Article on the web written by our student

Here is a link to a great article written by a wonderful student of ours. We are sure that many of you can relate. Enjoy.

The crew of Sunshine Coast Adventures Sailing School

Article of our sailing school in Latitudes and Attitudes magazine

Latitudes and Attitudes - HEALTHY CRUISING with Sunshine Coast Adventures in the Florida Keys

by TropicYoga on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 2:15pm

Last month I had the opportunity to sail for five days in the Florida Keys. My friend, Captain Jennifer Maclean, had an open bunk for her 101/103 A.S.A. certification course. One of my goals is to become a certified ASA instructor, so this would be step one. I jumped on the chance and two days after I received the phone call, I was loading my things onto sv Indian Summer II. It was the perfect opportunity to, not only get certified, but to spend some time with someone I admire greatly. Not only does Jenn run her own sailing charter school (Sunshine Coast Adventures, www.SunshineSailing.com ), something I aspire to do myself, but also is a massage therapist, and a practitioner of both yoga and tai chi. I was looking forward to hours of great sailing, yoga on the foredeck in the evenings and wonderful organic meals.

Jenn and I both belong to a co-op here in South Florida that offers fresh, organic and when possible local fruits and vegetables. (www.anniesbuyingclub.com for those of you in Florida) For forty-five dollars we receive a HUGE box of produce either weekly or bi-weekly. There is so much food I have a hard time eating it all in a two-week period. The reason I am sharing this, is that if you are still here in the States and have access to a club like this, I highly recommend it. It not only supports your local farmers, but the quality of the produce is so much higher and fresher than store bought. A simple Google search I am sure will find you someone in your area. Having just received her order for the week, we had an abundance of amazing produce onboard.

Joining Jenn and myself onboard was Nancy, an extremely sweet and determined woman from the West Coast of Florida. Nancy had recently made some life changes, which included regular visits to the gym, and changing her eating habits. This had led to her loosing several pounds (I think she said over 20!) increasing her energy level, which filtered into all areas of her life. She was also looking forward to an inspiring and educational time aboard.

Upon awakening each morning we each spent some time on the foredeck meditating. We would take turns and it never seemed like it was planned or forced. There was a natural rotation between studying our manuals while drinking our tea or coffee and making our way forward. After this time, Jenn would make us a nutritious breakfast of granola and fruit.

Once we had breakfast cleaned up, we weighed anchor and our lessons and testing began. We spent the days tacking and jibing; practicing each as both skipper and as crew. Indian Summer II is a Morgan Out Island 41 ketch with a roller furling on the headsail and a manually raised main sail and mizzen. During the time we were out, we had fairly steady 15-20 knot ESE winds, which led for some wonderful sailing. Soon we were practicing our tacks and jibes singlehanded. At one point, I asked Jenn why she was teaching me to single hand, and she just grinned knowing that I may be sailing my own 41 foot boat by myself soon. We both giggled a bit as I let out with the command “Prepare to jibe”.

As the days flew by, Nancy and I both noticed our muscles more and more each day. Nancy made the comment that she was feeling muscles she didn’t known she had. At the end of each day, once the anchor was secure and we were nestled in behind Tavernier Key, I would climb up onto the foredeck and begin my sun salutations, ease my way into some standing postures and then melt into the deck as I settled into some much needed long, deep stretches. Then came dessert… Bob’s favorite, savasana or corpse pose. Sinking (metaphorically speaking of course) into the deck, feeling the gentle rock of the boat as she hung secure, with the sun setting and a quiet breeze caressing my skin, I would drift into a peaceful and meditative place.

Yup, I could definitely live like this. Good thing that’s my plan! Each day, we ate the most delicious healthy meals (eating larger portions than I care to admit) worked the lines and sails for hours and then ended with some yoga to open and massage the muscles preparing them for a deep sleep and more to come the next day.

As we worked throughout the day, I was conscious when I was trimming or raising the sails of how I was standing and moving my body. I noticed how it felt when I wasn’t aligned and moving in a safe manner versus how it felt if I had that extra split second to align my body from my feet through the top of my head. Organizing the body and using the power of the core, made certain tasks much easier both to accomplish and easier on my body.

Naturally there were bruises. It’s not a good day (or five) of sailing if there isn’t blood or bruising, is it? I do believe however that Nancy took the brunt of the bruises, I am not sure what color her legs really were, by the end of the trip, they varied between a light grey and a deep purple. We both felt energized and exhausted by the time we finished docking on that final day.

Going into this trip, I was not only thrilled to be getting my certifications, but looking forward to a ‘healthy cruise’. When all was said and done, even with the massive amounts of food we ate, because the food was whole, organic and unprocessed –except for the chips we ate at lunch J, the physical movement that took place naturally from sailing and the yoga at the end of each day, I actually lost four pounds! Here’s to Healthy Cruising! Thanks Jenn!

Namaste

Kim

For current Healthy Cruising columns, subscribe to Latitudes & Attitudes Seafaring magazine and check out the website at www.seafaring.com



Article of our sailing school in local paper about a Youth Group from Québec, Canada that sailed aboard Indian Summer II

Six élèves dans les Keys pour découvrir qui ils sont

Sept des huit participants de ce périple en mer dans les Keys en Floride en compagnie de la capitaine et ex-élève de la Polyvalente de Charlesbourg, Jennifer McClean.

