Capt Dave's Tips            

Well if you're planning on doing "Spring Cleaning" soon, you may already be too late!  As has been witnessed by those who've been out sailing over the past 4-6 weeks "Sailing Season" has arrived.  A dirty house can keep, but the winds won't.  If you're not out sailing right now you're missing a unique season opener!  We have experienced "Heavy Air" sailing like no other season so far!  We have pushed our boats to the edge and occasionally over the edge of their "envelope!"   We offer realistic training whenever possible but our emphasis is always on safety.  The sailing has been fantastic and the learning opportunities have been unprecedented.  You can talk about "Heavy Air" sailing all day in a classroom, but until you experience it out on the water, you're wasting your breath.

This Saturday 4/22 is our next Basic Sailing Theory ground school class to be conducted at the Tucker Recreation Center in DeKalb County.  If you haven't begun your sailing training or require a refresher, you want to call and grab a seat in this class.  Space is becoming limited, so you don't want to delay.  You can learn "How" to sail on the water, but the classroom demystifies the "Why" (Physics and Theory) behind how it all works.  

     So What's NEW!
Giving Back To The Community.
Windsong is dedicated to the promotion of the sport of sailing and also continues to support worthy causes throughout the community in the form of contributions to silent auctions for organizations like "Environmental Fund For Georgia", "Earth Share of Georgia", "Samaritan House of Atlanta", "Sail America", "Atlanta Sail & Power Squadron", "Boat U.S.", "Suwanee Soiree", "Bartholomew Church", "Peachtree Ridge Schools", "Simpson Wood Church" and scores of other worthy causes and organizations.

Barefoot Sailing Club

Tom Broome represented Windsong at a recent Barefoot Sailing Club monthly meeting with a presentation on 12 Volt Electrical Systems.  It was a packed crowd at Jocks and Jills in Buckhead with a humorous discussion followed by a great question and answer session.  An eager crowd responded overwhelmingly with applause at the conclusion of a fast paced excerpted presentation from our regular five hour Marine Electronics ground school program.

Barefoot and Windsong have a long history together.  In 1986 Dave Crumbley was Vice Commodore of Barefoot for two terms and initiated several innovative programs, one of which was the establishment of the club's video library that still serves the club today.  In 1988 Dave earned distinction as the "Skipper of the Year" for racing accomplishments. 

Windsong continues to sponsor, host or contribute resources to the club's Introduction to Sailing program which Dave directed for three seasons back in the 80's.  Once again he was an instructor for this season's Learn To Sail program held recently at DeKalb College's north campus.  Additionally, Windsong has sponsored other club's events such as the Dogwood Regatta hosted by the Atlanta Inland Sailing Club. 

 

 
 Dogwood Regatta  

  

 
Windsong was proud to co-sponsor the Dogwood Regatta again to kick off this season's series of programs in support of the sport and recreation of sailing.  Windsong has a long history of sponsorship and support of the sailing community. 

Windsong has been a phenomenal success over the past two decades and we're always looking for new ways to produce a positive impact in our community of sailing.  Businesses measure success in many dimensions but most importantly is the legacy that one leaves behind through their actions, contributions and support of worthy causes.
 

Corporate Adventures  
Have you ever attended a boring staff meeting?  Some of us have and they're no fun!   Are working relations strained lately due to corporate "resizing"?  It may be time for a "Corporate Adventure".  Large corporations have resources and funding for annual recreational outings and there are abundant venues that cater specifically to large groups.  The majority of businesses in America today are not the traditional "Corporate" cluster with large staffs.  Smaller businesses rely upon crucial interactions between staff and management yet fewer opportunities exist to provide a meaningful and unique escape from the pressures of every day business.  In recent years Windsong has been approached by several individually owned or small corporate clients to provide a unique sailing opportunity for their staff.

Windsong continues to pioneer innovative ideas in business and products.  The possibilities are endless, but every "Team" could benefit from spending a morning or afternoon aboard our safe and comfortable sailing vessels.  Come "Learn To Sail" or merely escape the customers for a few hours!   An "Adventure" can be as simple as enjoying each other's company in the laid back atmosphere surrounded by nature or as intense as fast action maneuvers around a race course.  Come dry and leave wet, if that's your goal, or sit back in dry comfort and watch the antics of others aboard. 

