"I expected excellence from talking with Tricia and reading the manual. The course lived up to that expectation." Michaelle Ann R.

"Thank you for your excellent way of teaching (not to mention your patience!) You provided a very wonderful and safe learning environment. I especially appreciated how you understood what I needed to learn and comprehend." Susan J.

"I don't think I would have ever got the perspective of being 'at one' with water, wind and boat anywhere else. Your positive attitude, patience and knowledge coupled with your ability to explain made sailing seem 'relatively' simple." Joan H.

"I had not expected to reap as much personal benefit, nor did I anticipate what scope of information I could absorb in such a short time." Amanda W.

"I came away from your course feeling more like myself than I have for awhile, inspired, confident, and centered. ... Amazing how we can transfer skills of organization, foresight, patience and confidence from the boat to our whole lives. I know I will continue to feel the ripple of my time with you for a long time to come. David is awed by how much I soaked up so quickly. He's so happy because he had been excited about doing all the things we needed to do on the boat, but had thought he'd have to take care of everything because I wasn't interested. Now he sees that I just didn't understand 'why', so I wasn't inspired about it. He's also excited at my gain in confidence." Anna S., from Oregon

"Just a note of thanks for a wonderful week. ... You are an excellent teacher and have mastered the art of teaching women to sail! Your lessons extended far beyond sailing--to the rest of life. I appreciated so much your patience, thoroughness, and extraordinary sensitivity! ... I especially valued being able to define my 'gremlins' and work through them (as opposed to most learning situations where you hide your gremlins so no one will know about them.)" Jan B., from California

"Tricia is calm and confident. She explains each step as often as it takes and encourages women to speak up if they aren't sure. Marlaina G., Consumer Reporter, The Province

"Tricia is patient, thorough, knowledgeable and understands her students' perspective very clearly." Holly P.

"Instead of feeling nervous or anxious when a boat heels over 20^o, I feel confident I can take measures to make my boat safer and more comfortable." Catherine B.

"Your direct and supportive instruction created a very positive learning environment for me. I admire your ability to deal with the overall course and at the same time zero in on each person's specific needs." Joyce G.

"When I read the article in the Canadian Yachting Magazine about your course I thought 'This is what I need.' Then I thought 'It's a long way to go, it's a lot of money, I'll lose seven days work.' There were many reasons not to go. Two days into the course I knew I had done the right thing.  Your course has changed everything! My husband has a new respect for my sailing knowledge. It was the most inspiring 6 days for boat knowledge and personal satisfaction." Patricia W., from Ontario

"Jan came away from your course with a new feeling of confidence around a sailboat. We are now able to seriously plan for an extended cruise together." Michael R., (a happy husband) from Manitoba

"We ate, slept, dreamed, absorbed by osmosis safety, radio communications, batteries, rigging, sail trim, docking,...tides and currents for 3 SOLID DAYS! It was WONDERFUL! (I and ) my student companion...came away with confidence in our abilities to sail safely and comfortably." Barbara M.

"You know how to be a strong influence on a woman's life. You are a great example of what today's woman should be. Your patience is very much appreciated." Sharon M.

"I want to thank you for the one-on-one last fall on my boat.  I have without a doubt increased my confidence level....Russ is very excited about the knowledge I gathered with you and never regrets how you and I spent the time at the dock rather than sailing on our first day....I am a different sailor now.  Russ does not question my need for reefing the sails, in fact he does it before I think of it ~~~wow....Now it is usually me that unfurls the sails.  What a difference.  I have much more to learn but I believe I can handle it.  Thanks for being so kind to Russ and myself during those lessons.  I cannot tell you how often I have preached you and your course to others.  I truly believe you have helped change a nervous uncertain course for me to a great adventure.  The August long weekend is my last weekend in Canada and then we sail south to Mexico, South Pacific and other places.  Know that I think of you and your teachings very often."      Shirley H.

"I appreciate the fact you take your students under your wing for a long period of time (after the course.)  As I observed in our first docking class at Take the Helm, you really do give your work your all and you care about the women you teach.  It shows!      Janet E.