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Named the Best Sailing School in America since 1991!*
Proudly offering exceptional sailing programs to sailors of all levels |
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Hello Friends and Alumni -
Well, the whale sightings are getting less frequent in Banderas Bay (but we did see a baby breaching some 20+ times just yesterday!), so it must be warming up in the wintry north... and sure enough, we have a lot of people excited about getting back out on the Bay. Tons of things going on and a couple of exciting announcements:
Blah-Blah-Blog!
All kinds of great things cross our desk every day here, and we've decided that it would be fun to share them in an informal environment... so we started a blog. We'll try to update it regularly, but honestly it will probably take some practice until it becomes habitual, so bear with us! Here you go... http://sailing-jworld.blogspot.com/
Strictly Sail Pacific
The big all-sailboat show is going on in Oakland this week... this is "Largest Sailing Marketplace West of the Mississippi," so don't miss it! And when you are there, come on by and say hi... we will be out on the docks with one of out J/80s and hope to see you! http://www.strictlysail.com/
NEW PROGRAM: Boat Share by J World
Ok, we are excited to announce the launch of a new program from J World... Boat Share by J World is a fractional ownership program which allows you to co-own exciting sailboats. The cost of ownership is a fixed rate that is remarkably low. Our first boat in the program, a beautiful J/92, is now available for (partial) purchase. For details about the program, give us a call or come by the boat show!
Special Offers for Newsletter Recipients Only:
It's not often that we run any specials on our courses, so take note that we have a spring promotion to encourage those of you who have been thinking about taking the plunge to finally make the move. You MUST mention this offer at the time of booking!
Take 15% off any of our learn to sail courses - sign up for any 2008 standard class before April 20, and you can get 10% off the regular tuition!
Take 25% off remaining berths in our Sea of Cortez Cruise! That's almost $700 off this great trip... see below for more details...
PACIFIC CUP - News Flash!!
It looks like we might have ONE spot opening up in our Pacific Cup program this July! A cancellation might make this race to Hawaii an opportunity for you. Click here to find out more about the Pacific Cup
April / May Cruising Classes -
Come explore the Sea of Cortez on our Spring Cruise. We have two spectacular legs to choose from, each one offering an opportunity to experience one of the world's great cruising grounds. Abundant sea life, unspoiled beauty and accommodating weather provides the perfect setting for instruction aboard our J/120 with Capt. Eugenie!
Seven Day Live-aboard cruise - Apr 26-May 2 -Puerto Vallarta to La Paz
Seven Day Live-aboard cruise - May 4-10 - La Paz to San Carlos
Click here for more info on these special cruises, and here for information pertaining to our standard live-aboard cruising classes.
Racing Weeks
Our renowned racing classes are running in San Francisco April 28 and May 19. These courses cover everything from sail trim and boat-handling to rules and tactics. Get faster, sail smarter, win races. Regardless of what type of boat you sail and where you sail it, this class will send you home ready to take on all comers Intro and Advanced
Hawaii to San Francisco Cruise
At the beginning of August, we will be conducting an offshore cruising class which will take students from the Hawaiian Islands to San Francisco. Following the sailing route northward around the Pacific High, this is a great opportunity to gain some valuable offshore experience. More on this offshore cruising class...
Private Instruction
This season has just gotten started, and J World instructors have already been booked for private sessions in Chicago, Valle de Bravo, and Hawaii... We have top level racing coaches who can provide valuable insights to your trim, technique, and teamwork. Additionally, our private programs for boat owners have been used by boat brokers, boat builders, and insurance companies to train and educate both new and experienced sailors to the techniques and skills necessary for the efficient and safe operation of their vessels. Finally, when you are ready to stretch your legs and head offshore for the first time, consider taking a J World instructor on the passage. Learn good habits from the start, and have an enjoyable and safe passage!
All the best,
Wayne Zittel & the J World Team
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What a Difference a J Makes
Link: J/BOATS
Manufacturers of outstanding one-design racing sailboats, sport boats & performance & live-aboard cruisers from 22 to 53 feet. Hooper's Yachts dealers.
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Trailerable Fun Sailboats for the Whole Family
Link: Precision Boatworks
Manufacturers of fine trailerable sailboats from 15 to 23 feet and a 28 foot cruiser. Hooper's Yachts dealer.
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Upper Midwest Sailing Rag
Link: Northern Breezes Magazine
Upper Midwest sailing rag full of interesting articles, upcoming events in the area, vast list of used sailboats for sale and other sailing venues.
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Yacht Charters Around the World
Link: The Moorings
In the winter of 2000 I had the pleasure of chartering a Moorings yacht in the British Virgin Islands. Other members of our staff have also enjoyed The Moorings. The organization is very professional & took care of every detail starting with flight arrangements, hotel before & after the charter, briefing, provisioning, a well-equipped and ready to go yacht with all necessary charts. They were ready to help with any misfortunes when needed. You can even charter a J/120 - an exhilarating 40 foot cruising model. The BVI's is a very beautiful & pleasant place to cruise, but it is only one location of many that The Moorings are based. Check out their very informative web site to plan your next sailing vacation.
