Sailing Story: Christi Grindstaff

Christi Grindstaff had heard enough about sailing from her friends— it was time to try it herself!

“We have friends that have done sailing in the BVI,” she said. “Just hearing their stories and [hearing] how beautiful it is really piqued our interest.”

So Christi signed herself, her husband Rick, and her son Lane up for ASA sailing lessons in the Virgin Islands with Go Sail Virgin Islands. 

Before they set off on their BVI adventure though, they decided it might be best to have at least a few days of sailing experience closer to home.

 “It’s always windy in Oklahoma and the week we went to do our course, it was light winds,” she said. “It was kind of a bummer it wasn’t as windy as it normally was!”

However, Christi says getting their ASA 101 and 103 courses out of the way in Oklahoma did give them a base knowledge of sailing aspects that was helpful when they arrived for their Go Sail vacation. Another thing that helped? Their background as pilots! 

“All three of us are pilots so it was a little more familiar for us than probably your typical students,” she said. “How the wind affects a wind versus a sail and knowing what direction to go into the wind, I think that helped us all significantly.”

Christi said sailing in the BVI with Go Sail Virgin Islands was truly a breeze: from the coursework to the weather.

“We loved it. It was nice to just have a small group. You got more personalized service

It was a lot of one on one,” Christi explained about having the boat to themselves, Captain Trevon, and First Mate Stephanie. “It was a great trip and very memorable— a lifetime of memories. It’s all we’ve talked about since we’ve been home.”

And going back to sail in the Virgin Islands is already a plan that’s in the works for this family.

“Rick and I think this was probably the top vacation for both of us,” she said about their time in the Virgin Islands. “We were thinking the BVI again and maybe to bareboat.”

Longer term, Christi is also thinking about how sailing could become a part of their retirement one day. 

“I think both of us would love to be on a boat 6 months out of the year,” she said about her and Rick’s future plans. However, with a thriving business in Oklahoma, Christi says, “right now, it’ll just be vacations.”