Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Next ladies sailing class in the Florida Keys



Next live aboard ladies sailing class/ASA101-103 certifications in the beautiful Florida Keys is December 02-06, 2011. Sign up soon as spaces are limited. We look forward to sailing with you soon.

Email us for more information at info@sunshinesailing.com

5 day live aboard women's sailing course/ASA101-103 certifications
Dates: December 02-06, 2011
Price: $1975/person includes all meals aboard (mostly organic), ASA certifications, ASA textbooks and logbook, a one-year ASA membership, fishing licenses and all taxes

Location: Tavernier, Florida Keys (about 10 miles South of Key Largo)

*We are located about 1h15min from Miami airport and about 1h30min from Fort Lauderdale airport.


Sunday, June 5, 2011

Sailing Boot Camp for Jim and Laura



Jim and Laura, having met while serving in the army, were ready to get their “sail-on boot camp” for seven days with Selah. The sailing adventure began on Tuesday with tacking and jibing in Hawk’s Channel. We dropped the anchor that night at Tavernier Key. After dinner, a visit via dinghy took us to share “brownies n’ tea” with Jen and her crew on Indian Summer II. Wednesday was inshore to the marina for a quarry hike and other remedies for Laura’s motion sickness. Both completed their ASA 101 exams that day. Happily, she fully recovered and was ready to sail again the next morning for a snorkeling trip to White Banks. The snorkeling conditions were so fantastic; we went on to Molasses reef to see more of the underwater world! Laura turned into a fish herself at “Mo’s”! Friday morning we left for Channel Five Bridge, and the couple worked the main and jib sheets for the practice jibes. Jewfish Bank was our quiet anchorage that night.

Early Saturday (first time we can truly say “early”), we left to go to Lignumvitae Key to make the 10 AM park tour. We learned a lot about the quest to keep the island true to its original botanical species. Our mighty dinghy motor took us to Robbie’s for some refreshments and ice for our coolers. ASA 103 exams were taken back at the boat, and then Selah moved on then to Lorelei’s for our anchorage. We made a dinghy ride for dinner out that night. We returned by the “romantic paddling method” in the moonlight.

Sunday, we arose to head out to Snake Creek Bridge to make the 1330 high tide. Jim had his practice at circling in heavy boat traffic before the appointed bridge time. He took Selah through the snake-y turns like a pro’, and Laura took control of the helm for the ride out to the blue, and then back to Rodriquez Key .

Monday was a breezy morning, 18-20 knots. We practiced our final Crew-Overboard maneuvers, took Selah home “wing-on-wing”, while Laura and Jim danced on the bow. There was just enough time for Jim to complete the 104 ASA exam with a big smile on his face.

Congratulations Sailors! We were honored to sail with you! Bob, Ann, and Selah!



Workin' the jib sheets.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
A sailing vacation gets you away.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Dolphins on the bow. Love those playful creatures!
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Off to explore.
Learn to sail in the FL Keys/Couples sailing instruction/ASA live aboard vacation in FL
Relaxing in the undersea world.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Arriving at Lignumvitae Key.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Sunset at Lorelei's.
Learn to sail and cruise in the FL Keys/Couples sailing instruction in FL/ASA live aboard class
Jim bringing Selah through Snake Creek.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Big smiles. This is the sailors' life.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Laura on the wheel out in the blue waters.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications
Dancin' on the deck.
Couple's sailing lessons in FL Keys/ASA live aboard sailing classes/ASA101-103 certifications

Back at the Tiki. Great job Jim!

For more information on our ASA sailing classes and instruction in Key Largo, FL. Please visit our website at www.sunshinesailing.com

We offer live aboard ASA sailing courses in the Florida Keys for couples, singles and women. We also offer sailing classes and sailing charters for families that would like to learn to sail in a friendly environment. During a typical live aboard sailing course, we mix in some snorkeling and some fishing while sailing. It makes for a perfect learn to sail vacation.

To read testimonials about our Learn to sail vacation packages and our sailing instructors at our Key Largo location please click here

Thursday, June 2, 2011

7-day Couples Sailing Course ASA 101/103 Florida Keys

25 May 2011

Denise and Jesse Hollis from New York joined Sunshine Coast Adventures in the Florida Keys for a seven day live-aboard sailing adventure 19-25 May 2011. This dynamic couple immediately took to the skills and cruising lifestyle, showing enthusiasm for not only the sailing, but also the fishing and especially the marine life and beauty of the Florida Straits and Florida Bay. The wind forecast called for moderate easterlies for the duration of the trip, so after one night anchoring at Tavernier Key on the "ocean side," we decided to head down to Channel Five and cruise the Intra-Coastal Waterway on the "bay side." Our bay side anchorages included Shell Key, Bottle Key, NE corner of Barnes Sound, and Pumpkin Key. We had terrific weather with warm sunny days and comfortable evenings allowing for good sleeping with the hatches open :)

Congratulations to Denise and Jesse for completing their certifications and thank you for a great trip!