Teams as small as 5 or as large as 12 can enjoy themselves acting as commanders and crew, taking turns throughout the outing.  Share your goals for the team and we can design a customized sequence of activities to elicit the interactions your organization requires.  Reward the top performers in your organization or mix a combination of staff from across different areas to improve relations.  Split your event across several mid day afternoons to minimize the operational impact to your organization from the absence of key staff.  The combinations are endless and so are the benefits!

Four hour "Adventures" start from $750 per boat and include boat rentals, all fuel, marina access fees, taxes and a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain.  Snacks and refreshments are available if requested at the time of booking.

 
 

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     Windsong Events
Sunset Cruises  
This season we have some exciting events just over the horizon.  Each year we like to provide something new and different.  This season's "Sunset Cruises" begin May 6th with Bill Kahler, a local professional performer, who will be joining us with his lovely wife to provide a unique "musical" enchanting cruise.  It should be a fun filled and romantic opportunity for those who are fortunate to reserve seats for this 3-hr cruise.  Advance reservations are required since these cruises fill up quickly.  The cost is $69 per person.

We are in search of other musically inclined performers to accompany other cruises this season.  I've always thought it would be nice to have a flutist join us for one of our trips but so far haven't been able to secure one on favorable terms.  If you are musically inclined and would like the opportunity to perform before our small group, it could be your lucky break! 
 

 

     So What's Been Going On?

Visit To San Pedro California Square Riggers.

It's not often you get invited aboard a "Tall Ship".   Nancy Richardson, Vice President of TOPSAIL a youth program in San Pedro, chose 4 members from over 300 attendees at the National Sailing Symposium annual meeting to join a training sail aboard the Irving Johnson, a 90' Brigantine topsail schooner.  "What a fortunate opportunity to be selected to participate" Dave, founder of Windsong Sailing Academy recalls.

Jim Gladson, President/Founder of the program with a full time staff of only four, utilizes the skills and enthusiasm of hundreds of volunteers each year to maintain and run the fleet. The program provides 5000 youth sailing days to 67 different schools and youth organizations.
 

Each season a group of volunteers train as "regulars" to earn the rights as crew for youth who participate in their annual programs.  The programs instill respect for command, procedures and authority as each student is enlisted to perform the various jobs required to put the vessel to sea. 

They sleep, eat and share team spirit together during each weekly session aboard. Students learn applied science, math, physics, biology, geography, world trade, economics, history, literature and even poetry aboard this real life classroom.

To learn more about this amazing fleet visit their web site:
                          
 www.lamitopsail.org

                              
 
Windsong
       T-Shirts & Hats

    Get 'Em While
             They Last!

These are great to tell others about
            your sport
                  and
                     accomplishments.

 

              

 

 

FOR SALE!  GOT SOMETHING TO SELL?  Try Our For Sale New Site Free.
Although we intend to limit items for sale to our student members, we will consider items submitted from the general public as well.  We'll play it by ear to see how it goes.  Just remember to let us know when the item is sold so that we can keep our web site current.  So here's the link Items For Sale.

   
HATE THAT SPAM?
Ever noticed that all official Windsong emails have the word "WINDSONG:" in the subject? That's so that you can use a filter or rule to intercept and redirect Windsong emails into a dedicated folder based upon this trait.  That way we won't ever wind up in your SPAM folders and accidentally deleted.  This is actually a two-way street.  Any replies from you will automatically contain the same identifier in the subject and we can prevent it's accidental deletion as well.  So any emails from you to us should contain the words "WINDSONG" in the subject or you risk censure by our anti spam software.  Daily we receive just over 400 SPAM emails and find the use of filtering software imperative.  Don't risk loosing our emails, filter TODAY!

 

Friends don't let their friends go through life
without experiencing sailing!

Invite someone to join you today!

PLEASE, REACH OUT AND TOUCH US,

                We're listening!!

Many times students' suggestions are implemented on the spot!  We pride ourselves in our customer service and attention to the needs of our students. If you have thoughts or ideas, drop us a line or give us a call.  All things are possible; you simply need to ask. 

Thanks!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our students for their loyal support through the season(s) and encourage everyone to bring one new friend along each year as you sail.  As we grow and expand our operation, we want to make our products and services available to all who may be interested, but someone has to make the introduction.  Share the love of your sport with those who may be interested in our unique collection of programs. You'll be glad you did and so will they!