PAGE 20 • SPRING 2009
SPRING 2009 • PAGE 21
BUYING USED FEATURED FACILITY
continued from page 6
The Survey and Survey Report
continued from page 18
Now comes the actual survey. You should make every
(apprentice, master, etc.) with the highest levels of
In Bareboat Chartering and Advanced Coastal Cruising,
effort to attend the survey in person. I have witnessed at
certification reserved for the most experienced. Work
we sail to destinations, north or south, depending on the
least a dozen and learn more about boat construction
with surveyors that have the highest level of certification
weather. Northern trips lead us to Jekyll Island or St.
every time. Once the survey is completed, you will get a
(and therefore experience), so you have the most
Simons Island, Ga. Southern trips lead us to Jacksonville
detailed report. This will be the time to relax as you
expertise possible protecting your investment.
or St. Augustine, Fla. We have a six- to eight-foot tidal
learn the boat you were once in love with has 20, 30 or
swing here, and therefore have a lot of current. This
even 60 defects. Don’t worry. The important thing is how
Next, find a surveyor experienced on the make, model
surprises students, particularly from other areas. Our
serious the issues are, not how many there are. I
and year of the vessel being purchased. If you are buying
sailing area is deep water (for Florida) and we sail year
recommend dividing the survey results into three
something unusual this may be difficult, but if you are
round.
categories:
buying any of the production models typically sailed in
your geographic area, this should not be an issue. A good
The most rewarding part of sailing school ownership has
Deal Breakers - Failure of these items is so serious,
surveyor should know the construction of the boat you
been the relationships developed over the years,
consider strongly the possibility of rejecting the vessel
are purchasing and be able to tell you the typical issues
beginning with our wonderful staff of captains, the ASA
and finding another to buy. Items in this category can
found with the boat over the phone before he/she has
staff, other sailing schools, and the countless students
include all very expensive items (engine, transmission,
even seen the boat.
we have met over the years. It brings great satisfaction to
major tank leaks for example), all safety items (standing
work together as a team with others and watch as
rig condition for example) and all things that could
students are amazed at the miracle of sailing. It reminds
H orseback riding on the beach is one of the incredible adventures
Finally, understand what the surveyor will be checking. If
structurally threaten the vessel (deck integrity, hull
all of us of the first time we tightened the sheets and the
offered near W indward Sailing.
the top of the mast, the engine operation or bottom will
integrity, keel bolts, etc.). Failure of these items is so
not be inspected, keep calling – these are all critical
boat moved! the “Lowe House,” from the first residents there. Each of
serious (or expensive), consider strongly the possibility of
aspects of the vessel that must be inspected. In
the houses they built has a trademark bell-shaped figure
rejecting the vessel and finding another to buy if there
summary, find a certified, experienced surveyor who
are any issues with these items.
Sailing History
at the top of each gable.
knows the boat you are purchasing, has experience Windward moved their classroom location to a historic
surveying it and is going to inspect the entire vessel and house in downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island,
The home was partially restored in 1999, and we have
everything in/on it.
continued on page 23
Fla., last year. The Victorian house, built in 1907, was
done a good bit of restoration ourselves, especially
built by Captain William Bell, a local harbor pilot.
during our slower winter period. We didn’t know of the
Captain Bell, and his brother, James, were identical
nautical heritage of the house until after we acquired it,
twins who moved to Fernandina during the rebuilding
and are amazed that captains are once again in the
period after the Civil War. They were both harbor pilots in
house.
the days when the first captain to reach an incoming
ship would receive the job of escorting the vessel safely
Moving Forward with New Additions
in. At first, the shipping industry was slow, so they began In 2007, we added a captain and boat in Jacksonville,
building homes for additional income. Prior to the on the Ortega River. The location is near the Jacksonville
Victorian era, almost everything had to be made by hand, Landing, in downtown, where Superbowl XXIX was held.
even nails. The availability of cheap machine-produced This has helped to serve the Jacksonville market better.
nails and uniform lumber produced by sawmills and
transported by rail revolutionized construction. In The sailing is great on the wide St. John’s River and the
addition, mass produced banisters, cornices, and other Atlantic is nearby. It is a beautiful area, and the Landing
decorative items were readily available, and new is set up exclusively for boaters, with shops, restaurants
premixed paints were available for the first time in a and live performances.
wide variety of colors. The brothers saw the opportunity
and began to build. Windward Sailing has the greatest staff, and we are
honored to work with them. All of them are USCG
By the latter part of the nineteenth century, Fernandina licensed and ASA certified. Because of their passion for
was such a busy shipping center, that harbor pilots sailing and desire to see students achieve, we have been
didn’t lack for money. They nevertheless seemed to enjoy recognized as Outstanding School for 2008 by ASA.
their successful sideline business. Starting with simple Additionally, Windward’s founder, Charley Weaver and I
cottages built for themselves, and other pilots, the Bell have just been awarded Outstanding Instructors for
brothers subsequently utilized more and more 2008.
gingerbread trim and detail, creating examples of
architecture that stand today as part of their enduring I would like to thank all the wonderful people at ASA for
legacy on Amelia Island. Nine of their homes remain, helping Windward Sailing to become successful. Their
including the Captain’s House, better known as the tireless answering of phone calls, emails, etc., has had a
“Pippi Longstocking House,” from the movie that was great impact on our success. We are blessed to work with
filmed there in the 80s, and our new building, known as them.
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