FAQ

SeaLife Sailing School Trip Frequently Asked Questions

1. WARM CLOTHES - layer - you can add layers if you are cold or remove if you are too warm. You may be surprised by how much the temperature will change when you are sailing with or against the wind. Be prepared for anything. Depending on where we are, temp. ranges from 8c to 30c+ (40F- 90F) may be experienced in the same day. A polyester fleece sweat suit is a good basic item to have. It makes a warm layer and can also double as your pajamas. Even during warm dry weather, the wind can still reduce the apparent temperature.
Cotton should be avoided as it gets damp and stays damp. Jeans are fine for the evening but inappropriate when sailing in anything but the warmest weather. They may also restrict movement.

2. DECK SHOES / BOOTS - soft soled, non-marking + extra socks. Be prepared for rain with something waterproof. In the off-season sea boots or non-marking boots are essential. Test the sole on linoleum floor or other hard surface for marking -- some dark coloured soles are fine. Sneakers with plastic bags inside may work in rain storms. If you can find Seal Socks or Gortex socks they are very comfortable. Please note -- closed toe shoes or close toe sandals must be worn on deck and below --- open-toed sandals are fine when you are off the boat. In the cooler season, heavy wool or a polyester wool blend are a essential --- cotton socks are simply not warm enough.

3. WET WEATHER GEAR - it may rain! Light nylon rain jacket and pants are sufficient for most trips - Skiing / snowboarding jackets & pants work very well. During cooler season cruises, good wet weather gear is a must. We can advise you on reasonably priced gear; a small towel for your neck is also handy. Typically, the weather in our cruising area is reasonably dry from May to October. SeaLife Sailing does NOT as yet supply wet weather gear.

4. SAILING GLOVES - If it's cold and rainy, you'll be glad you brought them. They can also help protect your hands - leather palms are an asset. In the wet season, Gore-tex or rubber work gloves are the only thing that will keep your hands dry.

5. HAT - A hat is a must -- Bring a warm toque for off-season trips, and a wide-brimmed hat for shade during the summer.

6. SUNGLASSES - just bring 'em... Good even for overcast days, as there is a lot of UV and glare on the water.

7. SUNSCREEN - a must from April to Oct.- SPF 30 or higher is ideal. We normally have some backup if you are not particular about which brand you use.

8. MOTION SICKNESS - if you think that you may become queasy due to the motion of the ocean, please bring an appropriate medication - take it before you need it. - Ginger pills may help or ask a pharmacist for advice on over-the-counter products such as 'Gravol'.

9. ADDITIONAL - Please bring a sleeping Bag. We provide a pillow & case, towel and face cloth. There is little opportunity to do laundry so you need to bring clothes for the number of days of the trip --- plan on changing T shirts etc. every second day. Some extra are good to have in case you get wet. We will have a laundry day on our longer cruises.

10. MUSIC - please feel free to bring along original CDs or an MP3 player for yourself, or especially if you have an FM transmitter. It is always nice to have a variety of music aboard.

11. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - Unless we are at a marine pub, there is little or no opportunity to purchase alcoholic beverages. You are welcome to consume an alcoholic beverage after the vessel is secured for the evening, but you should plan to do your shopping prior to boarding.

12. For those taking a certification program, Please bring ALL of your study materials.
We will be referring to them often. A note book and pen/pencil is also recommended. CYA students will be writing their exams during the cruise.
Please bring your CYA Log Book as we will refer to it every day. Please make sure you have a photo for your logbook as well as any required additional documents --- VHF radio, CPR

Everything should be packed in soft luggage (duffel bag, back pack). Ideally, your luggage fits into one large bag.

Space is a consideration so try to bring as little as possible -- we will be at a dock every 2nd or 3rd night for showers you will need loonies ($1cdn coin).

Boat location - Ma Provence: Most Courses/trips will depart from either the town of Steveston, or False Creek near downtown Vancouver. We will advise you in advance of the departure and return destination so that you can make transportation arrangements.

Please meet us at 8:30 am -- we will watch for you and bring you to the boat. Of course, if you are going to be a little early or are running a few minutes late and are carrying a cell phone, feel free to call and co-ordinate.

We return around 5:00pm and are usually finished cleanup and snugging down by 5:30 - 6:00. We will discuss with you in advance if these times will be different due to timing of tides and or currents. These times should be considered when arranging flights. Travel time from our location to the airport is approximately 40 minutes.

To help us plan for your cruise with us we would require some information on the following topics: Please complete and return via email. Please submit this information at least 2-3 weeks prior to your departure.

Name
E-mail
Cruise & date

Medical history:

1.Do you have any medical conditions that we should be aware of?

