Florida In The Limelight
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 12:11PM 
There are several things we love about chartering with Southwest Florida Yachts, which also has the Florida Sailing & Cruising School as part of their program.
They have an eclectic collection of well-maintained power and sailboats at two good charter bases. The cruising area (including Sanibel and Captiva Islands) is great fun, whether you want solitude or nightlife. Access via air (or car) is fast and easy from anywhere in the U.S.
And don’t forget: the natives speak English (well, sort of), and the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere, as are credit cards.
Now for the news. The American Sailing Association (ASA) has named their Florida Sailing & Cruising School to its honor roll of Outstanding Schools as one of the 20 Best Sailing Programs in North America.
FS&CS offers live-aboard sailing courses for up to four students at a time, with two and three-day sessions for everything from Basic Sailing to Advanced Coastal Cruising. “It’s real world, real time, hands-on learning,” says Barb Hansen, co-owner of SWFYC, noting that the students spend the day steering, plotting, casting off and tying up. At night, they read textbooks and prepare for the testing. She adds, “Students eat, breathe and sleep” their way to the diploma. Tuition includes onboard accommodations, instruction, fuel and course materials. Students provide their own meals and personal expenses.
Not only did their sailing school earn ASA recognition, but FC&CS Chief Captain Christopher Day (above with Barb Hansen) was picked as one of ASA’s 30 Top Instructors of the Year, a prized award considering the thousands of instructors nationwide.
To celebrate their 30 years in business (1984-2014), SWF Yachts is staging a three-year anniversary celebration with some great deals on their full bareboat fleet. In the winter (Dec-April) they are offering a free day with any charter of three days or longer. In the summer (May-Dec), you get two free days. And they’ve just added some new yachts, including a Krogen 42 trawler and a 50’ power catamaran.
For details on charters, go to www.swfyachts. For the school, check out www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.