Capt Dave's Tips            

 

Terri, we'll all miss you!
My job is filled with both wonderful joys and occasional sorrows.  I guess the same could be said of life in general.

January 18th 2007 I was excited to add Terri Yawn to our staff as an Apprentice Instructor.  That's where all new staff start regardless of any prior experience. Terri was okay with that; eager in fact!  Terri was a seasoned sailor though; experienced competitor, former life guard, and U.S. Sailing Level 1 Small Boat certified instructor.  She was passionate to join our program.

Over the past 6 months of intensive training and cross training, Terri worked with each of our staff members and students in both ground school and on-the-water classes.  While I was recovering from unexpected surgery earlier this year, Terri volunteered to fill my shoes as a Windsong presenter for the Barefoot Sailing Club's annual Learn To Sail program.  Barefoot has always been a special organization to me and she exhibited great confidence and courage to jump right in and do "whatever it took" to fill my shoes and fulfill my commitment to the club.

 

Terri brought unique skills and experience to her classes.  Having sailed her Catalina 25 along the Savannah coast and taught kids to sail in Opti Prams at the community sailing center, she took her responsibilities seriously yet compassionately.  She worked on a charter boat in Florida for several years and knew what it took to mentor others in her sport.

Terri was an avid competitor in sailing and respected  foredeck spinnaker specialist.  She loved racing motorcycles and teaching others an appreciation for her passion.  She had a love for more activities than time would ever permit, but somehow she managed to do is all.   Terri was a unique individual for sure.

Last month Terri graduated from our difficult and lengthy apprentice program and traveled to Knoxville to earn her final credentials as a U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat certified instructor.  Her first class as a certified Windsong instructor was to have occurred last Sunday, but weather forecasts for severe weather caused cancellation.  She was disappointed yet filled with excitement that she had completed her rigorous training and finally could share her passion for and knowledge of sailing with others.

On Tuesday Terri traveled to Montana to meet her fiancé's family and take some well earned vacation time with Ian Joubert, her fiancé.  On Sunday July 15th Terri and Ian went canoeing.  They both were active adventurists and loved the outdoors.  Their canoe became overturned and both spent considerable time in the frigid and rapid waters.  Terri was swept through a section of sheer cliffs of bedrock and did not survive.

We will all miss Terri. I know her family and Ian will carry voids in their hearts along with the many wonderful memories in their minds that Terri contributed.  Terri lived blocks from the lake and was well known on Lanier in the sailing circles. She was a special individual and I feel honored to have crossed paths with her.  Our entire staff remain in total shock over this incident. 

Life is about "Living".  Terri certainly did that.  This is a reminder to us all that life is short.  Let's spend it on the things that count and with the ones we care about most. 

I am so sorry to share this news about Terri Yawn.  I think of everyone on staff at Windsong as "Family" and this incident will affect us all for some time to come.
 

      So What's NEW!
Night Time Navigation - NEW
Due to student suggestions, we've added a 4th Navigation class to our already thorough Navigation curriculum.  Friday night September 14th departing from Holiday Marina at 8:30 pm we'll offer a 2 hour NIGHT TIME navigation outing.  As many sailors already know, finding your way around after sunset can be dangerous without prior experience.  This outing will provide an opportunity to experience the challenges of navigation in the dark in unfamiliar waters.  LIMITED to first 5 students enrolled.
 
Lake Lanier is 50!  Come Sample Sailing
Lake Lanier is fifty, how nifty!  If you have never been sailing before, Windsong can make that happen.  Once a month I dedicate one entire boat and staff member to conduct "Nifty 50", fifty minute Sample Sailing rides to celebrate Lake Lanier's 50th birthday and introduce first comers to sailing.  If you have never been sailing and would like to join one of our Sample Sails on 9/16 or 10/13, contact our business office for reservations.  All that we ask is a $10 per person voluntary donation to the Hall County Sheriff's Dive Team.

Also you're invited to join our special celebration in conjunction with Holiday Marina's 50th anniversary celebration held on National Marina Day August 11th 11-4 pm.  Come by our tent and introduce yourself.  If we already know you, come by and say hi!
 
ASA Membership With BKB Certification
Beginning October 1st, when you complete an A.S.A. Basic Keelboat Certification, a $39 one-time "Certification Fee" will be added to the cost of the exam cost.  This fee is passed along to A.S.A. to provide A.S.A membership and free subscriptions to Sailing and American Sailing Journal.  Additionally each student will receive a certification card and online account in addition to valuable discount coupons good for merchandise at local marine stores.  A.S.A. will in turn establish an online database file for each student so that they can monitor and maintain their personal information in addition to certification data as they continue their education and log sailing experience.  This database will be available to charter ParticipationGuidelines.htmas a means to verify customer certifications and sailing resumes.
 
