Learn to Sail or Improve Your Skills
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Would you like to feel confident sailing a 35-50 foot boat? Would you like to be able to charter a sailboat anywhere in the world? Learn navigation skills to sail far and wide or just get to the next island? Learn what to do when the wind and waves come up? If you agree these are worthwhile goals, then we invite you to take a look at what we can offer you.
- Would you like to swim with wild dolphins? Walk on deserted beaches? Snorkel on pristine coral reefs? Gaze up to the Milky Way on nights spent many miles from city lights? Or, perhaps grill a freshly caught Tuna or Mahi-Mahi on the deck of your sailboat? If any of this appeals to you, you're invited to join us in a sailing school. Come and learn the ways of the sea from one of our experts.
- SchoolofSailing.net is both an online and hands-on resource center for sailors, want to be sailors, and those interested in learning more. Whatever your present skill level, be it novice or expert, you're sure to find something of value here.
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If you are looking for sailing information online then check out the pages listed left. If you run into words or terms you don't understand check out the Glossary of some 500 nautical terms. Please submit any questions you have about any aspect of sailing and an expert will get back to you ASAP. It's through your questions that we can build up our FAQ base to offer you more. Really, we'd love to hear from you!
- If you are looking for hands-on resources then check out our Private Sailing School. If you are interested in a marina based school then visit our Sailing Schools page. All sailing lessons include ASA certification and are taught by experienced instructors who are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard (Captain's license). For approximate costs see the FAQ page.
What's New at SchoolofSailing.net?
- June 19,2009. Photo Blog addition will make it possible for Captain Shel to post daily photos of sailing schools. This will be fun for all onboard and a great way for family and friends to be included.
- June 14, 2009. Added Food & Drink page. Here we talk about provisioning for a week's voyage. Topics covered include stowing provisions, refrigeration, meal planning, recipes, and drinks.
- June 12, 2009. Added a Ship's Store page for the convenience of purchasing required and recommended books through Amazon.com. You may also purchase dividers and parallels rules for navigation work.
- June 11, 2009. Anchoring section added including:
Anchors & How They Work goes into the details of different anchor types and shows how anchors are able to hold you even in very strong winds. This page also covers how to set and retrieve an anchor. Also detailed are the importance of snubbers and bridals.
Anchoring Styles & Mooring discusses the different ways you can anchor. From using just one anchor off the bow to Bahamian mooring, Med mooring, and how to pick up and tie off to a mooring buoy. Also discussed is the kedge anchor and how to use it if you run aground.
Choosing an Anchorage talks about how to find a good anchorage for any weather situation. From protected harbors to open water, what to look for if you'd like a good night's sleep.
- June 4, 2009. Terminology should get everyone up to speed on the words and definitions used in sailing. We cover sails, parts of the sailboat, and functions of various items. Enjoy!
- June 3, 2009. Basic Sail Trim and Tacking & Jibing pages added. Learn how to trim sails for your course and how to use telltales to your greatest advantage. In tacking & jibing we go into depth discussing these two important sailing maneuvers. Learn how to prevent the boom from swinging in an uncontrolled manner when jibing.
- June 2, 2009. Weather & Lee Helm talks about how to keep your boat properly balanced and why that should be important to you.
- June 1, 2009. True & Apparent Wind discusses the differences between these two types of wind and how these affect the boat.
- May 30, 2009. Currents goes into the details of navigating in moving water. How to calculate the correct course when the water wants to carry you somewhere else.
- May 28, 2009. Plotting Positions and Courses (under Navigation) fully explains how to find your position and place it on the chart. Also included is how to plot courses. Several position finding methods are discussed. Learn how plot a fix, the DR, estimated positions, and the running fix.
- May 28, 2009. Speed, Time, & Distance page added (under Navigation). This should help all of us in solving these problems. A simple method is put forth to assist in easily determining speed, time, or distance run.
- May 25, 2009. Downloads page added. Free of charge are a full size version of 'Points of Sail' diagram and a Ship's Log form. Both are in PDF format for easy online printing or download to your computer. Also there's a list of provisions required for a week for 4-5 people. This is in DOC format so you can edit it.
- May 22, 2009. Unlocking The Chart page added (under Navigation). This should prove a real help to anyone wanting to better understand reading a nautical chart. Includes buoys, beacons, water depth, and types of charts to name a few.
- May 17, 2009. Avoiding Collisions page added (under Navigation). Know when and how to react in a close quarters situation. Find out who has the right of way. Sailboats, powerboats, tugs, fishing, and large ships are included.
- May 15, 2009. Navigation Lights page added (under Navigation). A guide to knowing when and which lights to display for various boats. Both sail and power are covered as well as displaying the important anchor light.
- May 13, 2009. Aids To Navigation page added (under Navigation). This encompasses almost all buoys, beacons, lighthouses, and daymarks that will be encountered in US waters. Intracoastal Waterway is explained as well as special regulatory markers and light phase characteristics.
- May 11, 2009. Latitude & Longitude page added (under Navigation). This should help with understanding the coordinate system applied to the surface of the Earth. GPS instruments use this system as have all navigators for hundreds of years.
- May 9, 2009. True & Magnetic page added (under Navigation). This is to help in understanding the important difference between the true north pole and the magnetic north pole. Those reading should come away with an understanding of how a magnetic compass works and its limitations.
- April 20, 2009. SchoolofSailing.net goes live on the Internet. Captain Shel Miller establishes SchoolofSailing.net to help those who want to learn more about sailing. Content will be added and updated.
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| Sunset at sea. | Studying onboard. | Spotted dolphins. |
A catamaran sailing class. We're docked at Boca Chita Key south of Miami. This class is onboard 'La Bomba' a Lagoon 42.
A monohull sailing class. We cruise past the south side of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Here, we're aboard 'Weatherbird' a 43' Gib'Sea .
A quiet moment anchored just off Fisher Island close to Miami. Here we're aboard 'Gitana' a 51' Gib'Sea. Gitana is Spanish for female gypsy, a good name for a sailboat.