Learn and Sail With Boats Provided Through The American Sailing Institute
Not the catchiest of slogans is it? Do a little surfing and you will find hundreds of sailing schools on the Web that have eye catching slogans, great graphics, featuring beautiful yachts, some even promise to have you sailing across the Atlantic after one weekend of training. Well maybe not across, but close to it.
Sometimes we really don’t know when we have the best, for instance I remember when Marilyn made me a homemade meatloaf dinner, I thought, “boy, that doesn’t look like my Mom’s”, but now Marilyn tells me I like hers the best. So, sometimes we don’t know we’re getting the best until someone lets you know. And I am letting you know that with the ASI L2 Keelboat Sailing School, you are getting one of the best.
The majority of sailing schools, probably 98% of them, are for-profit schools. The instructors are paid to teach a set curriculum, move you through class quickly, scan your Visa, hand you a diploma, pat you on the back and then say good-bye.
At ASI we never say good-bye, and like the slogan says, “Sail With Boats Provided Through The American Sailing Institute”. And let me assure you that your boats are very nice and very well maintained. Looks like we have a pretty good slogan after all.
ASI offers an unprecedented 21 hours of classroom training in seamanship, and navigation, both traditional and GPS. Most sailing schools typically give you less than 6 hours of classroom training. A weekend of on-water sail instruction is approximately 16 hours; at ASI you receive 32 hours of on-water instruction.
ASI instructors are your fellow club members who volunteer their time and knowledge to help you achieve your sailing dreams. They are not paid, they don’t do it for awards, they teach for the enjoyment of helping others experience the thrill of keelboat cruising. Well maybe I should correct that, we do get an ASI monogrammed wine glass. “Sounds good but what kind of experience do these volunteer instructors have”, you ask. Excellent question.
Your L2 shore school instructors have a total of 104 years of sailing experience? They have sailed and captained boats from 14 to 50 feet. They have sailed the Lakes of; St. Clair, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Georgian Bay, Traverse Bay, the Thousand Islands, and the North Channel. They have sailed the waters of; Chesapeake Bay, Florida, San Juan Islands, British Virgin Islands, and the Leeward and Windward Islands of the Caribbean Sea. But just like you, they started out on the waters of Kent Lake. Here is a short summary of your instructor’s qualifications and achievements, achievements we hope will help us continue to improve ASI’s Keelboat Sailing School and make it one of the very best.
Bill Lane – Head of Keelboat Instruction
-over 35 years sailing experience - over 30 years as a Sail Instructor -highest ASI rating achieved, L4 – U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License -US Sailing Certifications of; Basic, Cruising, and Bareboat Cruising -US Sailing Small Boat Instructor – USPS*; Basic Boating Course
Trudy Morse – Lead Instructor - Keelboat Navigation
-over 20 years sailing experience – over 12 years as a Sail Instructor -highest ASI rating achieved, L4 – USPS*; Basic Boating – Seamanship – Piloting -USPS*; Instructor – Sailing Memberships; ASA – US Sailing – National Women’ Org.
Haim Schlick – Assistant Instructor – Keelboats
-over 25 years sailing experience – over 15 years as a Sail Instructor
-highest ASI rating achieved; L2 – AYH Surfboard Certificate -USPS*; Full Certificate Instruction, 5 yrs – USPS*; Education Officer, 2 yrs. -initiated the first Primer for Navigation, ASI Keelboat Manual
Norm Schmidt – Assistant Instructor - Keelboats
-over 10 years sailing experience – over 7 years Sail Instruction/Mentoring -highest ASI rating achieved; L4 - USPS*; Basic Boating, Piloting
Jack Townsend – Assistant Instructor - Keelboats
-over 10 years sailing experience - over 5 years Sail Instruction/Mentoring -highest ASI rating achieved; L4 - US Sailing Certifications; Basic, Cruising, Bareboat Cruising -ASA** Certifications; Basic, Coastal Cruising, Navigation, Advanced Coastal Cruising -USPS*; Basic Boating, Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Engine Maintenance
* USPS – Untied States Power Squadron or United States Sail & power Squadron
** ASA – American Sailing Association
We hope you enjoy your L2 class, you can be very proud of the sailing education you are receiving - its one of the best. We are also very happy for the opportunity to share our knowledge and skills with you so that together we can be the best of the Great Lakes Sailors.
Sea you in class! |