I FEEL ALIVE SINCE STARTING THIS QUEST

Mimi Amerson at the helm on Day 2 of the Coastal Passage Making Course in the British Virgin Islands

Every now and then we get emails from our graduates that warm the cockles of my heart. Mimi Amerson and her husband, Larry, have taken several courses with us – recently completing the comprehensive Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making course in the British Virgin Islands. I had just put all the bits and pieces of emails and comments from the Amerson’s evaluations of our course in this blog, but then I received the email below. It is so heartwarming I just had to share it with you. We (Steve and I) have been in this business 46 years and sometimes I wonder if I can take one more day, especially now that instant messaging is how everyone conducts business.  As I wrote back to Mimi, it is stories like hers that make me want to continue on forever.

Our ad agency contacted Mimi about using a photo of them in our ad campaign.  Said Mimi: “Thank you so much for your consideration. It does make us laugh, though, because we just aren’t the typical ‘advertising’ types. Larry looks very salty, but I’m about as far from the mold as I think one can get. I came home from Basic Keelboat (a course they took at another school before coming to Offshore) with 52 bruises, clusters counted as one. In just over two years I have gone from frantic to fearless, and am so proud now that I can sail. I’ve tried to lose weight and I’ve sprayed on some tan in hopes of looking like I belong on a boat. That doesn’t really bother me anymore though, because I know I look good trimming a sail. The experience has been more physical than I expected, and I’m excited to know the weight will fall and the tan will come with more time on the water. In the meantime, Larry builds my self esteem with his infamous navy quote ‘you have to play with the uniform you are issued.’ And I’m full of confidence after graduating from CoNav & CPM with the knowledge and skill to look good out there.”

“I could go on and on,” wrote Mimi. “I’m sure you can tell, our lives have changed and we’re both so happy to have taken this adventure with Offshore. We are anticipating retirement in just 3 years, our home is ‘for sail’ and we can hardly wait for our next life - looking good and living aboard – where less is more than we can dream. Our old school ways probably show. Larry still doesn’t even carry a cell phone. I wish I could bottle and share my memories more. I think Celestial is next in my future. I watched Scorpio rise on our night passage (which just happens to be my sign), watched her grow – SHE’S HUGE – then saw her dive back into the ocean. You can’t put a price on that. I’m an artist, and SO inspired. As this adventure continues, my heart, mind and body complete.”

Larry Amerson at the helm on last day of Coastal Passage Making course with instlructor Louise Reardon looking on

Kevin Wensley and Louise Reardon where the instructors for Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making. Longtime Offshore Sailing School employees, and both born in the U.K., Mimi said: “Offshore’s instructors have not only been excellent sailors, but excellent teachers and role models.  They have each been patient, fun loving and enthusiastic. We watched them live aboard as ‘green’ protectors of our planet, shining examples of seamanship and loving life where less is more.

Kevin was all about looking good with seamless, discreet anchoring and mooring, pretty tell tales, quick and efficient MOB (man overboard) drills, tight back and fills, proper burgees, perfect customs etiquette . . . the list is endless. We even tried to retrieve our lifeline laundry before daylight. His philosophy is that if you can tie a knot, name it, and it works, it’s a good knot. We proclaimed ourselves ‘looking good’ a lot!  Louise gave us the tiniest tips on ways our hands should look when tossing a long line or lassoing a cleat, and they made all the difference in our success. She sat shoulder to shoulder with me as we compared the chart to the shoreline, learning how to interpret and anticipate. She got me out of the boat. She’s an imaginative cook using provisions that I would have probably ignored and inspired us to get out of our box in so many ways. I cried when Louise left. Even in St. Pete (where the Amerson’s took our Live Aboard Cruising course a year earlier), Mike taught us to back that 50 footer into the farthest slip in the marina, then proved his confidence in us when he handed it over to the two of us alone that last night. We probably learned the most in just one day with Mike – one day of heavy fog. I’m AM so proud! Thank you. Please share our gratitude with Steve. Ya’ll have a great organization, and from what I hear from all your employees, they are very happy to be a part of your life long dreams. I think Kevin was a little worried about his very worn cap in the pictures, and Louise may need a new one as well. They wear your badge magnificently!”