~Capt Jeff


Day 1: "I think I will get the hang of this!"
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Telltales streaming nicely
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Kayaking at Shell Key, FL Keys
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Looking astern at the new fixed bridge at Jewfish Creek, FL Keys
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Barnes Sound heading for the Little Card Sound fixed bridge.
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Checking point of sail and sail trim
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Sunrise at Angelfish Creek, Florida Keys
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Snorkeling at White Banks, Florida Keys
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Relaxing after the snorkel adventure: Life is Good :)
Couple's live aboard sailing class in FL and the FL Keys/ASA certifications

Captain Jeff,

Thank you so much for helping us acquire some fantastic sailing skills! We look forward to using them in the near future and will think of you often while sailing. It has been a terrific week and we will absolutely keep in touch!

Best,
Denise & Jesse

For more information on our ASA sailing classes and instruction in Key Largo, FL. Please visit our website at www.sunshinesailing.com

We offer live aboard ASA sailing courses in the Florida Keys for couples, singles and women. We also offer sailing classes and sailing charters for families that would like to learn to sail in a friendly environment. During a typical live aboard sailing course, we mix in some snorkeling and some fishing while sailing. It makes for a perfect learn to sail vacation.

To read testimonials about our Learn to sail vacation packages and our sailing instructors at our Key Largo location please click here


Manatee Patrol

11 May 2011

Today we had the thrill of witnessing a pod of seven manatees cruising slowly through our marina area. These shallow swimmers were clustered together in the largest group we had ever seen. All had typical disfigurements from perhaps propellers or other hazards, but this did not detract from their grace and beauty.

For more info see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee "Half a manatee's day is spent sleeping in the water, surfacing for air regularly at intervals no greater than 20 minutes. Manatees spend most of the rest of the time grazing in shallow waters at depths of 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft). The Florida subspecies (T. m. latirostris) has been known to live up to 60 years... Manatees are capable of understanding discrimination tasks, and show signs of complex associated learning and advanced long term memory."







Sunday, May 22, 2011

7 day live aboard ladies sailing class in the FL Keys/ASA certifications

The ladies coming back from snorkeling at a beautiful reef in Key Largo, FL
Ladies taking their first exam/ ASA101 certifications. Great job little pirates!

Little mama chilling on deck/ Women live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
We caught dinner! A nice and healthy black fin tuna. Great teamwork ladies!
Mary working on her favorite...the cleat hitch! :)
Reefing the jib. Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
A spotted eagle ray swimming by the boat gracefully. Thank you for the nice visit!
Spotted eagle ray. Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Mary waiting patiently for the brownies delivery from S/V Selah. Thank you Ann and Bob!
A picture worth a thousand words...Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
S/V Selah sailing along in the beautiful FL Keys during their 7 day live aboard couples course.
Mary reefing the mainsail. Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Taking over this ship:) Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Indian Summer II sailing in the turquoise waters of the FL Keys.
Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Indian Summer II under full sails. She is a beauty.
Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Sailing in the FL and the FL Keys. Life is good.
After practicing docking maneuvers. Great job ladies!
The 3 little pirates. Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Full moon night. Priceless! Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Lighting show. Just incredible to watch. Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
A storm is heading our way. Time to reef our sails.
Women's live aboard sailing lessons in FL/ASA certifications
The ladies having fun during the storm. Great job ladies!
Women's live aboard sailing class in FL/ASA certifications
Women's live aboard sailing lessons in FL/ASA certifications

Women's live aboard sailing lessons in FL/ASA certifications

Jen,

If someone told me all the things I would learn in these 5 days, I would have told them they were nuts! You are an amazing teacher, an even more amazing human being and a truly incredible spirit. THANK YOU for a wonderful experience and for having more confidence in me than I had in myself!

Namaste,
Terri Delfino
Salen, MA
"Pirate"

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Captain Jenn

This week has been more than worth traveling thousands of miles for. You had it all exactly right - coming right, keep on doing it, wow! now some more... You are a great teacher, keeping it moving, missing nothing, and inspiring us. And it was all fulfilling - and fun! You get all the stars in the system. THANK YOU for all you have done & given this week.

Mary Gregory
Oxford, UK

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xoxo