Great Sailing Getaway Contest Winner is Luis Ramos

The winner has been announced for our 2021 Great Sailing Getaway Contest

Congratulations to Luis Ramos and his wife, Eva Daraban-Ramos from Virginia. Luis’ touching essay and photo montage with graphic artwork by Briannah Berg, received the highest score from Steve and Doris Colgate and the team at Offshore Sailing School’s main office. The Ramos’ are looking forward to their Bareboat Charter Cruising certification course and their weeklong stay at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Florida. The challenge was to write an original essay describing overcoming challenges and persevering through the past year. Here is Luis’ story:

Riding the Storm: Courage, Skills and Perseverance
“Since March 2020, overcoming adversity had become the new normal for my wife Eva. As a preschool teacher, she conquered pandemic fears and remained at her workplace providing critical childcare support for our community’s essential workforce.
Then, as a part-time student, during the last months of her studies Eva completed her field projects under increasingly challenging conditions due to ever-changing workplace health safety protocols. This nearly delayed on-time completion of most assignments. Yet, relying on her faith, optimism and self-encouragement, Eva successfully graduated in September 2020. Nonetheless, there was one final challenge ahead for Eva after COVID-19 struck us in early 2021. I was hospitalized for several days, followed by weeks recovering at home under Eva’s loving care. Nevertheless, Eva showed immense courage, skills and perseverance while riding these unique rough sea conditions. For her steadfast dedication, I strongly believe Eva deserves the joy of this great sailing getaway vacation.”

View all the sailing and powerboating certification courses offered through Offshore Sailing School in Florida and the British Virgin Islands here.