If you're ever going to turn that dream of sailing around the world into reality, well now's your chance!
Rowland and Shelley Short took three years off work to sail their yacht around the Pacific. In that time they covered 48,000km, visiting Fiji, Tonga, Noumea and New Zealand.
With 20 years and all those kilometres under his belt, Rowland now teaches sailing on his pride and joy, Breezy.
The 12m Breezy was designed and built in Adelaide and won an Australian Design Award and Prince Philip design award. The 21-year-old vessel is one of the safest boats around and has been through some pretty tough times to earn that commendation, including 20m high waves.
Rowland's two-day course is Australian Yachting Federation approved and upon completion you will be awarded a Competent Crew Course certificate which is internationally recognised. With this you will be able to help out on any boat around the world or charter a boat for cruising.
Many people dream of sailing off into the sunset and courses at the Academy of Sail get them started and give skills to sail safely. Many ex-students have sailed in the Sydney to Hobart race, around Australia — even around the world.
The course takes place in the Gulf of St Vincent and weather and sea conditions determine how far out to sea the yacht goes. Theory and safety are high on the list of priorities, closely followed by a very basic rule — how to tie nautical knots. Learning to steer is hands-on and new terms such as tacking and gybing are explained. Hoisting and trimming of sails is taught, along with rules such as who has right of way.
Academy of Sail offers overnight cruises, as well as having a range of nationally accredited marine courses on interactive CD Roms.
