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Register Now for Sailing Classes

By Mike Ferring on August 15, 2016 in Adult Program, Education News, Juniors Program

Registration is open now for the fall Arizona Sailing Foundation sailing classes. Click on Arizona Sailing Foundation Education in the navigation bar at the top of any AYC web page and then select the type of class you’d like to take.

With Tempe Town Lake back in business, the full offering of classes will be available there, including Adult Beginning Sailing, Opti 1&2 for kids, Junior Performance Sailing in the O’Pen Bics, and High School Sailing on Tuesday afternoons. All classes are led by US Sailing-certified instructors and each of these classes will accept students who have never sailed before.

If you have questions about the courses, contact Mike Ferring, who can either answer your question or direct you to someone who can.

Two Adult Beginning Sailing students sailing with instructor Emory Heisler. initially all students in the class sail with an instructor, with two students to each instructor. Later the students will sail two in a boat with the instructor watching from a safety boat.

Spring ASF Classes Coming Soon to a Lake Near You

By Mike Ferring on January 27, 2014 in Adult Program, Education News, Juniors Program

The spring salvo of Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF) classes fires off soon: Kids’ classes beginning February 9 and the adult Learn to Sail class on February 15. High school classes are already underway.

Kids getting ready for Opti action.

The line-up includes two Opti classes for young sailors, an Opti I and Opti II. Those are joined this spring by the Junior Performance Racing Class, sailed in the new O’Pen Bic boats. That class is already full, but there’s still some room in the Opti classes. Sign up here.

If you know someone who’s always wanted to try sailing, the adult Learn to Sail class is just the ticket. Starting from “where’s the wind?” and progressing through tacks and jibes and capsize recovery and much more, the students graduate ready to handle a dinghy. There’s this most exciting part: they begin sailing on their very first day. No extended book time for these people. It’s a speedy trip from “here’s a boat” to “trim in and let’s go”!

More information and registration button here.

US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course Here in January

By Mike Ferring on November 25, 2012 in Adult Program, Education News, Member Interest, Sailing News

Registration is now open for the US Sailing Level 1 Instructor course, to be taught here on two intensive weekends in January—the weekends of January 5&6 and 12&13.

US Sailing requires a minimum of 8 students in the course, a number we’ve failed to meet the last two times this course has been offered in Phoenix. So we really need your support this time.

Here’s the sales pitch: Not only does the course prepare you to teach sailing, but it also makes you a better sailor. Course instructor Ray Deppa has taught all of the US Sailing Instructor courses in Phoenix, and he’s a real pro, someone who will leave you knowing more about this game we play. But teaching sailing is actually the best part. Introducing new people to the sport is a lot of fun—seeing them begin to understand how a boat moves through the water by wind alone and seeing the joy they get from figuring it out.

Sign up four weeks or more before the class and it’s $325; after that it’s $345. If you pass the course and teach for the Arizona Sailing Foundation, ASF will reimburse half your tuition. (If you’re a high school or college student, check with George Tingom for possible higher reimbursement rate.)

I just paged through some of the US Sailing material on the course. You’ll find some information here. And the registration begins here. There’s quite a bit of paperwork involved and you’ll need to be a member of US Sailing (a good thing anyway) and you’ll need to pass a first aid and CPR course (definitely a good thing anyway). The prerequisites are extensive. My advice: don’t let any of that discourage you. The other students and Instructor Ray Deppa will help you through it. If you want to pass, you’ll pass.

For questions on the course, check with George Tingom, who’s organizing the course and has been involved in every one we’ve held since 2003 (when I took it).

Ladies Day at the Lake

By Mike Ferring on September 24, 2012 in Adult Program, Cruising News, Education News, Events

AYC is pleased to support the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club’s third Ladies Day@the Lake on November 10.

Please pass this info along to any woman you know who would like to learn more about sailing. There will be something for every skill level. Instructors include Mike and Maryellen Ferring, Fran Weber — winner of the 2012 SCWSA Peggy Slater Award, Nancy Erley, Lynn Buchanan and other notable sailors.

The Ladies’ Day@the Lake is a day-long, sailing summit for women sponsored by Lake Pleasant Sailing Club (LPSC). It is designed to introduce women to and/or enhance their skills in recreational boating through both land-based seminars and on-the-water workshops.

Five packages are available to choose from, each specially designed with classes complementing each other to give the student a comprehensive day of instruction at their level of sailing experience. Our instructors have been carefully selected for their subject knowledge and instruction skills. A small teacher-to-student ratio in these courses will assure students will receive personal attention.

All instruction, light breakfast, use of boats, water, goodie bag, course materials and a box lunch are included in the $85 fee for the Day@the Lake. Take advantage of this sure-to-be-fun learning opportunity. Remember, course enrollment is limited and registration closes on November 3rd or when a course is full. Don’t be left watching from the shore!

PACKAGES

Welcome Aboard / novice
Full day in the classroom and on-the-water
For the newbie to learn the ropes, parts of the boat and what makes a sailboat work. Then take the helm of a sailboat to practice capturing the power of the wind. (All day classroom, dock-side and on-the water instruction.) This package includes the basics of boating safety, sailing terminology, points of sail, rules for Arizona waterways with hands-on sailing experience.

Pleasure Sailing / novice & experienced
Day sailing, vacation cruising and blue water sailing
Its all about having more fun. During this package students will review rules of sailing, best safety practices, preparation to get your boat underway as well as learn tips and more from experienced sailors and cruisers.

The Accomplished Sailor / intermediate to advanced
Reach the next level
Women choosing this package will learn ways to better make the boat do what they want. Participants will practice essential skills, discover tips and use practical skill building exercises to take them to the next level.

Racing 101 / novice & experienced
For friendly competition
Sailboat racing offers many opportunities to hone skills and stretch sailing legs. As an introduction to the exciting world of sailboat racing, this course package will culminate in a just-for-fun race. (must know port and starboard!)

Take a Kayak / novice or experienced
Learn the basics
Get a solid start or refresh your knowledge for flat water kayaking. Course focuses on safely taking a kayak for exercise, enjoyment and exploring the far reaches of Lake Pleasant and elsewhere.

Further information and registration available here.
Debbie Huntsman
Lake Pleasant Sailing Club
Commodore
623.780.8787

US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course Here in January

By Mike Ferring on August 22, 2012 in Adult Program, Education News, Member Interest, Sailing News

Registration is now open for the US Sailing Level 1 Instructor course, to be taught here on two intensive weekends in January—the weekends of January 5&6 and 12&13.

US Sailing requires a minimum of 8 students in the course, a number we’ve failed to meet the last two times this course has been offered in Phoenix. So we really need your support this time.

Sign up four weeks or more before the class and it’s $325. If you pass the course and teach for the Arizona Sailing Foundation, ASF will reimburse half your tuition.

For questions on the course, check with George Tingom, who organizing the course and has been involved in every one we’ve held since 2003 (when I took it).

Roll Tack with Anna Tunnacliffe

By Mike Ferring on April 1, 2012 in Adult Program, Education News, Juniors Program, Member Interest

Want to know how to roll-tack a Laser? Tony Eanes did. And when Anna Tunnacliffe visited the ASF high school program, Tony asked her to show the students how to do it.

In light air, Anna went through the steps below while the students watched and Mike Ferring snapped a sequence of pictures. Just do it this way!

To see a roll tack in video, try this. Anna’s roll tacks are faster and more powerful, but the mechanics are the same.