Ma Ho3 years ago
Nomad is probably the best thing which ever happened to our family! That's a strong statement, but you have to have experienced it to understand.
Our eldest daughter graduated the Nomad / Flying Fish Sailing Instructor program at Nomad / Wildwind, Vasiliki in 2019. Lara had been sailing in Cayman and the UK since she was 4 years of age, and subsequently in Hong Kong for approximately 5 years of competitive Laser (and 420) sailing. After the 6 week Sailing Instructor course in Vasiliki, her deep love of sailing truly emerged for the first time. Adam Chubbock is the best at managing sailing programs and this was a once in a lifetime experience for Lara. Lara saw sailing for the joy which it provides, after 17 years of sailing. Lara loved the social life at Club Vass and Wildwind, she made great friends. That was the summer which changed her. It made her truly happy, helped her to come into herself and become comfortable in her own skin as a 21 year old. When Lara left Vasiliki, Lara was self confident, became conscious of her health, her body and her lifestyle. Lara looks like a super model now and is on her second masters degree, training to be a behavioral psychologist (ABA) looking after young toddlers.
After Covid and graduating university with a dual degree in Fine Arts (Acting) and Film, in New York City, our "Bright Lights, Big City" obsessed, second daughter, Amy, took the first opportunity she could to pursue the Fast Track Windsurf Instructor and SUP course at Nomad, Vasiliki. Amy is already an expert dinghy sailor, RYA sailing instructor, and very competitive, previously ranked in Hong Kong, and sailed for Sherborne School team. Amy is also an RYA Day Skipper for monohulls and catamarans, and an RYA Powerboat instructor already. Amy was keen to jump right in to the 4 week Windsurf Instructor course, which she did with lots of energy, enthusiasm and excitement. Amy loved every minute of being in Vasiliki this last summer. What is not to like? The location is perfect and one of my favorite places on earth. Amy went from an advanced beginner level windsurfer to advanced. Amy now says that windsurfing is the best sport ever, and that she never dreamt she would ever consider this to be true as sailing is what Amy lives and breathes for. At the end of our 6 week stay in Vasiliki (I stay separately nearby because I love it so much), Amy who laughs at me being sentimental about holidays, was distraught to be leaving Nomad and Vasiliki. Amy was balling floods of tears before we got in the taxi for Spiros (Vasiliki's resident taxi driver) to take us to Preveza on the day we flew out of the EU (on day 90 of our EU stay). At one point early in the journey, Amy shouted "stop the taxi". The taxi reluctantly, but decisively came to a halt. Amy jumped out of the taxi to hug her new friends who were rushing down the road to say goodbye one last time. These life long friends with whom she connected, happened because of the Nomad course and the amazing community (and fun on steroids). Life is a journey and that's what I always tell my six (almost fully adult) children when it's tough to move on from paradise and the feeling of security. Vasiliki is my happy place. Nomad is a secure unforgettable experience. Although Yacht Master is next on the agenda, Amy is currently in the south of Thailand taking her PADI Dive Master. It is a grueling training with cold seas during monsoon season but Amy is loving being on her picture perfect tropical island. Amy is with people she met in Vasiliki and sailed with at Sherborne School and everyone seems to have a connection with sailing people they each know. Nomad is one amazing community which slots right in to that world. We will be back for our boost of Chubsey energy next summer. My university-going, sailing instructor, sons will be in Vasiliki to do their Nomad Windsurf instructor course. The pressure is on Chubsey, as our twin girls want to do their Instructor course with Vass friends Zach and Joe. Thank you to all in Vasiliki, you are very special to our family!
