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Finally! It’s here! Our Florida Keys couples sailing course with Captain Jennifer Wirth on her 35 foot Beneteau, Sunday Morning. It’s 12:00 Saturday afternoon at Dinner Key Marina in Miami and our amazing adventure is about to begin! Following introductions and tour of our new home for the next four days, Jennifer sent us on a scavenger hunt in the boat to locate maintenance and safety items. It was a fun way to become familiar with the boat and just the beginning of our teamwork experience. Once we shopped for some additional provisions, settled into our berth and received instructions on how to use the head properly we were ready to set sail!
Once securely anchored for the evening, it was time for happy hour on the deck, under the stars! Jimmy Buffett sang Son of a Sailor, while Jennifer shared stories about her extensive exciting sailing experiences. A relaxing happy hour followed by a great salmon dinner and day one has come to an end. No problems sleeping as the boat rocked us gently to sleep! Life is great! October 28, 2007 No sleeping in! We have a full day of sailing ahead. After a warm breakfast, we completed the safety and maintenance checklists that included listening to the weather forecast for Biscayne Bay. Sunny skies with 20mph winds and a report of tropical storm Noel in the Bahamas. Using the nautical charts, a compass, a ruler and a few calculations, Captain Jennifer instructed us on how to navigate our way to Key Largo. Great winds in our favor for a run to Key Largo! Lunch on the go (didn’t want to miss any of the good wind) and a dinghy ride to Alabama Jacks for some of the Keys Best Conch Fritters to end a wonderful afternoon. As we tacked our way to Gilbert’s Tiki Bar, another glorious day sailing on Sunday Morning was coming to an end! Dinner along with a cold island drink (or two or three) at the tiki bar and a second good night’s sleep! Life is still great! October 28, 2007 October 29, 2007 By the sounds of the winds outside, some effects of tropical storm Noel were increasing our winds up to 40 mph. As beginner sailors, today was going to be a challenge for us but we felt very comfortable in the hands of our captain. Following the routine preparations to begin sailing, we headed back to Miami. With the mainsail and jib completely reefed, we tacked and practiced some heave ho drills. Today, we conquered our fear of heeling. Jennifer told us about the maximum heel for Sunday Morning and we began to trust the boat! Our sails appeared to be properly set as we traveled close hauled upwind at seven knots all the way back to Miami. Jennifer With is an extraordinary teacher with years of experience. We commend her for her patience with our beginner fears and understanding of our desires to become better sailors. Our couples sailing experience with Womanship exceeded all of our expectations and we look forward (after the winter months) to applying all that we learned on our boat. Following our “splendid adventure” on Sunday Morning, we can now envision the possibility of a two-three year retirement cruise. Debra Ann Cantrell, author of Changing Course, captures our thoughts: Twenty years from now Thank you, Womanship and Captain Jennifer Wirth. --Don and Janice Easley |
"I've told all my galfriends that it's something they MUST do! Very freeing and exhilarating." - Kym B., MD
"Even mistakes were turned into positive learning experiences - without yelling." - Joan C., FL
"My husband said I had 'really, really improved'! The ultimate testimonial!" - Dottie N., CT
"I did like the teaching approach because it was fun and very easy to learn. Mary showed one or two of us something then we turned around and taught our shipmates. The learning then teaching method worked really well for me...The whole week was very confidence building." - Maggie W., CA
"I had such a great time, I learned so much, and nobody yelled." - Sharon H., CT
"Next to the birth of my first child, this is the most thrilling experience of my life!" - Myrna B., PA
"I work with trainers, am a trainer, and I saw some of the best teaching I've ever seen!" - Kay J., MD
"The 'you can do it' attitude - being and learning with women. I learned so much but more important you gave me the confidence to learn more. The best week ever spent!" - Maureen B., NY
"I learned everything I expected and more than I thought possible. I got what I came for." - Claire K., CO
"I chuckle with memories of the fun, good companionship and variety of valuable learning experiences." - Debra B., MA
"For someone like me who has had sailing experience (cruising and racing) and lots of classes, but never took charge before, your course was a dream come true." - Susan H., DE - now a Womanship® Instructor
"Thank God for Womanship. I have been sailing for years with my husband and never felt confident until now." -Elizabeth F., GA
"Now I want you to teach my husband." - Lynn C., TX
The course was set in one of the most beautiful areas of the world and we had perfect weather. The icing on the cake was an instructor who was extremely knowledgeable, patient, kind, flexible, and had great teaching and people skills. How could anybody want more!
