Patagonia & Yvon Chouinard. Taking care of our home.

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Yvon in younger days

I have lived in Ventura since 1994 and a large percentage of my friends work/worked at Patagonia. I was always around the general vibe, feeling, foundation, call it what you will, that the earth is our only home. I love mother earth. It is why I sail. To put it in words:

Somewhere in the Lesser Antilles

WIth the wind in my sails, leaving only bubbles in my wake, I travel the earth. The dance between mother earth, sister sea and the sailor. . The wind and water, the sun and the sky, and all the life that is teaming around you. Floating along, intertwined with nature, submerged in beauty.

I went body surfing yesterday morning with my friend John after I ran into him on the beach as he was setting up for a 50th anniversary party for the Patagonia staff. I stopped by on the way back as the party was starting and got the big news about that Yvon had given it all way. Not to his kids, but to all of us. I won’t go into details, the press is full of those, but it made me think more about how I have felt for so long. Again, why I love traveling the world on my sailboat. And why I love sharing that with others.

I think two things will happen with Yvon’s move. People with real money will think about, and further Yvon’s example about the best use of that money. And the Patagonia brand will be associated in an infinitely larger way with standing up for our home, Mother Earth. And unfortunately in these times, some will see that as a threat.

Capt Scott

A good read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44175358-some-stories#

What this Sailing School is all About

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As a sailing instructor I see a wide range of motivations from my students. Because V.I. Sailing School teaches week-long, live aboard, island hopping courses in the Virgin Islands… ADVENTURE is #1. I will add that you can go anywhere in the world deep enough to float your boat, you do not require someone (like a road builder) to be there before. Some part of your path (“track”) will be completely unique and the whole of the world’s oceans and rivers are yours to explore.

https://www.facebook.com/VirginIslandSailingSchoolandCharters/videos/544535482836680/

#2. One with Nature is another high on my list. Sailors are in tune (more or less) with it all. From the stars to the skies, to the sea and her shores. Everything our boat is doing is directly influenced by mother nature. Pursuing a level of harmony which is magical and limitless.

The above is also my answer to a Quora question; “What is the best thing about being a sailor?” I have included this link as there are many other good answers…. Cheers, Capt. Scott

USVIs Set to Open Sept. 19

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Sailing School Virgin Islands
Diving into our sailing season. October 2020

The U.S. Virgin Islands is setting a date to reopen again.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (D) of the US Virgin Islands now says that he is allowing some of the island’s “safer at home” measures to expire and leisure travel will again be allowed as of September 19

V.I. Sailing School will be opening on October 24th for the 2020/2021. We now have five boats (four Cats and a Monohull) and unlike last spring, a solid stock of live aboard instructors.

Currently no quarantine is required, but a negative COVID-19 test is for all incoming passengers. Best site for current policies as they evolve can be found here: Or you may copy and paste: https://usviupdate.com/

As of this blog post, ANYONE without a negative test result will be required to quarantine at their own expense and according to the government, “are responsible for all associated costs, including transportation, lodging, food, and medical care. So check the link in the previous paragraph. Also the policies of the airlines. Thankfully they have been very liberal with their refund and change policies.

Sailing the Tropics
Caribbean sunset taken with my Iphone from a beach bar

So get away from the world, the news, the glum and join us at V.I. Sailing School for a week of adventure and learning while we island hop in the tropics. Cheers, Capt Scott

The USVIs are opening June 1 for Visitors!

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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO REOPEN TO LEISURE VISITORS JUNE 1

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (May 26, 2020) – The U.S. Virgin Islands will reopen its doors to leisure travelers on Monday, June 1, 2020.

Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte declared that the Territory is finalizing public health and tourism protocols for the return of visitors to “America’s paradise” in less than a week’s time. Read more here

Virgin Island Sailing School has been hanging in there! We have been upgrading out boats in anticipation of reopening and we are glad the time is now!

If you want to get way, this is a great time! All the major airlines are offering “no change fees” on all tickets purchased by May 30th and V.I. Sailing School is doing the same. There will be no change fees if you decide (for whatever reason) to move your booking to a different date (two weeks prior notice, please). We will continue this policy for ALL BOOKINGS made PRIOR TO JULY 15th for Charters or Classes from Now through July 2021.

Get out, get some sun, sail in paradise on a clean, ready to go boat with your captain/instructor.

Hope to see you on the water!

Cheers, Captain Scott. Owner: V.I. Sailing School

Warm your Hearts (& Bodies!) with our Valentine’s Week Special 15% off EVERYTHING (dates below).

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Hey sailors (or soon to be such). V.I. Sailing School is offer 15% off EVERYTHING, Anytime between Saturday February 15 and the 22nd. Whatever it is, Whole Boat Charter, Class by the Cabin, Extra days or ASA level add-ons…. 15% off. Go to https://sailusvis.com/asa-sailing-school/booking-availability to see what boats are still available and let us know. With a direct email: info@visailingschool.com or call 805 850 8135. Jump on in, the water’s warm!

Sailing Special

Two New (New) Catamarans Added to V.I. Sailing School Fleet.

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V. I. Sailing School prides itself in providing top notch sailing instruction at an affordable price. And now VISS has expanded into two new, higher end boats for students or charters who prefer more creature comforts. Introducing…

  1. “Alisei”, 2017 – 44′ Fontaine Pajot Helia. 4 Cabin, 4 Head. Sailing Cat.
VI Sailing School
Fontaine Pajot Helia Alesei Looking Aft from Galley
VI Sailing School
VI Sailing School Helia 44
Fontaine Pajot VI Sailing School

Alesei

2. “Caught Looking”, 2018 Fontaine Pajot 40′ Lucia. 3 Cabin ( Owners Version with Master Suite in one hull) 2 head Sailing Cat.

Fontaine Pajot 40 Lucia Owners Version

See you in the tropics! V.I.S.S.

Susie Goodall.

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Susie Goodall is a British offshore ocean sailing instructor. She bought and restored a Rustler 36 “Ariadne”. At 29 years old,  she is single-handing around the world in the Golden Globe. (Won by in 1968 by another “Sailor we Love” Robin Knox-Johnston).

This race is around the world solo, limited to 32’36’ sailboats without GPS – as if this is not enough for me to go head over heels for this sailor… she had to go and say in a video interview, :”What appeals about it; the pure challenge, the raw adventure, just you, your boat and the ocean”.  YEAH NOW!

A Sailor through and through

A Sailor through and through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V. I. Sailing School featured in the Boston Globe!

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Tropical Blue Caribbean Sailing School

Come on down. The waters great.

We were both honored and delighted that such an esteemed news organization as the Boston Globe took notice last month of our little ASA sailing school in the Virgin Islands. Not hard to imagine around this time of year this bit of fantasy; sliding smoothly through warm turquoise waters on a tropical breeze would sound appealing to their readers. See the whole story here.  Not to sensationalize, school does take concentration and a motivation to learn, but it’s hard to beat this classroom!20150623RJ_6420

Hope to see you soon.

Cheers,

Capt Scott