Christmas Sailing and ASA Course

The Galleon House bed and breakfast in Charlotte Amelie. It was cute and central but a little worn down.

The ferry terminal in Charlotte Amelie. We took the Fast Ferry which was a catamaran that put us in Road Town in 50 minutes.

Waiting for the ferry.

A marina across from the Ferry Terminal in Charlotte Amelie

A sea plan wooshed down just in front of the terminal in between all the ferries going in and out.

A sea plan wooshed down just in front of the terminal in between all the ferries going in and out.

Setting sail on Apres Sail, a Lagoon 42. This was our first time with the helm on the port side.

Matthew feeling the difference in the speed of wind on the leeward and windward side of the jib (the sail in the front)

Matthew in the front.

A lull in between tacks gives Kaleigh and Anisa a chance to catch up.

Everyone gathered around the helm while Duane teaches his class. He was incredibly knowledgeable and an outstanding teacher.

Kaleigh tightens the lines on the traveller, a piece that allows the boom to be more to one side than another.

Mother and son enoying the sail out to Gorda Sound.

Passing catamarans.

Mosquito Island where Branson is planning to build a resort....after changing the name of course....including changing the name of the next island over, cockroach island!

Anisa;s favourite place to hang out.

Anisa's other favourite place is up on the bow in the princess seat.

First day of training.

Sailing towards Gorda Sound.

A quick lesson on checking the settings and gauges on the instrument and electronics panel.

Every boats gages and electronics panel is different so it is important to get used to it. Here they are checking out the status of the navigation lights as well as diesel and water levels.

First night we anchored in Gorda Sound. Duane showed us how he uses the drop off of sand bars to get better holding with the anchor. Here he dives in for a swim.

And Matthew goes right in too.

Hanging out with some rather large yachts in Gorda Sound as Kaleigh gets online. We got a wifi package for the boat which worked out perfectly.

There was a northern swell so a lot of boats were anchored with land to the north to minimize any motion.

This used to be Bransons catamaran. Now it is used commercially.

Another rather large yacht. It is called Bold and is for 18 passenger and I think has 22 crew members. It has a crane in theaft and forward portions and looked very warship like!

It has its own helicopter! Really?

Anisa learns the basics of checking fluids and filters on the diesel engine

oil looks good.

Anisa in the engine compartment, the first to volunteer for engine duty.

Kaleigh gets to try it out next.

Oil looks good.

Engines started we head over to the western part of Gorda sound to do practice docking.

Kaleigh has the helm for the first approach.

Anisa has her sun hat on for protection. The weather was beautiful with a 15 knot wind and about 82 deg F