2. Are there any special medications that you should be carrying on board (e.g.. Epipen)?

3. Emergency contact person and phone #

Meals:

1. Allergies:
Please indicate if you have any food allergies and if so, the specific foods and reaction.

2. Food::
Are there any foods that you cannot eat?
Please list- red meat, fish, chicken, dairy

3. Do you require a special diet? If so, please describe.

3. Do prefer coffee or tea?

Typical meals:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast & Jam, muffins, pancakes, Juice, Coffee or Tea

Lunch: Sandwiches, cup of noodles, Fruit, Juice

Dinner: Salmon, Steak, Chicken, + Veg, Rice, Pasta, Vegetables, Potatoes, Salads.

Meals are generally simplified in that we do as much pre-preparation as possible ahead of time to reduce preparation time aboard; crew members take turns as ship's cook and bottle washer. Most months, and in most weather, barbecuing is the preferred method of cooking for the evening meal. Dessert will often be fruit, cookies, chocolate, etc.or

We also have a selection of Power/Fruit bars and other snack items.

Space is limited onboard -- bringing food or snacks is generally not necessary unless you have dietary preferences that we cannot readily accommodate. If you are bringing something, it will be helpful to let us know in advance -- we often simply have to throw food away as there is no way of keeping it fresh.
We provision the boat for the full trip in Vancouver, we don't plan on shopping part way in the trip - often there is no place to shop.

Course Information

Style of course - This will be a Cruise & Learn type of a course where we cruise to various destinations while putting into practical application the theoretical knowledge learning (ashore study) and demonstrating newly acquired skills.

Rationale - A Cruise & Learn is an immersion course. It provides the best venue to acquaint students with the parts of the boat and sails, the feeling of the vessel under sail and power, the correct trimming and helming techniques, as well as the various mechanical and electrical systems that are found in cruising boats.

Location - The cruise/course location depends upon the length of the programme. The 5-day course will be in and around the Gulf Islands of Southwestern B.C. In addition to sailing in protected areas, we traverse the Georgia Strait on our way to and from our various destinations.

Duration - The courses will be from 3 to 21 days (Most courses are of a 5 day duration) and the maximum number of students will be four. This number allows for everyone to have enough time to develop their sailing skills as well as become familiar with the boat and the correct operating procedures for the various vessel systems. We will leave our Marina by 9:00am of the first day and return around 5:00pm of our last day. The theory portion of the course has a written test that will be done the evening prior to return to Vancouver. The last day will be the practical evaluation of the course with the students running the vessel.

Our classes run from approximately 9:00am to 5:00pm. We try to have the vessel moored or docked by 4:30 each day and use the last hour for snugging down the boat, reviewing the day's sailing, and establishing our plans for the next day. This leaves evenings available for exploration ashore, a visit to a local Marine Pub, time to do homework or an opportunity to tell a few tall tales.

Vessels - Will be Ma Provence, a 36' Lancer Cruiser/Racer for most courses. Alternatively, we may use our 24' Riviera Star for smaller groups and for shorter trips with less students. The vessels are fully equipped with appropriate sailing gear and electronics as well as emergency and safety equipment meeting or exceeding Coast Guard requirements.

Expectations - All students seeking certification, should have reviewed their text book, completed the work book where applicable, and generally be familiar with the material prior to boarding. While little or no time is available to spend on a general review or study of the text book material, students are encouraged to ask questions if items in the text are not clearly understood. We will spend whatever time necessary to make all students comfortable with these specific items. The majority of the day is spent on developing and honing sailing skills and learning about the vessel systems. SeaLife Sailing and its Instructors, may require students to obtain remedial practice prior to progressing to the next level of study. This remedial practice will be undertaken at the student's expense.

Course/cruise costs are all inclusive. Boat, instructor, food, fuel, moorage, and towels are included. Students need only bring a sleeping bag, appropriate clothing including footwear, wet weather gear. Students will be responsible for the replacement cost of any ship's gear broken or lost.

All crew members are expected to take part in all aspects of the operation of the boat and should understand that from time to time they will be required to partake in vigorous and strenuous exercise. Students should be in good health and may want to consult their physician prior to booking a cruise. Students should also realize that sailing is an activity that includes inherent dangers and that despite all precautions, accidents can occur.

As part of the live aboard situation, cooking skills, while not a part of the Basic Course (it is part of the Intermediate and Advanced), will be appreciated by your shipmates. Most meals will require relatively simple preparation; many will be cooked on the barbeque. We are pleased to accommodate students with different dietary preferences provided that we are made aware of them in advance. People who have limited cooking skills will be expected to make a greater contribution to the housekeeping and shipboard cleaning.

We want people to have a great time out on the water in a fun, safe environment.

Cancellation - Student - Full refund less $300 administration fee if cancelled 30 days or more, prior to departure.

A cruise/course will be considered cancelled by the student if full payment is not received 30 days prior to departure.

Sealife Sailing will cancel a cruise/course only in the event of a safety or mechanical failure. Every effort will be made to acquire a suitable replacement vessel. In the event that SeaLife Sailing is forced to cancel a trip, a full refund will be made.