Carol followed what I call the four F's...Friendly, Fun, Fair, and Firm (when necessary). She did her utmost to meet everybody's needs and wants. We not only learned what we came to learn but we also had a good time doing it; saw a lot, snorkeled, ate healthy, had the proper amount of entertainment, and still able to get a good night's sleep.
Carol proved to us on a daily basis that she is a top-notch captain. I look forward to my next Womanship experience.
Most sincerely,
Bonnie J. Davidson
Just got back from my Womanship seven day live aboard. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life. Seven women who did not know each other, ages 48-53. We all got along and we had the most amazing capt. Capt. Lynne. She is from Martha's Vineyard and was so cool under pressure, she never got upset or anything. We ground once, which was a great experience. I can't wait to do an offshore. The only problem is being back in Chicago and my mundane life. Can't wait to sail again...I am so impressed with Womanship I can't begin to tell you.
Shirley R.
Dear Suzanne:
Enclosed is the completed Afterthoughts form for my recent Womanship live- aboard course, my fourth Womanship course in two years. I'd like to take a few minutes of your time to tell you about the role sailing and Womanship have played in my life over the past two years.
During the winter of 1996, my husband and I went on a sailing school vacation to St. Martin. Our plan was to return the following year for me to take a bareboat course; our goal was to be able to island-hop in a boat of our own.
Upon returning home to Connecticut, I attended a Womanship open house in Mystic and met you and learned about Womanship. In fact, it was my husband who showed me the announcement in the newspaper and suggested I go. During this same time (Spring, 1996), his health was rapidly deteriorating. What we soon learned was that he had advanced pancreatic cancer. He died June 12, 1996.
My shock and devastation were profound and intense. Yet somehow I knew that sailing was something that I wanted to continue to pursue and that it might even be therapeutic. Within weeks of his death I went on my first Womanship course, a five-day live aboard on Long Island Sound. Imagine my feelings when I arrived at the dock and learned the boat was named "Confidence." Confidence and solace were just what I was seeking. Although I was very much in the throes of grief, that trip was extremely beneficial. I was on the water doing something I enjoyed that most times required my full concentration. Captain Robin was an excellent instructor who was calm and professional as we encountered New England's challenging weather conditions. Indeed the trip had such a positive, therapeutic effect on me that I enrolled in another two months later.
Fast-forward to the present. My adjustment continues. I have moved, started a new job and am moving forward in this new stage of life. This spring I took the big plunge and bought a 25 foot sailboat of my own. Yes, it is a frightening responsibility, but one I feel ready to assume. My Womanship experiences and the helpful feedback from your excellent instructors gave me the confidence to pursue my dream. I am a firm believer in the Womanship way.
Sincerely,
Sandy Lindsey
P.S. from Womanship, October '98 - Sandy is in the process of booking with a group of her friends for her next Womanship course, so they can all sail together. We've also sent her the Instructor In Training packet for students who are pretty far along the way to full competence and confidence. Helen Johnson, Womanship Coordinator
........With deep appreciation of and pride in your wonderful creation - "Womanship" - I'm so glad to have that connection and so many wonderful memories.
Fondly,
Dea Andersen Kline
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It was a beautiful Florida afternoon 82 degrees and sunny skies as we motored out of the marina and into Biscayne Bay. Slowly the Miami skyline disappeared as we raised the mainsail and unfurled the Genoa. Captain Jennifer coached us as we were immediately given the opportunity to take turns at the helm. Dolphins danced as they followed us on our starboard side (definitely a sign of good times to come). The rest of the afternoon was smooth sailing!
Well the winds did pick up over night and the forecast called for rain and increasing winds. We have the morning routine down to a science. Maintenance and safety checklists, weather report, navigate our course, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. We had to make sure to secure everything below because it’s looked like some rough winds and water ahead! Before we left the protected channel of Jewfish Creek, we replaced the Genoa with our jib. We raised the mainsail and let out the jib for the beginning of a brand new day. Shortly after heeling and tacking our way back up through Biscayne Bay we found we had to reef the sails. Captain Jennifer knew her boat extremely well and knew exactly how much to reef the sails to obtain maximum control and speed. Good thing we were prepared with rain gear because it was needed today! As the winds continued to increase, anchoring took us a little longer, however, Captain Jennifer did an excellent job of navigating to secure a protected spot for us to anchor on the leeward side of a tropical island. Once anchored, we looked all around us and saw streaks of green lights in the water. This is what people refer to as phosphorescence (living sea creatures that glowed in the dark). It was magical! In our magical world afloat, we cooked kabobs on the grill, Jimmy Buffett sang One Particular Harbor and we toasted to a third great day of sailing! Life continues to be GREAT!