J World Performance Sailing School

[Sea Hunt]

I apologize in advance that this post is not actually about Cape Dory sailboats. If it is inappropriate to post on the board, I will completely understand the webmaster's decision to remove/delete it.

I have taken the following sailing courses over the past three years:

Basic Keelboat (US Sailing)
Basic Keelboat (ASA)
Basic Cruising (US Sailing)
Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA)
Basic Seamanship (USPS)

I try to participate in a Saturday regatta with local sailing school in Miami at least twice a month. We race Harbor 20s.

I am looking for a CD 22, CD 25D or a CD Typhoon Weekender.

Several experienced sailors (and racers) have suggested that I take an Introduction to Racing course offered by “J World”. J World has a school in Key West, Florida. My sailing friends believe that this course will do two things: (1) help me to be a better racer in the regatta races; and (2) give me more confidence when I single hand my own to-be-purchased Cape Dory, particularly with sail sets, trimming, changing head sails, spinnaker sets, reefing, etc.

The course is five (5) days with about 5 hours classroom and 30 hours on the water. J World uses J24s for their racing classes. The course is expensive, as are accommodations in Key West. My sailing friends have no financial interest in J World that I am aware of.

J World got a good write up in Practical Sailor but the article was back in 1999. Does anyone have any experience with J World or any knowledge of the quality of their programs and/or instructors

As long as I still do not have a Cape Dory I thought I might take this course. Yet another example perhaps of “putting the cart before the horse”.

[Mike Wainfeld]

I did a J-World course in Newport a few years ago and would highly recommend it. We had a real fun couple of days of sailing, and learned alot. The J-24 is a really neat little boat (one of the most popular one-designs ever) and by sailing one you can experience the other side of the fin keel vs. full keel dichotomy. Our instructor seemed to be having a great time too, and all in all it was an excellent weekend.http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... t=wainfeld

[barfwinkle]

Wow your sailing resume' appears to be quite extensive. I am sure that tooling around on a go fast boat and learning the ins and outs of performances sailing would be a blast.

Having said that, with the sailing you already do, and the course work you have under your belt, the Jworld class would be just that for learning the ins and outs of go fast sailing, and of course how to employe those skills on your CD.

Otherwise, IMHO, you are more than capable to sail a CD of your choosing.

Fair Winds

[Sea Hunt]

Hello Bill:

Thanks for your comments.

Regrettably, you are wrong about my skills and abilities. Yes, I took the courses. Yes, I passed the tests. However, in honesty, it was a combination of dumb luck and bribing the instructors

From what I have learned about sailing (very little to date), sailing certificates are worthless, as are most certificates in most endeavors. They are an "I love me" list. My area of expertise (such as it is) is scuba diving. People show up all the time at the dive shop with a pocket full of scuba certifications. Yet, when they get in the water, they have no water skills at all. Candidly, that's me in sailing - certificates, yes; sailing know-how, not yet.

I listed the courses I have taken in my post because I wanted to be honest about my sailing background. I learn much more from the Saturday races than I ever learned in any of the classes, although there was that time in the cruising class I drove a Catalina 34 into the dock. From that I learned that neutral is actually a gear. Who woulda thunk it

Fair Winds,

[Clay Stalker]

Sea Hunt:

When I got the sailing bug about 20 years ago I was told that sailing training would make me a better sailor faster....sorta like taking golfing lessons from a pro or skiing lessons etc. I ended up taking two 5-day courses from J-World in Newport, R.I..., one of them Sailing 1 and the other Sailing 2. Both were excellent, I learned a great deal. You may not need the Sailing 1 if you have some experience already and know terms, etc. This is also where I learned that the Newport area was where I wanted to sail from....and for that I have never been sorry! All in all, J-World classes are pretty good, a bit more racing oriented than I wanted, but well-taught and lots of fun.

Two other courses I took that I highly recommend were offered at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine. One was a Coastal Navigation Course on the ketch Patience, and the other was a Coastal Cruising Course on the Friendship Sloop Eastward, taught by Roger and Mary Duncan. The latter was the best training I have ever had, and regretfully is no longer offered as Roger and Mary are just too old now to do it.....they were amazing people.

That's my two cents, sailing course helped me get started....and the rest is just getting a boat and getting out there!! Good luck.

Clay Stalker

[Brian A.]

I attended the five-day racing course about seven years ago when I began crewing aboard racing boats. My goal was to gain proficiency on the foredeck (hoisting, dousing, jibing the chute). As a long-time CD sailor, this was all new to me. At that time the on-water instruction was conducted aboard j 24's. The instuctors were all accomplished racers and patience was obviously a prerequisite for employment there. You should be forewarned that the sailing is only half of the story in KW. Happy hour, cheap oysters and late nights out with fellow students really tested the endurance of this baby-boomer. A five day course will not make you an expert racer, but will leave you with working knowledge. Or, as one of my classmates quipped "at least now we'll understand why the skipper is screaming at us". Cheers, Brian

[Cathy Monaghan]

Hi Sea Hunt,

.........Regrettably, you are wrong about my skills and abilities. Yes, I took the courses. Yes, I passed the tests. However, in honesty, it was a combination of dumb luck and bribing the instructors .....