Credit Card Purchases
Many of our customers find it more convenient to authorize payment for their classes via their charge card.  If you would like to arrange authorization to use charge cards, you'll need to print the authorization form from our web "Forms" area, sign the authorization and mail it to us. For added safety you can omit your security code and expiration date and phone or email those to us separately.  Credit card authorizations must be received by our office at least 4 days prior to your class date you wish to charge.  Once we have your authorization on file you can use card payments at any time.

To ensure the highest confidentiality and safety for your Credit Card information, charge payments CAN NOT be accepted in the class room or when boarding the boats.  Your information is stored in an encrypted and password protected database which is only accessible by our financial officer who personally processes all credit card payments.

 
Sailing Stories
Everyone enjoys a good "Sailing" story, particularly when they're factual.  It doesn't get any more factual than the Sailing Stories of our students have posted on our web site for the benefit of other students and sailors.  This year we are sponsoring another cruising couple as they begin their voyage we join their story as they purchase an Island Packet 38, sell their house and move to Florida.  You'll have to go check out their story and come back each couple of weeks for updates. 
Mary & Roy Stegall
 
8th Annual Special Olympics Georgia Sailing Regatta

Mark your calendars for September 7-9, 2007 at Sunrise Cove Marina, Lake Lanier.
Friday Night: Registration and Reception hosted by Southern Sailing Club
Saturday Afternoon: Racing All Day at Lake Lanier
Saturday Night: Skipper’s Party and Reception Dinner at the Marina
Sunday Morning: Racing in the morning and Awards Ceremony at the Marina 

For more information, please contact:

 Rachel Provow at 770-414-9390 x 107 or rachel.provow@specialolympicsga.org

http://www.specialolympicsga.org/calendar_of_events/2007/2007_09/sailing_regatta.htm

The skipper who raises the most money wins:

  • Two VIP tickets to the U.S. Sailboat show in Annapolis, MD, round trip airfare and 4-night accommodations! 

Captained Charter Opportunities -
                Bahamas/BVI/St Martin/Grenadines

  If you're not ready to command your own charter cruise or would rather have someone else do all the cooking and hard work, Windsong can make that happen!

Windsong is a booking agency for Elite Island Yachts, offering luxury catamaran yacht cruises throughout paradise in the Bahamas, Tortola British Virgin Islands, St Martin and the Grenadines. 

Contact us today to learn about the special 2007 & 2008 Windsong packages we've negotiated for our students.

These special rates and packages are only available through Windsong and NOT available through Elite Yachts directly.

If you'd like to learn more about the possibilities, contact our business office before these limited trips fill up!
                                Click HERE here to view a video of your possibilities.
 

Dreaming of Greek Isles Sailing?
Ever dreamed of sailing the Greek Isles?  Windsong has 1 single berth remaining for 9/15-29 2007 through Poseidon International Charters, a leader in Greek Island Charters. 

The challenge of sailing is that single sailors must find partners to share a stateroom/berth or pay as much as 50% additional fees. 

For the 9/15 trip, we have one young lady looking for a female room mate.

If you are interested in joining this trip YOU MUST ACT TODAY!

You can sail for 7 or 10 days Athens to Paros or 15 days Athens to Athens roundtrip.

These special trips are only available through Windsong and NOT available through Poseidon directly.

There are too many options and pricing plans to cover here, so call us TODAY if you think you'd be interested in one of this season's trips.

 

!animatedcrab.GIF (2066 bytes)

      Windsong Events
Windsong Celebrates A Birthday Too!

Hard to believe but this year celebrates Windsong's 20th year of educational excellence! 

From a very humble beginning in 1987 we've changed a lot of lives and introduced thousands to the sport and recreation of sailing.  Our success would not have been possible without YOU our loyal customers.

In appreciation, anyone bringing a new guest on a Sailing Outing during August receives 50% off their Sailing Outing!

To learn more about our "roots", visit Our Story

 
Sunset Cruises
For those of you who missed our annual July 3rd Fireworks Cruise, it's not too late to reserve a seat aboard one of our special event cruises before the season is over!

Our $70 3-hour Sunset Cruises offer an escape for some time alone on the tranquil waters of Lanier, a romantic escape for a couple or celebration of a special event.  This year's dates are already on the calendar and some of the trips offer an added bonus of "Entertainment" aboard. 

Some of the special "Entertainment" dates are listed below.

 

 

July 28

Jesse Milton will be returning to amaze us again for his second season with his unique mental abilities.

When Milton is around, some unusual things happen. The belief in the impossible is kindled and intuition is ignited.  Everybody has a great time.  Milton is a cerebral entertainer who can:

  • Discern names, numbers, and important years from the past
  • Intuitively predict mental images, and perceptively discover things about individual personalities
  • Show participants how their own intuition can be set ablaze

Milton is NOT a mind reader, but his engaging and light presentation is filled with surprises, bizarre phenomena, and audience participation.  The audience will warm up quickly, and will find out things about each other they never knew.