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Sail the Grenadines
Link: Takes Me Away Yacht Charter
Captain Dianne Siebrasse invites you to escape to paradise to sail aboard a 43-foot sailboat in the Caribbean. This opportunity is for persons with all levels of sailing experience, but if you desire to learn or practice your sailing techniques or navigating, your captain will be there to assist you.
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Race on Lake Minnetonka
Link: Wayzata Yacht Club
Wayzata Yacht Club offers some of the keenest inland sailboat racing in the Metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. Located on beautiful Lake Minnetonka, it's the originating home for the J/24, J/22 one-design and MORC fleets number one. In addition there are more one-design fleets in Sonars, Capri 25's, S-2 7.9's and Pearson Ensigns as well as PHRF starts.
There is a beautiful yacht club facility and many social events throughout the year. Many of the WYC sailors have competed and done well, not only in local events, but also in regional, national and international levels including gold medalists in the Olympics. Yet, they are geared to sailors of all levels of experience and have associated sailing schools beginning with children on up. Check out their web site for a complete update on the Wayzata Yacht Club and their informative sailing topics and links.
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A Sailing Adventure in Canada/US Waters
Link: Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association
LOWISA is a week sailing regatta for all levels of sailing skill in one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world. It takes place annually in early August. Sailors from all over the U.S. & Canada come together for a sailing vacation never to be forgotten. Sail among 14,000 islands and 65,000 miles of shoreline in a pristine wilderness. Anchor in a different spot each night. Enjoy a midweek layover day at a resort. Enjoy the adventure and camaraderie of sailing in boats from daysailors & multi-hulls to over 40-foot cruisers (2 crew minimum). The photo shows Division 1 & 2 sailing through the islands. There were a total of 7 or 8 divisions in this regatta.
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Yachtsman's Handbook for the Maltese Islands
Link: Yachting in Malta
The Maltesearchipelago - consisting of the islands of Malta, Gozo & Comino - lies at the cultural, financial & geographical crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta with Valletta as its capital, is the largest island of the group
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Making Painting Easy
Link: Interlux
Interlux's objective is to help you enjoy your boat. To accomplish this they make their products easy to use, long lasting and durable in the face of harsh marine environments. They provide excellent technical support via the phone or Internet. Hooper's Yachts has long been an Interlux Yacht Paint dealer and applicator.
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A GREAT READ ON OLDER DESIGNS
Link: GOOD OLD BOATS
Locally produced, Good Old Boat Magazine is a sought-after sailing rag with practical and informative articles germain to any sailboat owner. Consistent with great offerings, this web site is a wealth of interesting information.
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LOCAL NOTICES TO MARINERS
Link: USCG NAVIGATION CENTER
Check the links for GPS status, local notices to mariners and additional information.
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Outstanding Epoxy Products
Link: WEST SYSTEM EPOXIES
Hooper's Yachts has long been recognized as a dealer for Gugeon's West Epoxy Products. On their site you can get a direct guide to handling epoxy and the basic techniques of their use.
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Row it. Sail it. Motor it. Love it.
Link: WALKER BAY DINGHIES
The injection-molded dinghies that are incredibly durable, lightweight, easy to handle & virtually maintenance-free. Their wide beam adds stability. They are ideal for a yacht tender, dinghy sailing or with a small outboard. Check out their site for product details. Hooper's Yachts is a stocking dealer for Walker Bay boats and accessories.
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Sailing Club on the Minnesota/Wisconsin Border
Link: St. Croix Sailing Club
The St. Croix Sailing Club enjoys the beautiful scenic waters of the St. Croix River which flows down to the Mississippi. PHRF Racing, Cruising and social events are abundant within this club. And they host the annual Labor Day Regatta - an invitational event which draws sailors from all around for all sorts of fun.
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Without a Hitch
Link: Government info on trailering
Hitch systems, towing packages, tongue weight, and driving permits—there’s a lot more to towing a trailer than just hitching up and taking off down the road. This brochure provides general information and tips that can help you make safe decisions when purchasing and driving a tow vehicle and trailer for noncommercial, personal use.
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ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY ANTIFOULING PAINT
Link: E PAINT
E Paint Company has been awarded the prestigious R&D 100 Award for 2002 featuring EP2000, their environmentally-friendly water-based antifouling bottom paint. R&D awards have been designed for one purpose only - to acknowledge the 100 most technologically significant new products of the year.
Hooper's Yachts is proud to be an E Paint dealer. In addition here's an antifouling that comes in a white color & can be buffed to a smooth racing finish.
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APPLE FEST
Link: Bayfield, WI Annual Apple Festival
Thousands converge into the small fresh-water seaport town of Bayfield for food, fun, music, arts & crafts and Apples on the first weekend of October each year.
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The Test Case is a J/24
Link: Stiffness Reduction of Marine Composites
This page briefly describes a project that looks at fatigue effects on marine fiberglass. The project's goal is to correlate (and improve where possible) standard test methods, theory and computer-aided analysis tools to give designers more confidence when developing specifications for marine composite components.
