Learning how to sail can be as exhilarating as it is challenging. With a comprehensive sailing training course, you'll have the abundance of wind and knowledge needed to ensure smooth sailing in even the roughest waters. Top Tier Sailing School is dedicated to teaching basic navigation, sailing maneuvers, and the science of reading wind patterns in a comfortable and enjoyable setting under the guidance of our dedicated instructors.
For countless nautical miles, we've been helping beginner and novice sailing enthusiasts learn to sail off the glorious British Virgin Islands. Our instructors can teach anyone with a penchant for marine exploration and learning new skills to handle full-sized or compact sailing vessels in a matter of days. Read on for a brief overview of our fully certified training programs.
Understanding the Basics of Sailing
Sailing requires a firm understanding of several fundamentals that, while not overly complex, must be fully ingrained before taking full command of a vessel. Learning the key terminology and basic sailing equipment is necessary to confidently control the boat's direction, all while directing crews and keeping an eye on the weather.
Basic Sailing Glossary
It can all be a lot to take in. Here's a brief glossary we advise sailing students to keep with them until they know it all by heart:
Port and Starboard: The left and right sides of the boat (respectively)
Bow/Stern: The front and rear of the vessel (respectively)
Helm: The boat's steering instrument
Mainsail: Largest, most important sail, which runs off the mast
Jib: An important secondary sail located ahead of the mast (towards the bow)
Lines: Preferred over "ropes" in sailing
Point of Sail: Direction of the boat relative to the wind
Windward and Leeward: Sides of the boat closest and furthest away from the wind Of course, this is just the beginning. Once you've mastered the basic terminology, you'll move on to other key terms related to moving the craft.
Sailboats You'll Learn On
Knowing your craft is also important. At Top Tier Sailing School, we teach students how to sail using a broad range of vessel sizes, depending on each student's goals. During our fully vetted American Sailing Association (ASA) programs, you and your crew will have the opportunity to train with:
A spacious catamaran, complete with four cabins, climate control, and full amenities.
Keelboats, which are suitable for day trips and preferred by racing enthusiasts for their superior handling and performance.
Our rigid inflatable boat (or RIB) is an agile and versatile craft powered by a Yamaha 150hp outboard engine and supported by inflatable tubes and a rigid hull. The RIB is primarily used as a support craft or “chase boat” to support Top Tier’s sailing fleet, instructors, and students.
Essential Sailing Skills
The most essential sailing skill that almost all others depend on is the ability to "read" the wind. Knowing how the air interacts with the sails and how to harness it properly is vital to controlling the sails' position and plotting your course under various atmospheric conditions.
Navigation skills are also crucial, as they involve reading nautical charts and calculating distance and speed. Further, predicting weather patterns is part and parcel of all these functions. At Top Tier Sailing School, we give each topic the focused attention required to help students experience safe and efficient travels for years of sailing bliss.
Safety Tips and Emergency Sailing Procedures
We instill a deep respect for sailing and boating safety. This includes learning to navigate unfamiliar waters and adjust the sails, lines, and helm under a wide range of conditions. It's also critical that all sailing students (even passengers) learn emergency boating procedures. That's why our courses include a primer on properly stocked emergency kits, how to communicate with the Coast Guard, where to weather storms, and much more.
Set Sail Towards Your Sailing Goals With Top Tier Sailing School
On beautiful Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Top Tier Sailing School is your one-stop resource for learning how to sail or taking your skills to the next level of mastery. Our sailing instructors have a wealth of experience sailing all over the world, and we're dedicated to sharing our knowledge at a safe but thrilling pace.
If you and your loved ones harbor a desire to learn to sail, we encourage you to reach out – and discover the joy of mastering the ocean currents with the most primal of elements.
Credit IMG: Korpithas
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