Category: Learn to Sail

The 2018 Caribbean Regatta season

Its been a hectic summer in the Caribbean and we apologise for the lateness of this newsletter but with two unprecedented Cat 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria it has taken a little time to get an accurate picture of the regatta programme for 2018

So the news is Antigua and the Caribbean are open

None of the major regattas have been cancelled and all have announced a normal programme of racing and events so starting with Mountgay Barbados in January and finishing with Antigua Sailing Week in May we will be racing at all of the regattas this season.

Each regatta reflects the uniqueness of each of the Caribbean islands and offer different sailing experiences often with some lengthy deliveries allowing guests to build some ocean miles

Spirit of Juno is our ‘head boat’ so prospective racers can join as individuals or small groups and offers positions for the experienced and inexperienced She had a good 2017 with new race sails and podium positions at many regattas. Joining Juno is a great way to learn the ‘racing ropes’ as well as experience the social side of many beautiful islands with mixed and very international teams.

Many regattas offer the opportunities to do the deliveries and build some miles and passages for those looking for a little extra adventure

We also have Beneteau first 40.7’s available for whole boat charter and access to a wider fleet of Grand Soleil’s, J’s and First 40’s

Dates for the regattas are as follows and include training days

Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 16th – 21st January

Grenada Sailing Week 28th January to 3rd February

RORC Caribbean 600 14th – 23rd Feb

St Maarten Heineken Regatta 27th Feb – 3rd March

STIR St Thomas International Regatta 21st – 25th March

Bequia Easter Regatta

BVI Spring Regatta 27th March – 1st April

Les Voiles de St Barths 9th – 15th April

Antigua Sailing Week 27th April – 4th May

Antigua to Bermuda Race 7th May –

Next 5 year regatta schedule http://www.ondecksailing.com/pdf/Ondeck-Caribbean-Regattas-2018-2022.pdf

Scenic,Generic
Scenic,Generic
Spirit of Juno

Maritime Training schedule updated for summer and fall 2017 with Ondeck

We have a busy schedule of professional and leisure courses going on over summer including MCA STCW 10 Full courses and Updates; RYA Competent crew , RYA Day Skipper theory and practical, RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore theory , Powerboat Level 2; Boatmaster,  own boat training , ICC as well as the introduction of engineering and Maintenance courses. More detail on http://www.ondecksailing.com

Continue reading Maritime Training schedule updated for summer and fall 2017 with Ondeck

Forthcoming Training Dates

We do have a very full program of professional and leisure courses every month which include learning to sail for beginners to Ocean Yachtmaster theory and exams.

Visit the website to find out more or email Ondeck Team to find out more and get advice on what might help ‘float your boat’

Yachtmaster Offshore theory
7th – 11th April; 11th 15th May  more info

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Prep and Exam
13th – 19th April ; 18-24th may   more info

RYA Ocean Theory coaching
[on demand]  more info

RYA Ocean Theory course
20-22 April finishing 2nd and 3rd may  more info

RYA Competent Crew
13th – 19th April; 4th – 8th may ,18th – 24th may; 25th – 29th may more info

RYA Day Skipper Practical
4th – 8th may , 25th – 29th may   more info

RYA Day skipper theory
[online] anytime more info

STCW10 [was 95] Basic Safety Training
13th – 17th April  more info 

RYA Powerboat level 2
on demand more info

RYA SRC Radio
on demand  more info

Race in the Caribbean Regattas 2015 .. just an email or phone call away

There is still time to book your Caribbean Racing Adventure

Les Voiles de St.Barth 12th – 18th April : just 2 places left on board a Beneteau 40.7 to experience this exciting regatta now in its 6th year. Come for the regatta, turquoise waters, wonderful sailing conditions and fall in love with this picture perfect island.

