Two days to learn, try new things and build confidence !
This summer, the Excess tribe gathered in California for a slightly different kind of experience : the Excess Clinic. More than 20 sailors came aboard the Excess 11 and Excess 13 for two days entirely dedicated to hands-on sailing.
Organised with our dealer Sail Pacific, the event brought together David and James, who guided participants throughout the training. The goal ? To get to know their catamaran better, master essential manoeuvres and build confidence to make the most of every sailing experience.
The Excess Clinic puts hands-on experience at the heart of the training. Beginners and experienced sailors learn together, putting their sailing skills into practice to make the most of every trip at sea.
On the agenda : four workshops, with a focus on hands-on experience.
Over two days, participants alternated between technical exercises and real-life scenarios to explore every aspect of sailing aboard an Excess.
Four key sessions shaped the training :
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Getting started : getting to know the boats, their equipment and the right habits to adopt on board.
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Anchoring and harbour manoeuvres : practising approaches, harbour manoeuvres and moving safely around other boats.
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Offshore sailing : experimenting with sail trim, understanding points of sail and learning how to reef to adapt the sail plan to changing conditions.
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Safety : reviewing essential procedures and the right reflexes to handle different situations at sea.
The idea is to leave with new skills, good habits and, above all, the desire to head out to sea !
What the training brings
The first benefit is confidence. One participant shared : “It was the experience that gave me the most confidence to get back out on the water.”
With guidance from the Sail Pacific teams, sailors were able to ask questions, try out different manoeuvres and become more familiar with their surroundings. A hands-on approach that delivers real results, sometimes even beyond expectations !
“I expected to learn the basics of sailing, but I hadn't realised just how much I would fall in love with the lifestyle and the confidence that comes with it.”
Training aboard an Excess is also an opportunity to discover the sailing capabilities that the teams have developed across each model, learn the right sail settings and understand when best to use them. All these skills, built through practice, help sailors trust their instincts and fully experience the sensations of sailing under sail.
What if you were next to come aboard ?
Some participants left with much more than just new skills : an even stronger desire to turn their sailing plans into reality !
“It made me want to fast-track my plans to buy a catamaran.”
That's also what makes the Excess Clinic so special: offering a different way to discover sailing, taking the mystery out of certain manoeuvres and helping everyone picture themselves on their future adventures at sea.
Training continues with Excess
By combining instructor guidance, hands-on exercises and shared experiences, the Excess Clinic helps sailors of all levels make the most of their catamaran and sail with greater confidence.
This first edition lays the foundations for an experience designed to continue over time. Future sessions could give other members of the Excess tribe the opportunity to develop their skills and feel more confident as they set out on their adventures at sea.
Stay tuned for the latest Excess news !