The project includes aspects of both theory and experimentation. Finite element analysis (FEA) (a numerical/graphical structural analysis computer tool) and various fatigue theories are compared and supported by coupon, panel and full-size testing. The "test case" is the J/24 class sailboat, a design that has enjoyed a long production run and has a reputation for durability.
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Edmund Fitzgerald Mystery Explained
Link: Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Here you can read stories about several ships that sank in the Great Lakes & learn which ships the Shipwreck Society recovered or plans to look for. In Virtual Tour you can run your cursor over the lighthouse photo to look inside or see the virtual tours below the lighthouse photo.
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GET IN THE SWIM
Link: Marine Biology
Find a myriad of answers to your marine biology questions in this web site. Click on OCEAN MYSTERIES to learn about ocean myths or CREATURES of the SEA to gain detailed info & see photos. Visit PLANKTON BOARD to read & post marine-related problems. See the OCEAN & SUBMARINE history pages too.
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MEET YOUR FAVORITE SEA CREATURE
Link: ScubaDuba.com
Divers can rendezvous & plan trips via the site's directories or click one of the links to the weg site's exhibitions. Member divers post their pictures into galleries which include hundreds of beautiful photos as well as scary ones. Go to FUN & GAMES & see what's in store.
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SHARKS AT A SAFE DISTANCE
Link: Waikiki Aquarium
This web site features live video of its shark tank, coral tank & Monk Seal Pool 24/7. Take a virtual tour of the aquarium & see photos & explanations of the inhabitants.
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Catamaran Sailors - Come Sail/Come Race
Link: Lake Waconia Sailing Club
Lake Waconia is situated west of the Twin Cities & the backbone of this program is exclusive multihull racing & the grill is always hot. It is geared for novice or experienced sailors. You can rent a beach spot for your boat for the summer or come as an infrequent guest. In addition to Lake Waconia events, the club members participate at regattas in Madison & Green Bay, WI, Bald Eagle Lake, White Bear Lake, and the Leech Lake Regatta. A personal contact is Joe Niedermayr at 952-469-5190
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Charters Through the Eastern Inland Waterways
Link: M.V. Oystercatcher
Built as a skipjack in 1984, she dredged the waters of the Chesapeake for oysters. In the mid-nineties, the owner (Robert Garvey) and designer (Myron Hokin) of the Bitter End Yacht Club, of the BVI's, bought her and turned her into a charter boat specializing in day excursions and term charters. At 57' overall, she sleeps up to 8 guests in 3 staterooms for long charters and can accommodate up to 49 passengers for day charters. USCG approved. Depending on the time of year, you can charter her from Newport, RI to the Florida Keys and in between. There's a lot more to be discovered about this vessel, her history and the people behind it. For information call 877-582-4642 or go to their web site. We've been aboard this vessel and enjoyed every minute!
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In the Abacos, life is different......
Link: Guana Seaside Village
The Abacos, Bahamas is a great & popular cruising grounds for sailing vessels & on Great Guana Cay there is a charming spot to kick back. Guana Seaside Village is a small hotel with a pool, superb beach with a bar & restaurant. If you are looking for shopping & night life, you can take a ferry boat to nearby Marsh Harbour or Hope Town or Green Turtle Cay. No malls here. This is a remote get-away. You can fly into Marsh Harbour & Ferry to Great Guana Cay, or, if you are sailing a charter or your own boat, grab their mooring ball & stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. On the Atlantic side there's a great reef for snorkeling or SCUBA, or you can arrange a day of bone fishing or deep sea fishing. The sunsets are breath taking!
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Registering and Titling
Link: USCG DOCUMENTATION FAQ
What is documentation? What are the advantages? Who can document their boat & which boats can be documented? These and many more questions are addressed within the Marine Banker's web site.
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Registering & Titling
Link: BOAT REGISTRATION & TITLING FAQ
What are state requirements for registration & titling? Who can help me?
Should I document? These are some of the many issues addressed by the Marine Bankers Association
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Learn to skipper a boat with confidence
Link: UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRON
Learn about boat handling & seasmanship, needed equipment, rules of the rode, lines & knots, aids to navigation, engine troubleshooting, trailering & much more.
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Providing answers for safer boating for all
Link: MINNESOTA US POWER SQUADRON
The local chapters of the USPS include Duluth, Minnetonka, Red Wing & St. Paul. They each provide essential safe boating education you want and need. Get in touch with the chapter closest to you.
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2005 - THE 33RD ANNUAL SHOW!
Link: Minneapolis Boat Show
This site offers you up to date information about the upcoming show now produced by NMMA. It promises to be better than ever (and it was good before). Other great links are provided for your information and enjoyment
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Take video without holding the camera
Link: FOR VIDEO CAMERA ENTHUSIASTS
Horizon True offers a variety of gimbaled camera mounts to fit onto your boat for taking video of yourself sailing, your crew or any activity on deck. They have different models to cover your needs. This is cool stuff if you want to catch the action, but can't because you can't hold onto the camcorder. Check it out.
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