Publié le 21 Juin 2010

Denis Fortin

Six élèves de la Polyvalente de Charlesbourg et deux accompagnateurs ont vécu dans la première semaine du mois de mai dernier une expérience qu'ils ne sont pas prêts d'oublier. Ils ont en effet accompagné dans les Keys en Floride pendant cinq jours sans mettre pied à terre sur un voilier la capitaine Jennifer McClean, une ex-élève de l'institution de la Commission scolaire des Premières-Seigneuries.

Les élèves qui ont eu la chance de vivre cette expédition en voilier sont Tommy Fournier, Gabriel Doré, Laurent Germain, Laurent Ferland-Girouard, Alexandre Breton et Marc Pelletier. Ils ont été accompagnés par l'intervenant social, Daniel Desroches et par le directeur adjoint, Bastien Gauthier. «Ces élèves ont été choisis de manière à ce qu'ils vivent une expérience significative dans leur vie, a d'abord mentionné Bastien Gauthier. Jennifer désirait aussi qu'ils puissent développer leur confiance en soi, leur leadership, leur autonomie de même que la solidarité et la coopération, tout en acquérant des compétences dans le domaine de la navigation. Ces objectifs ont été atteints lors de ce périple.»

Une fois les six élèves choisis, la préparation du voyage a débuté pour amasser les fonds nécessaires. Si la semaine en voilier était offerte par la capitaine McClean, il fallait faire en sorte de dénicher les sous pour défrayer les coûts inhérents à cette expérience, soit l'avion, l'hôtel, location de véhicule, etc. Comme cinq des six participants n'avaient jamais pris l'avion, l'excitation était à son comble dès les premières minutes du périple. «Une fois à destination, ce fut le dépaysement total, précise Daniel Desroches. Un soleil ardent, une température de près de 30eC, une végétation luxuriante, un océan offrant toutes les teintes de bleu, accueil extraordinaire de Jennifer McClean; tout était en place pour que les jeunes se sentent de vrais membres de l'équipage. Loin d'être sur le bateau en vacances, les élèves ont eu à s'occuper des tâches ménagères et de navigation pendant leur séjour sur le voilier. La pêche et la plongée en apnée étaient également inscrites à leur agenda quotidien.»

Comme toute bonne chose a une fin, c'est le cœur lourd, mais avec la tête pleine de souvenirs, que ce périple a pris fin. Plusieurs points positifs ressortent de cette expérience hors du commun.

Sur le voilier, les élèves ont abattu un excellent travail d'équipe en faisant preuve à tour de rôle de leadership et en développant leur autonomie personnelle et collective. Chacun d'eux a tenu un journal de bord personnel, ce qui les a amenés à réfléchir sur les bienfaits de ce projet et à gagner en maturité. Ils ont acquis des connaissances sur la navigation qui leur seront utiles à tout jamais.

Cette expérience a le mérite d'avoir créé des liens durables chez les participants, certains d'entre eux ayant développé des affinités. À leur retour de ce périple, plusieurs enseignants ont remarqué des changements positifs dans leur personnalité, principalement au niveau de leur assurance. «Tous les élèves travaillent maintenant à l'élaboration d'un DVD souvenir relatant les meilleurs moments de leur voyage. Sûrement une pièce de collection en devenir», de conclure Bastien Gauthier et Daniel Desroches.

Magazine article about our sailing school in La Vie Claire Magazine

The article about our sailing school in Key Largo, Florida and our sailing classes and instruction for women and couples just came out in the magazine La Vie Claire. To view the wonderful article in the magazine please check out this link

La Vie Claire magazine

Picture taken during the photo shoot from top left to right- Amy, Dorie, Nancy, Jenn and Brenda

Women and the Sea Book

Captain Jennifer MacLean of Sunshine Coast Adventures Sailing School and Charters is featured in a wonderful coffee table book called Women and the Sea.

"Thank you to my fiance Jeff, my friends, family and sailing students for helping me make my dreams come true. This is just like landing a big fish- you need teamwork, and this was all possible because of all of you that are also filled with the contagious thirst of adventures." Capt Jenn

The book is out and just beautiful. You can purchase a copy at www.clairemurray.com

Women And The Sea Book photo shoot

Visit www.clairemurray.com to purchase this wonderful book

As many of our family, friends and students know capt Jenn will be featured in a book call Women and the Sea that will be coming out in June. Here are some pictures of the photo shoot taken last weekend. We will be adding more pictures as we get them, and we will also let you know when the book comes out so that you can purchase it if you are interested.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, my fiance Jeff, my friends, my sailing students for making a dream become a reality. Sunshine Sailing School and Her Ladyship Sailing School would not be what they are today without your help, support and constant positive attitude and input, and for that I thank you with all of my heart and soul- I love my life and all of you who are part of it! Jenn

Beautiful women in my life posing for the photo shoot. From top left to right, Amy, Dorie, Nancy Pantsy, Jenn and Brenda

ASA sailing school in Florida

ASA sailing school in Florida

ASA sailing school in Florida

ASA sailing school in Florida

ASA sailing school in Florida offering ASA sailing classes and ASA certifications thru live aboard sailing courses