Windsong Sailing Academy at 6900 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia.

Windsong is a great option if you like the format, but for me it was not a good fit. Captain Dave is very thorough in his instructions and you can get a lot out of a few outings, but the program is not run for people who want to learn the basics and then go and practice on their own. The program is rigid and Dave can be quite abrasive as things must be his way only.

The pros to Windsong are:
1. Very structured
2. I believe Dave has the best intentions in his methods

The cons to Windsong are:
1. The program moves at a snail’s pace, which makes this an expensive option if your goal is to get out there and do it yourself.
a. I was told I was not ready for the 101 test, yet I scored a 99 on the test and passed the practical through another school. I was told it would be another 6-10 outings before I was “ready.” With my wife taking the classes with me, that was another $900-$1,500. Sorry, no thanks.
2. Dave’s instruction is so rigid that it was not fun for my wife, which almost forced us out of sailing.
a. His wife Patty has a style that fit us a lot better.
3. The outings are too short and too crowded at times. By the time everything was setup, you only got like an hour and a half on the water sailing. Add that there could be up to 4 students on the boat, and I felt like it was not enough for the price paid.
I normally would not write a review where there are pros and cons, but I wish I knew how the Windsong program went before signing up for classes and outings. I would have done things differently.