Naked sailing instructors

We received the press release below, which our editor's would normally read and delete since it is a blatant ad. However, it came on the heals of another story from Florida on how a charter fishing boat was doing big business due to their bikini-clad crew, and at a premium rate, their topless crew. Makes you wonder how a sailing school might do with scantily clad instructors.

Offshore Sailing School Announces Its All-New
“Single Parents Week”

FORT MYERS, FL (April 2008) – For the first time ever, Offshore Sailing School is offering a “Single Parents Week” this summer. Scheduled July 13 – 18, 2008 at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Ft. Myers Beach, Florida, it offers single parents with children aged seven to 17 the opportunity to learn to sail and make new friends in an enriching, family-oriented environment.

Single parent families will be paired with each other for a maximum of four students on each sailboat. Package rates are based on full tuition for single parent, plus 50% discount off tuition for first child, 25% off for second and third children.

Students can choose different courses that match their skill level:

* For novice sailors, Offshore’s signature Learn to Sail course is a five-day program taught on the school’s fleet of award-winning Colgate 26 sailboats.

* For those who know their way around a sailboat, single parent families can sign on for the five-day Bareboat Cruising Preparation course, which is taught on brand-new 41- or 49-foot Hunter yachts.

* For those who seek to go from novice to cruise-ready all at once, Offshore offers Fast Track to Cruising, an intense course that combines Learn to Sail and Bareboat Cruising Preparation in one 10-day program.

Rates for the five-day Learn to Sail course range from $2,893 for one parent/one child in a deluxe gulf-front studio to $5,755 for one parent/three children in a two-bedroom beach villa. Rates are slightly higher for the five-day Bareboat Cruising Preparation. The Fast Track to Cruising courses includes a discount for combining the two course tuitions, plus accommodations as needed.

The package includes a textbook for each participant, morning classroom instruction and half-day on-water instruction each day (except Friday), practice sail without instructor on Friday, accommodations ashore which can sleep up to four, and sailing gloves for everyone in the family. Participants will earn their Colgate certification and US SAILING certification (following optional Friday test).

For a full list of Offshore programs, including Bareboat Cruising Preparation, Fast Track to Cruising, and Power Cruise courses, please visit www.offshoresailing.com