About Power & Sailboat Training

Capt Herald's Training was formed in 1989 to attempt to address the one skill that the Coast Guard Aux and Power Squadron are unable to accommodate because of the need for one on one instruction aboard the owners own boat. The company has since grown to the success I enjoy today and I do all the trainings myself.

While discussing and clarifying any subject that seems important to the trainee, please realize that this training is primarily docking and maneuvering and in no way should it be considered a substitute for the courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron. Safe and competent boating is a very broad and complex subject that requires proper training, practice, and study at every opportunity.

Docking and maneuvering a yacht is more difficult than taking off and landing a private plane but people don't attempt flying without instruction and many hours of practice. I prescribe 'Overlearning' for the serious boater. Overlearning is a pedagogical concept according to which newly acquired skills should be practiced well beyond the point of initial mastery, leading to automaticity or simply performing a task subconsciously such as driving a car or playing a musical instrument. Probably nothing that you have ever done in your life will have prepared you to handle a boat so a lack of ability for new boaters is certainly not unreasonable.

But you must be practicing proper methods to begin with to become competent. People have told me they never really enjoyed boating until after the training and now other boaters are asking their advice on docking and maneuvering.

The instructional course I offer which I call Basic Training takes place aboard the person's own boat and usually in his marina. For NW boaters I include a trip through the locks whenever possible. A typical session includes but is not limited to departing the dock properly, maneuvering in tight spaces, dock approaches from different angles, backing, handling wind and currents, tying up properly, anchoring (theory and actual application) and picking up buoys. How to instruct your crew, man overboard, hypothermia, and safety factors are emphasized. Clarifying things that the person might have learned in a USCG class but didn't fully understand is very common. I like to teach wives at the same time as their husbands. This creates a workable team and a safer, more enjoyable boating experience. While some people learn faster than others, I have never met a person that I couldn't teach.

Advanced Training are actual cruises in the Northwest to the San Juans, Desolation, Campbell River, or where ever you choose with me aboard. (non-smoker). Training cruise to Alaska? No problem. This is the ultimate learning experience for new boaters and allows access to over 39 years of cruising experience. You will return a seasoned and confident boater.

Boating trainees receive unlimited support with advice for problems, cruises, new boat selection, etc. after completion.

We are recognized by most insurance companies and satisfies their requirements for additional onboard instruction for unqualified boat owners moving up to larger or dissimilar vessels.

If you have any further questions
my phone is (425) 330-9852

Mailing address-- Gary Herald
P.O. Box 1363, Mukilteo, Wa. 98275
e-mail: yachtmaster@netscape.com