Southwinds Sailing June 2004 - Southwinds Magazine

WEST FLORIDA SAILINGNorth U, South Seas Resort, FL:Let’s Go to Sailboat Racing SchoolBy Dave EllisSo you have been racing sailboats for a while and enjoy it.But you think you may enjoy it more if you were up nearerthe front of the fleet more often, maybe even eventually beingrequired to polish some silver occasionally.Just so much can be done to hone skills with your localfleet. Unless you sail with a very skilled fleet, you probablyneed outside help.There are schools that can infuse racing skills in a shorttime. No, you won’t become an overnight rock star. Impressivegains in a fleet have been experienced, though.The sailor learns principles behind the winner’s reasoning.A good racing school will look at your individual styleand temperament and work with you to gain the skill neededto greatly increase your skill level.J-World in Key West for the harder-core racer, RickWhite’s race weeks near Key Largo for Laser, Sunfish and allmanner of catamarans, and Offshore Sailing SchoolRaceweeks are proven choices to jump-start your racing game.North U has traveling classroom seminars, which may havecome to your club.Offshore has had raceweeks for over three decades. WhenI decided to get into the sailing business in 1985, I answeredan ad in Sailing World, or whatever it was called then, for a“racing instructor.” “Sure, come on up to City Island, NY,and interview,” said owner Steve Colgate.I had never raced a boat with a spinnaker before, so Iread Colgate’s book on the subject and memorized his triedand-truemethod. In the interview when questions about spinnakerwork were asked, I parroted the book. Naturally, theyfigured I was an expert and hired me. The upshot was that Iwas able to teach spinnaker work very well. Empathy for thestudent and breaking things down into simple steps madeteaching, and learning, easy.Let’s go inside a week of North U/Offshore Sailing Schoolracing class at Captiva’s South Seas Resort. The classroomportion is in the morning from 8 to 10. If you have ever beenRacing with North U.to a North U presentation on tactics or speed, this is the same,but expanded. North U founder Bill Gladstone is a skilledmoderator who welcomes questions, yet keeps the flow oflearning progressing.It is the on-the-water time that makes this week especiallyeffective. Six identical Colgate 26 sloops were lined upready for four adult clients and one on-board instructor apiece.After introductions Monday, we went sailing on Pine IslandSound in a fresh breeze and flat water.The first morning I like to just let each person sail theboat and work every position so that I can get a look at theirskill level and they can get used to the responsive boat. Thefour sailors assigned to each boat stayed together with thesame on-board instructor all week. Gladstone tooled aroundin a powerboat taking videos and notes for the evening recap60June 2004 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindssailing.com