THE LAST TWO COURSES PEAKED SAILING CONFIDENCE

Here’s how the Amerson’s got to this point. In the summer of 2008 they learned to sail at a sailing school in Charleston, SC (not Offshore Sailing School) and shortly after that experience contacted Offshore to discuss achieving their ultimate goal. They signed up for an Offshore Sailing School Private Live Aboard Cruising course out of St. Petersburg, Florida in February 2009 and one year later headed to the British Virgin Islands for the Offshore Sailing School Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making course.

Each morning the team determines the course for the day

When we say “private” we mean just that – just the Amerson’s with one of our great instructors, a 43′ to 49′ cruising yacht (in this case  a Hunter 49). Unless a private course, our courses generally are held for a maximum of four students per boat per instructor. The Passage Making Course, however, is a very different scenario: Two instructors and a maximum of six students divided into two watches, three students working with one of the instructors on each watch. (A “watch” is like a “shift” at work, usually a minimum of four hours each watch, three students are on deck steering, working the sails and navigating while the other three are resting in bunks below or just relaxing in the fresh air as they sail.)

Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making starts with an intensive shore-based four-day Coastal Navigation program, held in the Amerson’s case at the lovely Fort Burt Hotel in Road Town, Tortola, across the harbor from The Moorings where they would embark on a 51 footer on the fifth day of the course. Here’s Mimi at the helm of that glorious cruising yacht and excerpts of her comments about her experience.

“These last two courses peaked my sailing confidence with real challenges and practice,” says Mimi. “Multiple MOB drills, using the boson’s chair to go up the mast while navigating narrow entrances to harbors and marinas, and many hours of sailing after dark all contributed to a perfect learning experience.  Kevin and Louise were excellent!!! Patient and genuinely interested in each of us. Louise was at my shoulder, tutoring me through my inhibitions, training me to use ‘my tools’ and encouraging me to face any fear. I felt ‘Sweet Chariot’ take her head – and it was Great!”

Larry had a few comments too:  “The course and test were much harder than previous courses and tests. Both instructors were excellent and very patient with everyone. It was hard work with long hours. I paid for sailing knowledge and more than got my money’s worth. After graduation my wife and I looked at each other and said, ‘We can do this.’ It really built up our confidence level. There is nothing better than night sailing in the BVI. I never knew there were so many stars. Saw the Southern Cross for the first time. Great! The last day sailing back had great wind. Got 9.1 knots SOG (speed over ground). Ready to go back and enjoy BVI.”

Diana Smith, the Amerson’s sales contact at Offshore, received this note shortly after they returned home: “I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your time and expertise in booking our trip to the BVI. It was an absolutely fabulous experience! Louise and Kevin are the best instructors we’ve had – showing extreme patience and even nurturing, although that would probably not be Kevin’s (as a Brit) favorite adjective. They were simply The Best. I’ve included a CD of our pictures. So many memories aren’t documented here, because it was quite busy and the camera not always handy. Imagine Scorpio rotating across the sky during our overnight passage. Ya’ll have a fabulous, top-notch organization, and we are proud to say we got our certification from Offshore Sailing School. Thank you again! Until next time.”

WANT TO SAIL OUT INTO THE DEEP BLUE TOO?

Kevin is taking the photo, here's Louise (on left) with the Fast Track to Coastal Passage Making crew

Someday, Steve and I hope to share a “sundowner” with the Amersons – in a quiet anchorage, with the moon rising in a glistening stream on the water. If you have any aspirations of sailing out into the deep blue sea someday, taking the helm of a beautiful sailing yacht and enjoying the freedom that sailing and cruising bring with a loved one – you might want to take a look at our Sailing Website.

Doris Colgate
President and CEO
Offshore Sailing School

Editor’s Note: Some of the above has been edited or excerpted for easier reading as it came to us on course evaluations and through multiple emails.

Bookmark to: