|
ASA Instructor Peter Alexander
In October 2000, Peter Alexander, a native of Carriacou, traveled to Tortola sponsored by Horizon Yacht Charters to undertake the ASA sailing instructor's course and examination. Candidates were examined not only for sailing proficiency but their ability to communicate this experience in teaching skills. Tests were both practical and written, practical sessions taking place on a 45 foot yacht and included single-handed recovery of a man overboard.
Captain Peter grew up in Harvey Vale, Carriacou where he learnt to sail on the locally built sailing sloops. In 1990 he joined the Windjammer Barefoot Cruise Company and sailed aboard S/V Phantome as bosun.
Two years later he joined S/V Sir Francis Drake where he continued to learn seamanship and navigation skills. Following this he gained a 100 ton St. Vincent sailing licence.
In 1993, Peter joined S/V Suvetar, a 76 foot ketch and cruised extensively throughout the Caribbean. Since then he has been busy as a freelance skipper, and is also restoring his own 35 foot yacht.
Peter is now ready to pass on the skills of sailing and navigation to students who attend the courses organized by Horizon Yacht Charters in Grenada. The structured course material from the American Sailing Association will ensure that all students gain considerable knowledge during their time spent with Peter and upon completion are able to have the sections covered endorsed by Horizon Yacht Charters operating as the ASA facility.
The American Sailing Association is one of the largest sail teaching organizations in the United States, with a broad curriculum taught by a large network of sailing schools. Horizon Yacht Charters in Grenada is the first ASA teaching facility in Grenada.
ASA Sailing Instructor: Alex Earl Hill
Growing up in Lubbock, Texas, an arid cotton farming mecca, it’s no small miracle that Alex is now engaged in his passion for sailing. After 15 years as an executive in the mobile phone industry in the USA and Caribbean, he is now sharing that passion with others as an American Sailing Association (ASA) Sailing Instructor.
Alex is an ASA certified instructor for basic keelboat sailing (101), basic coastal cruising (103), bareboat chartering (104), coastal navigation (105), and cruising catamaran (114). He holds a US Coast Guard OUPV license (aka "6-pack"), as well as his SCUBA diving certification, American Red Cross First Aid, and CPR certifications.
Alex has cruised on a variety of monohull and multihull boats, including his own 40-foot Island Spirit catamaran, out of ports in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. His experiences sailing with his wife can help couples learn to work together to make sailing safe and enjoyable.
While living in Jamaica, Alex began participating in the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club’s (RJYC) annual Easter circumnavigation of Jamaica, which he has done on his catamaran and most recently on a 42 foot Baltic. These near-shore flotillas are typically accompanied by people with a variety of sailing experience. Being on the lead boat of the flotilla, Alex has learned how to help aspiring sailors at all levels how to gain skills and confidence.
When Alex is not teaching, he loves to race. In April 2009 Alex crewed on an Alberg 30 that took 2nd overall in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in Annapolis. While living in Jamaica, Alex was part of a RJYC crew on a 37 foot Schumacher Express that was consistently an overall winner. Incorporating skills learned from racing, Alex helps students with optimizing sail trim, maintaining boat speed, and understanding of rules of the road.
Planning multi-day offshore trips requires attention to safety, weather, navigation, provisioning, spares, preparing for overnight sailing, and interaction with customs, immigrations, and coast guard officials. Alex's delivery experiences include offshore voyages from St. Martin to Grenada, Grenada to Jamaica, and Jamaica to the Bahamas. As a Caribbean boat owner, Alex has first-hand experience with hurricane preparation, and the "do-it-yourself" repairs / improvisation required when sailing in the islands. Students working on their bareboat charter certification or owning a boat in the Caribbean will benefit from Alex’s local knowledge and understanding of best practice planning.
During Alex's years of experience in business and sailing in the Caribbean, he has had the opportunity to learn the local treasures and diversities of many of the Caribbean countries. Aside from living in Jamaica, he lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was a member of the Caribbean Sailing Club based in Fajardo. As an avid traveler, Alex’s global international experiences include business and personal trips to China, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Mexico, Brazil, Eastern and Western Europe.
Alex is currently working with Horizon Yacht Charters in Grenada and also works with Blue Water Sailing School based in Ft. Lauderdale. Come let him offer you a bit of Texas hospitality while you begin to realize your own sailing dream.
| 
The
ASA program has structured levels of sailing standards, which are examined at progressive certification levels. Students receive a Logbook that lists the standards, certification and records sailing experience. All courses and examinations are run by ASA qualified instructors. When a certification level is successfully completed, your logbook is signed and stamped so that any charter or rental fleet operator can see your level of competency. The most popular courses we offer are as follows: