Sailing Instructions in Pensacola Beach

Want to learn to sail dinghies, catamarans, keelboats, windsurfers or yachts, or do you just want to improve your sailing skills. Sailing instructions are available with Emerald Coast Yachts, located in Pensacola Beach and Panama City, Florida. Here students will have the opportunity to enjoy private sailing lessons, usually with 2 students, so the instructor to student ratio is 1:2. Students will spend time in the classroom then will move on to the slip for practical application of what was learned in the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to learn the position of crewmember and helmsman while instructors are available to demonstrate proper techniques needed to handle the yacht. This hands-on method allows the student to learn the roles and responsibilities of both helmsmen and crewmembers while developing skills as a team member.

Emerald Coast Yachts’ pricing for its sailing instructions is for a couple or 2 students and includes course materials as well as lodging aboard the teaching yacht. Students have the opportunity to take single courses or combined courses. Single courses include Basic Keelboat Sailing, Basic Coastal Cruising, Bareboat Charter Certification, Coastal Navigation, Cruising Catamaran and Advanced Coastal Cruising. Combined courses include Basic Keelboat Sailing and Basic Coastal Cruising, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter Certification, Basic Keelboat Sailing, Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter Certification or Bareboat Charter Certification and Cruising Catamaran.

Basic Keelboat Sailing (ASA course number 101), teaches the student to sail a 20 foot boat in familiar waters with light to moderate wind and sea conditions without supervision. This course is 3 days in length and costs $1,195 for two.

Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA course number 103), teaches the student to safely navigate local and regional waters, with moderate winds and sea conditions, on a 20-30 foot boat with auxiliary power. Students will learn the roles of both skipper and crew in this course. This course is 3 days and costs $1,595 for two. Prerequisite for this course is ASA 101.

Bareboat Charter Certification (ASA course number 104), is available to the advanced student who has cruising experience along. This course allows the student to learn the role of a skipper on a 30-50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters. Boat systems and maintenance procedures will also be included in this course as well as overnight anchorage, navigation to and docking in unfamiliar marinas. Dinghy with outboard handling will also be covered. This course is 4 days in length and costs $2,195 for two. Prerequisites for this course are ASA 101 and 103.

Coastal Navigation (ASA course number 105), teaches the student the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. This course is 3 days and is $395 for one person.

Cruising Catamaran (ASA course number 114), is for advanced students with cruising experience. This course allows the student the opportunity to be skipper and crew of a 30-50 foot multihull sailboat by day in coastal waters. Prerequisites for this course include ASA 101,103 and 104. This course is 3 days and is $1,695 for two.

Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA course number 106), teaches the student to safely take on the role of skipper and crew of a 30-50 foot sailing vessel. This course is day and nighttime in coastal and inland water in any weather. Prerequisites include ASA 101, 103, 104 and 105. This course is 4 days and costs $2,395 for two.

Emerald Coast Yachts offers its students the opportunity to learn new sailing techniques or to brush up on the ones that they already have. For more information, call 888-204-0241 or visit www.ecsailing.com.