Take The Wheel

October 11-13, 2024 at the Annapolis Sailboat Show.

Registration is now open. After you purchase your tuition package for Take the Wheel, you will receive an email asking you to pick your top 3 sea trail choices. Your tuition purchase includes classroom instruction with Behan & Jamie Gifford, breakfast & lunch on the day of class, two sea trials in the afternoon on the Chesapeake Bay, as well as entry into all days of the Annapolis Sailboat Show!

REGISTER HERE

If you have questions regarding the Take the Wheel program, please email Tara Flanagan

Fall 2024 Take The Wheel Course

Find the Sailboat of Your Dreams
Sponsored by Chronic Sailing & Sail Away Catamarans

This is an opportunity to demo two sailboats of your choice, compare one against the other, fast track your boat buying knowledge, and narrow the search for your new boat.

Take the Wheel is an on-and-off water learning experience. The morning session covers sailboat design, how to maximize your boating pleasure, and budget. In the afternoon you’ll sail aboard your choice of two out of the four yachts and have a chance to get a stem to stern look with wind in the sails. Find the best boat for your personal sailing needs. Demo various sizes and styles of sailboats. Choose from monohulls and catamarans. Experts will be on board to answer your specific questions.

Regardless of whether you plan to day sail on the Chesapeake Bay, cruise close to home, or to fulfill a dream to sail off into the sunset, Take the Wheel is a worthy launch site.

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The Take the Wheel Workshop is $450 per person or $750 per couple

Workshop Includes:
• Morning instruction by renowned experts, Jamie & Behan Gifford of Sailing Totem
• Afternoon on-the-water sailing experience
• Opportunity to sea-trial two catamarans or monohulls of your choice
• Breakfast, Lunch and coffee service on the morning of your class
• Choice of dates: Friday, October 11th, Saturday, October 12th, and Sunday, October 13th
• Multi-day admission ticket to Annapolis Sailboat Show (Thursday, October 10 – Sunday, October 13th – $112 Value)

INSTRUCTOR

Behan & Jamie Gifford
Sailing Totem

Behan Gifford has sailed more than 50,000 nautical miles while circumnavigating with her husband, Jamie, and their three children. She has visited 48 countries/territories from Mexico to Madagascar to Martinique while raising a family during the last ten years and continues cruising in the eastern Pacific. Behan is a co-author of Voyaging with Kids, the de facto guide to cruising with children; she and Jamie provide coach/mentor services to help people realize their cruising dreams. She maintains a blog for Cruising World magazine and chronicles her family’s adventures at www.sailingtotem.com.

Jamie Gifford is a recovering racing sailor. His therapy was a 10-year circumnavigation with his wife and three children on Totem, their Stevens 47. As a sail designer, he was behind sails for winners in the Americas Cup, Vendee Globe Challenge/BOC, Whitbread, and numerous other regattas; in recent years, Jamie’s focused on cruising sails, rigging, and systems for offshore and regional sailors. Experience from professional life and that gained in 100,000+ miles sailing gives him rich perspective on cruising topics.

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