plan for any areas which require additional work.  We don't believe doing something once is enough. We stress repetition to reinforce what the student has learned.

Our instructors only act as helmsman or crew to demonstrate procedures, the majority of the time,  the students are handling the yacht.

Our sailing school method allows students to learn the roles and responsibilities of both helmsman and crew and develop their skills working as a team.

We also limit our class size to two students and extend our classes by one day.  We do this because there is a substantial amount of information and many fundamentals and techniques to be communicated to the students.  Smaller classes make it possible for the instructor to focus on each student and to ensure that his or her needs are met.  It also gives the student more time at the helm and as crew to allow the student to fully understand the subject matter being taught and why it is relevant.

We feel the additional time for our classes is critical to allow students to successfully  complete our classes -- the more time on the water, the better.  Consider that each class requires the students to take an exam that occupies potentially half of one teaching day to administer, grade, and review.

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