 
August 25

Bill Kahler will be returning for his third season by popular demand as one of our Sunset Cruise entertainers.

Bill is a singer songwriter who has been compared to Van Morrison, James Taylor, John Hyatt, Kenny Loggins and David Wilcox.  Bill has shared the stage with Branford Marsalis, Joe Sample, Three Dog Night, Paul Reisler, Darrell Scott, and Matthew Kahler, to name a few.

Bill has written several "nautical" songs per my request and they're all quite good! His warm vocals deliver the lyrics of well crafted, earthy, heartfelt songs performed by guitar, sax, mandolin, accordion and piano.  Bring some cash because you're going to want to take some CDs home with you in memory of the delightful evening.


September 22

For those who prefer the quiet and non "entertaining" times on the water, join us in September for a special "Couples Discounted" sunset cruise.  Singles are $70 but Couples are $95, so if you're trying to stretch your sailing budget and prefer the solitude and romance of the setting sun under sail, this special outing is for you!

 


October 20

Whether you believe in Ghost or not you'll want to join our "Ghost of Lanier" cruise in October!

The third annual "Ghosts of Lanier Cruise" will occur in October on Saturday the 20th. A lot of research went into developing this special annual outing.  If you're interested in this unique 3-hr evening outing on Lanier and enjoy the enchanting and make believe of certain aspects of the history of Lanier and that area prior to the construction of the dam, you don't want to miss this boat!  Bring your own creative minds and participate in the story telling!    

 


 

  

      So What's Been Going On?
 

Upcoming Classes
We have several seats available over the next few weeks of classes.  

You can click on the class description below for more information.

Ground School Classes:

  7/21 Marine Meteorology
  7/24 Basic Coastal Cruising
  8/05 Engine Maintenance
  8/6, 8/8 & 8/15 Coastal Nav_a
  8/12 Advanced Coastal Cruising
  8/19 Basic Keelboat Sailing Theory
  8/20 & 8/22 Bareboat Chartering
  8/21 & 8/23 Marine Meteorology
  8/25 Coastal Nav_b
  8/26 How To Buy The Perfect Boat
  8/27 Meal Preparation & Safety
  9/09 Basic Coastal Cruising
  9/11,9/13,9/18,9/20 Celestial Nav_a     Last One This Season! 
     
Sailing Outings: (Check the web site for exact times)
  7/28 Sailing Outing (Spinnaker Clinic)
  7/28 Sunset Cruise (Jesse Milton)
  8/04 Sailing Outing (Anchoring Clinic)
  8/04 Sailing Outing (Maneuvering Clinic)
  8/18 Sailing Outing (Docking Clinic - Catalina 27:Tiller)
  8/18 Sailing Outing (Spinnaker Clinic)
  8/25 Sunset Cruise (Bill Kahler)
  9/01 Sailing Outing (Docking Clinic - Hunter 28: Wheel)
  9/08 Sailing Outing (CON_c - DAY TIME)
  9/14 Sailing Outing (CON_n - NIGHT TIME)
  Every Weekend Sailing Outing (Skills & Drills)
Windsong
       T-Shirts & Hats

These are great to tell others about
            your sport
                  and
                     accomplishments.

 

               

 

 

   
HATE THAT SPAM?
Ever noticed that all official Windsong emails have the word "WINDSONG:" in the subject? That's so that you can use an email filter or rule to intercept and redirect Windsong emails into a dedicated folder based upon this trait.  That way we won't ever wind up in your SPAM folders or accidentally deleted.  This is actually a two-way street.  Any replies from you will automatically contain the same identifier in the subject and we can prevent it's accidental deletion as well.  So any emails from you to us should contain the word "WINDSONG" in the subject or you risk censure by our anti spam software.  Daily we receive just over 800 SPAM emails and find the use of filtering software imperative.  Don't risk losing our emails, filter TODAY!

 

Friends don't let their friends go through life
without experiencing sailing!

Invite someone to join you today!

PLEASE, REACH OUT AND TOUCH US,

                We're listening!!

Many times students' suggestions are implemented on the spot!  We pride ourselves in our customer service and attention to the needs of our students. If you have thoughts or ideas, drop us a line or give us a call.  All things are possible; you simply need to ask. 

Thanks!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our students for their loyal support through the seasons and encourage everyone to bring one new friend along each year as you sail.  As we grow and expand our operation, we want to make our products and services available to all who may be interested, but someone has to make the introduction.  Share the love of your sport with those who may be interested in our unique collection of programs.

You'll be glad you did and so will they!