A good education combines practical experience with study – and nowhere is that more true than in the world of sailing. As important as it is to understand how a boat works, to learn the terminology, and to grasp the principles of navigation, it’s even more important to get hands-on learning time with the boat on the water.
Until you’ve done it for yourself, there’s no way to really understand what sailing is like. With practice, you get a sense for how the boat moves through the water, whether the sails are trimmed properly, and how to read the conditions. All of this enhances the fun factor, too, taking it from a pleasant day out to a transformative voyage – not only are you sailing from Point A to Point B, you’re also taking on new challenges and growing as a person.
If you want the best sail education available, step one is to find an ASA sailing school near you.
ASA’s curriculum and textbooks set the standard for learning to sail, and each of our affiliated sailing schools adheres to our strict standards. All instructors are certified through our rigorous process and represent the elite of the sail-training field. The ASA curriculum is proven, with over 800,000 sailors certified worldwide, and provides a mix of classroom study with plenty of on-water training. However, this doesn’t mean every school is the same. On the co
ntrary, each individual school has the freedom to teach to their strengths, to make the best use of the waterways they sail on, and to adapt to serve the needs of their students.
What does that mean for you? It means you have endless options to get exactly the kind of sail education you’re looking for. With over 300 schools in our network worldwide, there’s sure to be one that fits you perfectly.
When deciding which school is best for you, we suggest starting by contacting the schools in your preferred sailing area. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- What courses and levels are offered? (Not every ASA school offers every course in the ASA curriculum.)
- Does the school have any specialties? (Some schools specialize in teaching sailing for couples, or all-female classes. Others have destination courses in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Some are interested in sailboat racing, others are not. Consider what your sailing goals are, and find a school that can help you reach them.)
- Does their course fit your schedule? (Different schools teach at different paces. Find out what kind of schedule the school offers.)
- Are you looking for a private class, or would you like to learn with a group?
After discussing your options with a few sailing school representatives, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which one is right for your sail education.
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