As our season in Florida comes to an end, we have been switching things up and teaching advanced classes on Fat Cat, a 35' Fortuna island Spirit Catamaran, inbetween our family and couples cruising classes on Barefoot. We had the pleasure of sailing for a week with a couple from northern Florida who want to buy a catamaran and retire to the Caribbean on it sailing and scuba diving the reefs.
Last week we had the pleasure of sailing with a fun family exploring the Upper Florida keys as they completed ASA 101 and ASA 103. It also made our all time record of the youngest guest we've every sailed with, a cute and energetic 3 year old who loved Disney's planes and rescue Bots. During the week we were affectionately nicknamed "Captain Stuffi" and "Captain DareWick".
Cooper was a favorite as they played pirates and shared each others toys.
On family trips we like to do half of the day teaching ASA requirements and gaining "wheel/sail time, and the other half as "family time" where we find a cool swimming spot, an island to explore, or resturant to get ice cream and desserts.
Last week I helped teach ASA 101 - 106 and Catamaran Cruising, with a long time friend, Captain Teri, on a trip from Miami to Key West. We sailed aboard a 35' 1999 Fortuna Island Spirit ( S/V Fat Cat) that Teri runs and lives aboard on. It is a sloop rigged cat, with two electric twin engines.
Our students came from wintry weather and enjoyed the sun that we had all week. During the course of the trip they got to practice sailing and reefing in mid to heavy March winds, night sailing, and setting up jack-lines, tethers, and harnesses.
Fat Cat sailed very well downwind, and was comfortable to teach and live-aboard. We had almost exclusively broad reaches as we navigated the ICW and gulf south to Key West in 26 to 34 knot winds. Teri and I had a great time working together and thought we made a pretty good team as we taught and sailed south.
Before the trip I had never sailed with electric engines and learned a ton of the ins and outs of the system. After a few days of using the engines, however, I came to the conclusion that I will never have anything beside a diesel if I had to install a new engine. Its horse power didn't have the torque that a similar diesel engine could supply in heavier winds and currents. It also interfered with the silence I love and associate while only under sail, as we had to run the generator considerably more to compensate for the draw the electric engines took on its battery banks. Recreationally as a boat that is only used on weekends or for day sails, it would be great, but for cruising or traveling long distances, it can be a bit of a hassle. Teri has tons of patience and is well on her way to becoming a marine electrical engineer after trouble shooting this unique system all winter.
Check out our group and women's only sailing classes that we are teaching this summer in our North Carolina sailing school location, Grace Harbor Watersports! Book a Private Sailing Class or Couples Cruising Class in our North Carolina location and receive 20% your charter.
We have been all over the place this month from doing our 'normal' ASA charters sailing from Miami to the Florida Keys, spending two days teaching on ASA's sailing simulator at the Miami boat show, to sailing overnight to make it time for a few Key Largo Eco Day sails where we were able to meet up with friends in the evening and enjoy an afternoon ashore.