As with all things, the old adage "practice makes perfect" holds true with sailing as well. It doesn't matter how many courses you take, if you don't get out there and practice what you've learned, it's all for naught. So practice, practice, practice on any boat, somebody else's or your own, but get out there and sail! With time you'll see your skills improve and confidence levels increase, but there's nothing like a good instructor to provide you with that knowlege that you'll need and the confidence to get out there and try stuff on your own.

I don't have any experience with J World but I do with Offshore Sailing School. They have racing courses too and excellent instructors.

Have fun,
Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

[Sailing Soldier]

Seems like you've taken plenty of classes. With the money you'd spend on taking a course in Key West, you can buy a boat.

A more cost effective approach from my perspective!

[Ed Haley]

J-World was a great experience for me as my first sailing course. Luckily, I had a sailboat at the time that I could go home to and practice. I turned the skills I learned in the class into competencies aboard the boat.

After taking all those courses, I think you have some sailing skills. You just need to get on a boat and become competent by practicing what you already know, as others have said.

Don't get me wrong. J-World was a lot of fun. You're in class in the morning and then sailing during the afternoon and partying at dinner. If you like taking classes, then go for it. At least you'll be on the water.

Find that Cape Dory and have some great fun!

[Neil Gordon]

For me, learning to sail was just a part of it. I also needed to learn to be the captain. So besides the dynamics of sail trim and tacking and the like, you need to do all the other things that keep you, your vessel and your passengers safe.

If you're already an okay, basic skills sailor, buy the boat, take the Coast Guard safely course and go sailing.

[Dick Barthel]

For me, learning to sail was just a part of it. I also needed to learn to be the captain...you need to do all the other things that keep you, your vessel and your passengers safe.

I can attest to Neil's captaining skills. I still have calluses!

In honor of Neil's recent posting achievement I present the following quote from the Bard as a tribute to him:

" Brevity is the soul of wit "

I'm going to have to come up with a different one for Dider when he reaches his 500th post.

Cheers from a frozen New England

Dick

[Neil Gordon]

In honor of Neil's recent posting achievement I present the following quote from the Bard as a tribute to him:

" Brevity is the soul of wit "

n/m

[Sea Hunt]

Hello Sailing Soldier:

I fully agree with you that I should buy a sailboat to practice what I have learned in prior classes and will learn in the J World racing class. I am honestly trying to do so.

Unfortunately, I have fallen head over heals in love with Cape Dorys. As I am sure you know, they are rare. I learned long ago that my personality does not do well with settling for second best. Thus, I have pretty much ruled out Hunters, Catalinas, etc. I am sure they are very nice boats, but, I am not in love with them. Cape Dorys are my "Sophia Loren".

I am diligently looking for a Cape Dory (Ty Weekender, CD 22 or CD 25D) that is in good to very good condition. The condition is important because I do not believe I have the skills to make major repairs and do not have the funds to pay a boat yard an exorbitant fee to do it. I am retired on a small government pension and do the best I can.

I do not even want to start talking about dock/mooring issues (none in South Florida!!-I'm on waiting lists) or insurance (nobody wants to insure a newbie). I will cross those bridges when I get to them.

I do try to practice what I have learned in prior classes on other sailboats. I try to sail at least twice a month in Saturday regatta races at a local sailing school (Castle Harbor). I was there today. We did 4 races on Harbor 20s. Some of the skippers are very experienced. Today one of our skippers competed in SORC (?) races all over the world, if I understood it correctly. Another will soon be a technical advisor to Doyle Sails in Marblehead, Ma. He moved to Italy as a young adult and has been racing (and wining) in Italy for the past 25 years. They both are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful with information, explaining tactics, etc. The "Doyle guy" was racing dinghys in Key Biscayne from when he was a child.

While I remain "sailboatless", I think these Saturday race clinics are very beneficial. I am taking the introduction to racing class with J World in April in Key West because I want to be more proficient in the Saturday races and because I believe it will help me with my sailing on my to-be-purchased CD.

Fair Winds,

[Neil Gordon]

I am retired on a small government pension ...

Liechtenstein?

[Sea Hunt]

Hello Neil:

Interesting that you should mention Liechtenstein. On one of my government assignments from years ago I spent time in Vaduz, Liechtentsein.

The Principality is beautiful. It is nestled between Austria and Switzerland with the Swiss providing "border security" for the Principality.

Beautiful mountains, nice hotels. The people are warm and friendly.

Alas, no sailing or scuba diving or I may have thought of retiring there.

Fair Winds,