Happy New Year: Best Sailing Songs for 2022

Hi Shipmates: here is a some sailing music to celebrate 2022.

This year was a unique one for us: Monica and I spent Christmas and New Year in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While many of our friends enjoyed a snowy celebration, we’ll had a warm one in the Tobago Cays, with nothing between us and Africa but three reefs. While most folks back in Canada ate turkey, we delighted in Caribbean lobster at the famous Tobago Cays beach BBQ. As you may know, in July 2019 we started a nautical adventure, sailing our schooner Interlude 7,000 miles to SVG. After Interlude was marooned for 15 months in the Bahamas due to Covid, we finally reunited with the boat in May 2021, and with the help of two sailing friends, we finally arrived in mid-June 2021, after a challenging 26 day passage from Great Exuma. Another highlight this year was that I qualified with both ASA and Sail Canada as an offshore instructor, and taught my first offshore course with BOSS a few weeks ago.

You can find the links to the 2022 Sailing Songs music compilation here.

Look for the featured box at the top of the page.

We hope you enjoyed happy celebrations with family and friends, virtually or in person, and may we all have a healthy and productive year in 2022.

Rob

21/11/2021
Phil@learntocruise.ca
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Lake Ontario Courses For 2022 with Wavelength Sailing School are now posted on their website Learntocruise.ca

Category : Sailing News , Site Updates , Uncategorized

Now you are taking a course with Learntocruiseonline.ca why not take a practical Afloat Course in the beautiful 1000 Islands – Prince Edward Bay Cruising grounds near Kingston Ontario.See: learntocruise.ca

Kingston is known as the freshwater Capital for Sailing in the world. An impressive description but the beautiful scenery, open water and numerous small anchorages coupled with the summer thermal winds make this an ideal area to learn to sail a cruising keelboat.

We offer 5 day live aboard cruise and learn courses leading to Basic, Intermediate or Advanced Cruising certification with Sail Canada and can also offer International Yacht training Bareboat Skipper and the International Certificate of Competence.

All our course fees include registration for the corresponding Ashore Cruising module with learntocruiseonline.ca so will deduct this fee from the course fee for existing students.

As a small school we can offer a multilevel course where possible to families.

Why not join us next summer.

If you need more details please fee free to contact us at instructor@learntocruise.ca

24/06/2021
Rob McLean
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Offshore Experience of a Lifetime!

Category : Site Updates

Ever wanted to cross an ocean? Here’s your opportunity!

Barefoot Offshore Sailing School (BOSS) is seeking participants in a passage aboard Aonyx from La Rochelle, France, to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with stops in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands.

Aonyx is a new O-yacht Class 4 fast catamaran, routinely capable of 15-20 knots. Participants can choose one, two, or all three legs. Leg 1 begins on November 1, 2021, and Leg 3 will conclude around Dec 10 in SVG.

LTCO’s Rob Mclean will be skipper and instructor for all three legs.

For details, see: https://barefootoffshore.com/sailing_courses/offshore/

19/04/2021
Rob McLean
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Offshore Cruising with Rob McLean and Barefoot Offshore Sailing School

Category : Site Updates

Beginning in fall 2021, Barefoot Offshore Sailing School is offering Sail Canada offshore certification courses led by Rob McLean of LTCO. Sail Canada’s Offshore Cruising Standard is designed to equip participants with all the skills they need to plan and implement extended offshore passages. Anyone completing these courses will gain the knowledge, experience and confidence necessary for future adventures skippering offshore voyages.

Three types of itineraries will be available:

A. Intra-Caribbean: this is a week long continuous passage that begins and ends in St. Vincent, and will cover 500 miles looping around Barbados and various other Windward islands. The first availability for this type of course will be in early 2022.

B. Atlantic crossing: these opportunities will coincide with new boat deliveries from Europe to the Caribbean and will typically last between 14 and 21 days. The first availability of this type of opportunity is November, 2021. Others are anticipated in 2022.

C. North America to the Caribbean: these opportunities will also be organized in connection with boat deliveries to or from the Caribbean, and will typically last approximately 14 days. We anticipate that the first availability of this type of opportunity will be in early to mid-2022.

At this time, we are taking Expressions of Interest from sailors who are interested in additional information about any of these three types of offshore training itineraries. Please contact Rob McLean with information about your sailing background, the type of offshore experience you are interested in, and your potential availability dates. Rob will keep you informed of relevant details as specific timing and logistics for these opportunies is clarified later in 2021 and in early 2022. Given the nature of these experiences, sailing 24/7 for one to three weeks, we need a critical mass of qualified participants to proceed. Bring your partners and friends!

19/04/2021
Rob McLean
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Post-Covid Sail Canada courses in the Caribbean

Category : Site Updates

Barefoot Offshore Sailing School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is resuming Sail Canada courses in November, 2021, including the weeks of November 7, 14 and 21. Additional offerings will be available in early 2022. For details, refer to https://barefootoffshore.com/sail-canada-courses/sail-canada-course-schedule/ and/or contact Phil at phil@learntocruise.ca

19/04/2021
Rob McLean
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Intermediate Instructor Clinic

Category : Site Updates

Humber Bay Sailing Club (HBSC) is sponsoring an Intermediate Instructor Clinic, to take place in Georgian Bay September 10-12, 2021. If you are a Basic Instructor interested in moving up to Intermediate, this is a good opportunity for you. The clinic will be led by Rob McLean of LTCO and Bryant Adlam of HBSC. For details, see the Ontario Sailing website, or email Rob at rob@learntocruise.ca

14/05/2020
Rob McLean
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Basic Coastal Navigation Online Exam: Register Now

Category : Site Updates

For students who have subscribed to the Basic Coastal Navigation course. Do the Basic Coastal Exam in the comfort and safety of your home. We are offering on-line virtually proctored Coastal Navigation Exams during the COVID19 pandemic. You will need an internet connection capable of video in a Zoom meeting. The next exam is offered 1800-2100 EDT on May 27th.

You will need to register by May 17th in order to be sent the exam materials by mail. Please contact Instructor@learntocruise.ca for more details or to register.”

22/03/2020
Phil@learntocruise.ca
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Covid-19 update on exam procedures

Category : Sailing News , Site Updates , Uncategorized

On-line study is a great way to make good use of social isolation and to prepare for the time when you can get out on the water to take a course. An issue was , however, that previously you needed to meet face to face with an examiner or proctor to take the exam.

We are pleased to announce that we now have agreement to remotely administer the Radio Operators Certificate exam by video conferencing/Skype or FaceTime without the need for you to leave your home or meet with an examiner in person

We are actively working on ways to administer the Sail Canada exams in a similar fashion without the need for personal contact.

Update: We now have an approved procedure for Administering the Basic Coastal Navigation exam remotely. We are scheduling monthly exam sessions Stay Posted for the Next exam date.

17/01/2020
Rob McLean
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Collaboration with Humber Bay Sailing Centre

Category : Site Updates

Students taking HBSC courses now have the option of taking online courses through LTCO. For details, please see: http://learntocruiseonline/hbsc

20/10/2018
Phil@learntocruise.ca
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