I liked the skipper, Greg, who taught the class. But the course I took just really, really did not work out for me.
I signed up and experienced the 7-Day Pacific Ocean Challenge, which was a sail and cruise type thing, to up my sailing game, and earn my ASA 101, 103, and 104 certs. I did get the certs, but didn't really learn much, and in fact didn't even complete all the requirements for those certs.
Over the seven days we only sailed 14 hours, mostly because Greg, the skipper, seems really apprehensive about sailing in winds that other sailing schools consider essential to experience. He literally told us that if winds were in the 20s we wouldn't be able to go out. Whereas the ASA 104 class is to teach you to sail in winds in the 20s, as much as 30. I've confirmed with other sailing schools that they go out into the 20s on purpose, to get that experience.
The whole week we could see good winds in Windy, but all he wanted to do was motor around and visit places he felt we should see, which was totally in contrast to the interest of the students/crew. All who paid to sail.
It was a waste of money, vacation time, and opportunity. I've communicated with other people who've had the same experience, so it's not a one off. I'm hoping to make up for the loss with some other sailing school on the mainland.
NOTE: if you don't care about the sailing aspect, and just want to hang out on a boat going around the islands, maybe this is a good thing to do. I was there to sail, and that didn't happen, and not because of the weather, just because the skipper, Greg, wasn't up for it. read more