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Sailing is at the heart of Bitter End. We would like for all guests to have the chance to enjoy the exhilaration of this sport -- we want you out on the water!
The Sailing School at Bitter End is US Sailing Association accredited and we have on staff certified instructors from all over the world to help you learn to sail, fine tune your skills, gain a well-rounded set of skills with all aspects of sailing in our Adventure Package, or complete the process toward keelboat certification. Sailing instruction is available for all ages and levels, using the Club’s professionally maintained boats and course materials for keelboat certification are approved by the US Sailing Association.
Starting this summer, Bitter End will offer US Sailing student certification in Basic Keelboat, and soon thereafter, Basic Cruising, and Bareboat Cruising. What this means is that Bitter End adheres to the guidelines set forth by US Sailing, regarding the number and quality of sailing instructors, and type and quality of boats. Additionally, the curriculum must pass US Sailing's stringent requirements, or in the case of Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising, use US Sailing's own materials.
At Bitter End, the Basic Keelboat Course will be taught on Hunter 216s, Rhodes 19s, and IC-24s. The Basic Cruising course will be taught on either an Express 37 or a Beneteau 50. And the Bareboat Cruising Course will be taught on a Beneteau 50, or similar yacht. Classroom instruction takes place in the 15-seat Bitter End Sailing School building (adjacent to the Watersports Center), complete with dry erase boards, and wall-mounted Laser-model simulators. At all times, we maintain a staff of no fewer than four US Sailing certified instructors, and class sizes are usually very small.
And while these various certifications run anywhere from three to five days, and can run from $500 to $700 per person, there is always the resort's very popular Introduction to Sailing Course (101), offered free to anyone on the Admiral's Package. It makes for a great primer, and sets you on your way to higher learning. And, the sailing and windsurfing courses that Bitter End has offered for over 20 years are still available individually or as part of the Learn to Sail Adventure Package.
Course 101- Introduction to Sailing A three-hour class with classroom and dockside demonstration. For everyone, no prerequisites. You will learn nautical terminology and gain an understanding of the forces at work and how to control them. Course 101 is included in most vacation packages.
Courses 102 A & B - Learn to Sail a Rhodes 19 and a Hunter 216A hands-on two day learn to sail program for beginners. Three hours on the water each day. You will learn to solo sail. Part A teaches the mechanical aspects of getting under way, executing maneuvers and getting back to the mooring. Part B concentrates on solidifying your knowledge of sail trim. Everything you have learned is brought together. Upon completion of Part B you are ready to solo in a Rhodes 19.
Courses 201 A & B Sailing and Racing IC-24s
For those having completed Course 102 or the equivalent, our Performance Sailing Course 201 is taught on IC-24s, in two on-board sessions. Part A teaches the fine point of sail trim, sail shape manipulation, and steering. Part B teaches spinnaker handling and upwind performance.
Course 202 Cruising Prep, Preparation for Bareboating A full day on-board session, designed to prepare experienced sailors for chartering. You will plan a bluewater cruise to an outlying bay, sail there and back on a 30 foot sailboat. Learn reefing, working with winches, how to read the waters, line of site navigation, and how to anchor.
Other Courses Offered
Course 150 BoardsailingBasic Boardsailing Course 150 will teach a beginner to boardsail in one intensive half-day session. Most of the course is on the water with an instructor alongside.
Learn to Windsurf PackageYou can also learn to windsurf at the Sailing School, through a series of 7 sessions over the course of four days. On the Learn to Windsurf Adventure package, you will achieve the basics of this exciting sport while on the protected waters of the North Sound.
Junior Summer Sailing(For youngsters 7 and up.)
Prerequisite: swim test. Three hours of on-the-water training.
A fun way to learn basic boat handling, terminology, rigging, sail trim, and make new friends. Instruction on Optimist sailing dinghies, Vanguards, Lasers, Hobies.
Private lessons are also available to gain specialized skills. |
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