Island Dreamer Sailing School Blog

Hello, Harold and Margie,

We find hard to believe that two months have elapsed since we spent a challenging week with you aboard Island Dreamer!  Our travel and education with you impacted our lives significantly.  So enriching was our time in theFlorida Keys that we want to make that area a part of our lives for at least several months – maybe more – each year.

Our initial plan in “signing on” for sailing instruction with you was for Herb to obtain ASA certification and for Betty to become a more knowledgeable first mate.  Within several days of hands-on experience and your non-threatening methods, though, we realized that both of us should attempt certification. We both ended our week with basic ASA certifications for Keelboat Sailing 101 and Coastal Cruising 103; and Herb, for Bareboat Chartering 104.  Your attention to both the overview and the details of every aspect of our trip more than met our expectations.

Here are some of the surprises we experienced:

·        Your warm and friendly demeanor while living aboard a 41’ sailboat as a married couple and as ASA-certified captains-instructors; the duality of your knowledge, skills and demeanor was so helpful to us as a couple in planning our future sailboating direction.

·         An itinerary flexible to weather and training opportunities.

·        The diversity in sailing, anchoring and on-shore experiences: South Beach, Boca Chita, Key Elliott, No Name Island, Biscayne Bay, Key Largo.

·        Discovering the differences and similarities between your 20’ boat Kermit and your 41’ Island Dreamer.

·        Enjoying meals that were not only healthy as we had requested but also deliciously interpreted by Margie’s inventiveness and cooking skills.

·        Adaptability to cabin compactness for more than a weekend.

·        Watching a school of dolphins frolic alongside the bow when we were in the Keys.

·        Reading a posted sign on one of the islands that manatees were a protected species – and then sighting a manatee in the water just a few feet from us.

·        Herb’s discovery that, even though he thought he was fairly knowledgeable because of his Navy nuke-sub experience, he didn’t “know squat” about personal sailing!

·        Betty’s discovery that previous “heeling” experiences were not so exciting as they were indicators of limited experience to avoid them.

Overall, we are still benefiting from our time with you.  We have had opportunities to apply new skills to sailing our own 28’ S-2; we now know which nautical and safety devices are important to have on board.  Herb has retrofitted a chart plotter, compass and depth finder to make a nav board for our cockpit; and has provided, as you suggested, a movable tether coupled to a D-ring harness to protect Betty and calm her fear of the water.

We are looking forward to renting a boat in the Keys as well as someday bringing our own boat to that area for extended periods!

With warmest wishes for your continued success -

Herb and Betty Crimp

March ‘11

Sailing is an easy-going, laid-back, and totally groovy experience.  Be sure to bring items that will make your life aboard even more relaxed and easier – for you and for your fellow travelers.

• Duffle bags or soft-sided suitcases – this is not a Samsonite situation.
• Sneakers or deck shoes – now your Docksides are more than just a fashion statement.
• Sandals or flip flops – for your ‘formal’ outings in the Keys
• Shorts and shirts – Men, this is your chance to break out that Hawaiian shirt you got for Father’s Day.
• Skirts and tank tops – Women, this is the time to show some skin and get a little color.
• To that point, you’ll need some sunscreen, sunglasses, scarves, and hats.
• Several swim suits – one per day is my rule.
• Medications, eyeglasses, and contact lenses supplies
• Soap, shampoo and toothpaste are provided but, you’ll probably want your own stuff
• Ipod  - now’s the time to create your “Vacation” playlist.
• If you have snorkeling gear, bring it.  There’s lots to see underwater.

You don’t need much, but it’s always good to be prepared and not have to worry once you get there.

Now you can relax and enjoy your Island- Dreamer vacation.

Ok, full disclosure, Captain Harold is my brother or, if we’re being technical, he’s my half-brother.

What you need to know about Captain Harold, or “H.” as I call him, is that even though he appears to be carefree and laid-back, he is actually very serious and cautious.

H. is the oldest of 4 children sired by our father.  There are 3 boys and me (and, no, I didn’t get treated like a princess growing up – quite the opposite).  As much as I hate to admit this, Harold has influenced us all.  He has set the standard for music, quality of life, and politics for the three of us.  Thanks to H., we all can ‘name the band’ when he plays a song and we will never forget the great “Standard of Living v. Quality of Life Debate” he had with our father.

He once told me, “If you don’t like the world you’re living in, create your own.”  This is the essence of who Harold is:  Henry Miller meets Ayn Rand.

Island Dreamer was born of this philosophy.  He has successfully married his love for sailing with his business sense and achieved that elusive American dream of making a living doing what you love.

Now, it must be said, there is no Captain Harold without his wife (and my sister-in-law), Captain Margie.  No one in the family can figure out why she married him, but we are eternally grateful to her.

Together, Captains Harold and Margie have created Island Dreamer and a wonderful life aboard sailing around the Keys and embarking on new adventures.