Private Sailing Lessons for all skill levels. Sailing Instruction is customized for each person to ensure a pleasant and safe sailing experience. Captain and Coach Jay Winters can usually teach a new student to sail a WindRider Trimaran in two to three hours., and on a Sunfish in three to four hours. For the experienced sailor, coached/guided sails are also offered. Jay is fully vaccinated.
Coach Jay only gives one sailing lesson a day. He will look at the weather forecast and try to schedule with the best wind and tide conditions for your session. Then he will make a special trip from his home in Bradenton to Bimini Bay just to work with you. Please arrive for your appointments on time or be sure to call ASAP if a delay or an emergency occurs.
The First Hour of instruction is often taught with the student in shallow water, while the coach goes over basic parts of a sailboat, rigging, basic sailing theory, turning (tacking and
jibing), points of sail, avoiding a capsize, capsize recovery, getting out of a stall and more.
After a very short break, The Second Hour will be spent with the coach and the student sailing on the same boat, while the student is in control of both the tiller and the sail.
The Third Hour will often be spent with the student sailing on his/her own, as the instructor coaches the student(s) from a central location. If desired, you can sail an additional
50 minutes
during the same day for $50 extra.
It is recommended that you schedule an additional session on another day to head out the channel into the beautiful Tampa Bay as we cover additional techniques such as advanced Sail Trim, man/woman or object Overboard Drills, planning for Emergencies, Aids to Navigation, Right of Way Rules, Returning to port upwind vs downwind... and most of all, an opportunity to feel the enjoyment and magic of sailing. During the second session we often sail to the Anna Maria Pier and pull up on shore for a brief snack. Then we are back on the near shore open waters of Tampa Bay before we return to Bimini Bay. During the second session, we can sail in one boat together or in two separate boats.
See video below of a 9-year-old new Bimini Bay Sailor.
I recommend you purchase the inexpensive PDF or Kindle Sailboat manual shown below. It emphasizes Sunfish. The more you know before you start, the more pleasant the experience and the sooner you will be able to sail solo.
Cash, Check with ID, or Card (see Rates page)
Click for ATMs on Anna Maria Island.
Prepare, Learn or Review: Purchase Small Sailboats Made Fun and Easy with Memory Tips, by Captain and Coach Floyd Jay Winters, for only $9.95. This Sunfish and small sailboat eBook is a 170-page PDF file for your PC or iPad. It is also available in Kindle, Audio and Print formats. It is filled with over 200 well labeled photos and illustrations, easy-to-understand terms, and safety tips. It even includes a Sea of Water Riddles that are splashed throughout the book to make the reading even more entertaining for friends or family.
What to bring with you:
Hat, Sunscreen, Water Shoes, Water/Gatorade, a Snack
Be safe - wear Water Shoes!
You can buy Water Shoes at:
Sun and Surf 5418 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach
Island Trader 5336 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach
Walmart, West Marine...