Join the Beneteau 40.7 for Les Voiles

Antigua Sailing Week 25th April – May 1st: always lots of exciting water action starting with the Yachting World Round the Island Race on the 25th followed by a full week of racing. Lots of sailing packaged with great evening entertainment, perfect. Individual places: only 4 places left on Spirit of Juno. Come join our high performance Farr 65, she’s user friendly so a great boat whether you’re a novice or experienced sailor

Antigua Sailing Week 2014
Spirit of Juno … Join the team for the week

Rock up and Race for a day: Dehler 39 We’re continuing our highly successful program where you get to join in and actually race in the thick of the action for a day, you do as little or much as you want! Whole boat Charter: Sun Odyssey 44 – podium position boat that combines speed, elegance and comfort

Experienced and novice sailors welcome. A smile essential

Whole boat Charter: Santa Cruz 37 – This carbon rocket is designed for fast, exciting racing and she’s still available

Sonic - SC37 rocket
Sonic – SC37 rocket

Come on, it’s not too late, don’t just be a spectator as life is not a rehearsal

New Antiguan RYA Yachtmaster Offshore

Huge congratulations go to Kishawn Harrigan who has, this month, become only one of a handful of Antiguan sailors to ever achieve their RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications. Kishawn has worked with Ondeck for many years and will be taking up the post of lead skipper. Not content with this accolade he will shortly be completing his RYA Cruising Instructor course enabling him to teach to Day Skipper and Competent Crew. He will then be just one of two instructors born and raised here qualified to teach to this level. Fortunately the other , Logan Knight, is also with Ondeck

Busy Week for Sail Training

We have had a busy and very varied week or so on the training front with quite a few congratulations to be made. As previously covered there were successes on Powerboat Level 2 [on a serious note see the accident report on the importance of proper safety kill cord MAIB ] and on Yachtmaster Ocean theory for a number of candidates. In Addition Nick Newling Ward and Fiona O’ Connor from the BVI’s passed their Yachtmaster Offshore exam along with Joey Compton.

A number of Candidates have passed their SRC Radio and we had a great group of 4 ladies doing their Competent Crew and Day skipper Practical courses Well done to Alex, Are, Susanna and Fenella.

This weekend sees the start of the St Thomas Regatta followed by the BVI Spring Regatta with Ondeck’s Spirits of Venus and Athena taking part and Monday  busy STCW Basic Safety Training, Competent Crew and Day skipper courses

Well done to Sue and Roger Sargeant & Richard and Juliet Evans

Well done to Sue and Roger Sargeant & Richard and Juliet Evans for completing their #RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper practical courses. Despite some nerves beforehand they all did extremely well and had a wonderful few days learning to sail. Pictured are Sue and Juliet with the superyacht Skat in the background. Richard and Roger , nowhere to be seen and rumoured to be celebrating in the bar below.

More course detail can be found on our website:
LEARN TO SAIL IN ANTIGUA – RYA / MCA MARITIME TRAINING

Ondeck Antigua’s sister company in the

Ondeck Antigua’s sister company in the UK, OMT, performed real life saving mission while training on a ‘Proficiency in Fast Rescue’ boat course in Southampton. The students knowledge was put to the test when they had to safely rescue a 70 yr. old man from freezing water.
OMT in the UK offers a wide range of professional shorebased and on the water advanced Rib based courses.

see http://www.omt-uk.com

Mountgay Round Barbados Race Series kicks off the season

The Regatta season has got underway with the first major event of the season in Barbados. The traditional Mount Gay Round Barbados Race has evolved into a series of 3 inshore race days followed by the big event itself [always on the 21st Jan], some more parties followed by the inaugural 300 nm Barbados to Antigua Race; oh and of course some more parties.

Our crew this year wa a very mixed experience team led by skipper Steven Ginger. It included 3 Canadians … 2 from Saskatchewan [which isnt easy to say after a Mount Gay Party .. six Sakatchewan sailors sailed the seven seas .. try it! ], one each from Scotland, Hungary , France and a couple of Brits. For one it was first real time sailing and 2 others had a couple of days experience with us the previous week. Anyway a very respectable 3rd in class in the main event and 7th overall for Spirit of Venus and we await the result of the B to A Ocean Race which departed this morning and due to arrive early hours Sunday