PAGE 6 • AUTUMN 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
AUTUMN 2007 • PAGE 19
FEATURED FACILITY • ANNAPOLIS SAILING SCHOOL
LIVING THE DREAM
By Rick Franke continued from page 4
I
In the summer of 1959,
Due to some health problems that Kathy
Annapolis resident and sailor
experienced, those several weeks turned
Jerry Wood began a small
into several months; and we ended up
sailboat rental business on Back
spending most of 2005, including a
Creek off the Severn River. A
rather robust hurricane season, in
classified ad in the Washington
Mobile. By December, though, with lots
Post soon had potential sailors
of practice and more than enough
arriving at Wood’s door. Most of
hurricanes under our belt, everything
them, however, had little or no
was ready, and we shoved off for
sailing knowledge. Since he found
Panama.
himself teaching his clients how to
sail anyway, the next step was to
Along the way, we visited Isla Mujeres in
hang out a shingle as the
Mexico, the Bay Islands of Honduras and
Annapolis Sailing School. Isla Providencia. In many ways, this was
the hardest leg of our entire journey
From these modest beginnings was
back to Papua New Guinea. While in the
born the nation’s first commercial
Gulf and northern Caribbean, we were
adult sailing school. The ideal
subject to the cold fronts coming across
location of the school on the small
the U.S. Further south in the Caribbean
boat-sailing paradise of
Annapolis Sailing School’s 73 boats require full-time, dedicated staff in order to maintain
the trade winds were howling. Therefore,
Kyle and Kathy Harris purchased this 1976 Tartan 30 renamed Stap Isi, “chill out”
Chesapeake Bay and Jerry Wood’s
them and have them ready to go when customers arrive.
the high point of this leg was the
in Melanesian Pidgin.
vision of sailing as a relaxing,
morning we looked out and saw dozens
recreational sport, available to everyone, coincided with
of ships anchored off the north entrance to the Panama Pacific Ocean. It probably seems weird since we were
the availability of low cost, low maintenance fiberglass
For more information
Canal and knew that we were leaving the Caribbean still seven thousand miles from Papua New Guinea, but
boats. A revolution in sailing was underway.
behind. in some strange way we felt like we were home. Finally,
Visit www.annapolissailing.com or (800) 638-9192.
at last, we were in the correct ocean, and all we had left
The “Annapolis Way” developed as a non-technical, low-
After a month-long wait, we finally transited the Panama to do was sail across it.
classes, allowing the whole family to receive age-
key introductory approach to the sport, emphasizing
Canal at the end of March. We will never forget the
appropriate instruction in preparation for a lifetime of
hands-on learning. The basic outline of the school’s
afternoon that the Mira Flores locks opened up, and we People have written entire books about sailing across the
sailing adventures.
most popular “Become a Sailor in One Weekend” course
motored slowly under the Bridge of the Americas into the Pacific. How does one encapsulate a dream come true in
has been honed and refined over the last half century,
a few words? The seals swimming around the boat each
The modern trend toward larger, more complex boats led
but remains the industry standard. Even in introductory
morning in the Galapagos; landfall in Nuku Hiva after 28
to the recent introduction of a two-day introductory
level courses, students are sailing within an hour of the
days at sea; the crystal clear waters of Ahe atoll in the
course taught on new Hunter 36 sloops. This course,
beginning of the course. This learn-by-doing approach
WHERE AM I?
Tuamotus; the friendly people of Pago Pago; being for a
designed for new sailors who are planning to start their
permeates all the courses offered by Annapolis Sailing
few days the only cruising boat in the entire country of
sailing career as charterers or big boat owners and do
School, from introductory to the most advanced.
Tuvalu; drifting quietly on a glass calm sea on a windless
not want to learn the traditional small boat way, has
day; these are only a few of the memories of the trip that
been popular with weekend students.
As a pioneer in sailing instruction, Wood’s organization
we will hold with us forever.
was responsible for many firsts in the industry,
The school is based in the Eastport section of America’s
including: the development of the Rainbow, the first
Sailing Capital. Students receive their introduction to
And today? We just returned from a trip up the PNG
fiberglass sailboat specifically designed as a training
sailing at the school’s 2.5-acre campus located at the
coast to Broken Water Bay where we anchored for a
vessel; the first flotilla cruises; the first live-aboard
mouth of the Severn River on Back Creek. The school’s
couple weeks off the village of Marangis. The people
cruising courses offered on a per person basis; and the
facilities include three floating docks, two classroom
say that ours was the only cruising boat to anchor there
first nationally recognized course in preparation for
buildings, a full-time maintenance staff and a company-
in many years. Each day, we sat with the villagers and
bareboat chartering.
owned fleet of 73 boats ranging from 12-foot Lasers to a
tried to learn their language, walked along the beach
Morgan 44. This ideal location provides protected sailing
looking for shells, or took a dugout canoe back into the
After 49 years as the industry leader and more than
on the waters of the creek and the river when the wind
mangrove swamps to visit the more secluded hamlets.
200,000 satisfied graduates, the Annapolis Sailing
pipes up and immediate access to the wide waters of
Each evening, we sat on the bow watching a billion
School continues to lead the way into the new century.
Chesapeake Bay when the students are ready. Taking the
stars wheel overhead, listening to the surf and the
first steps in learning to sail in the shadow of the United
sound of singing from the village, and savoring the
In 1996, the school added KidShip, a comprehensive
States Naval Academy adds an unexpected thrill to the
dream.
junior sailing program, to its traditional offerings to
experience.
© 2007 - GeoEye - All rights reserved
expand the Annapolis Way to youngsters from five to 15.
Kyle and Kathy Harris can be reached at kandkharris@
Kidship courses run on the same schedule as the adult continued on page 10
ANSWER ON THE ASA WEBSITE AT WWW.ASA.COM
flyingfox.org.
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