Conducting an Instructor Qualification Clinic (IQC) in April on Lake Michigan can be a roll of the dice weatherwise. Over the 3.5 days of our clinic (ASA 201, 203, 205) we experienced chilly conditions and one day were rained out completely – but as any good sailors, we adjusted and worked through the requirements of the clinic and were blessed graduation day with perfect weather spring weather. This group of instructors came from both far and near – as far north as Sturgeon Bay in Northern Wisconsin as well as local sailors to Chicago. Hosted by Sea Safaris Sailing School and Captain Brian Earl, ASA IE, all of these sailors were accustom to the vagaries of early season sailing.
The instructor candidates came with many creative presentations and interesting learning techniques including an Aids to Navigation Matching game everyone enjoyed. Shelly celebrated her birthday with us which we commemorated with cupcakes and candles while we shared many stories of ocean crossings, international ports of call and exciting sailing conditions near and far. Some of the newly minted instructors will teach locally, others with more distant dreams, plan to take their instructor qualifications to warmer shores. Congratulations to a newly minted crop of ASA instructors.
If you’re interested in learning more about sailing instruction with ASA then see our Become A Sailing Instructor page. If you’re ready to sign up to become an instructor or advance to the next level of instructor see the IQC schedule.
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