The idea of starting Island Fever Sailing School grew from a true love of sailing in 2003. The experience has impacted my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people and had the opportunity to gain blue water experience with 1800 offshore miles, several charters around the BVI, traveled the ICW and sailed the Chesapeake and Galveston Bay. However, there’s no place like home, Grand Lake is not only beautiful but the hills and deep coves mixed with the gusty Oklahoma wind creates a variety of challenging conditions which makes it the perfect place to learn to sail.

Island Fever Sailing School teaches Basic Keelboat on a very user friendly 27′ Helms that steers with a tiller, has halyards at the mast and uses a hanked on jib. Coastal and Bareboat Cruising (usually a combo class) are taught on a 34′ O’Day with self-tailing winches, furling jib and a diesel motor. This class is designed around the chartering experience as well as for the new boat owner to learn about a boat’s intricate systems. The students learn to single-hand the 34 footer from the beginning. They will even learn to hook a mooring ball under sail, in the dark, by themselves. The live-aboard class includes meals with dinner items like chicken fettuccine alfredo or spaghetti and meatballs while anchored off Snake Island watching the sunset. While these classes are extremely informative, with a focus on fun, it’ll be a learning experience you’ll not soon forget.