My Girlfriend and I both took a course through bluewater sailing in Ft.
Lauderdale last year. ASA course 101-103 (basic keelboat, coastal navigation,
and bareboat charter). Good boat (Gib Sea 43) and good laid back instructor
(Captain Al Hatch). Five days on the boat with only one night at a dock in
the keys. Very hands on. My friend went into it with little or no sailing
and is still a little intimidated but definitely good program for someone at
all comfortable on a boat. Cheaper to get to Florida than BVI. We were
there first week in February and had all good weather with good breeze all
week. did some sailing outside, motored through shipping channels
(government cut in Miami) man overboard drills (so maybe your friend will
come back for you if you do get knocked overboard). Not being in a classroom
each morning definitely gave a good "cruising" exposure. (I believe they are
a Sunsail base as well)

Roger Long wrote:
A friend who is going to crew for me again next summer would like
start out next year feeling fully competent both for the satisfaction
and also the comfort of knowing she could get home again if I fell
overboard or dropped dead. She is willing to invest some time and
money doing something like going to one of those schools that get you
ready to take charter boats out but would like to start right at the
basics with dingy sailing. Since winter is upon us up here in the
Northeast, we are out of options in this part of the world.

I’d appreciate leads and, better, recommendations on where she could
go during the winter to learn how to sail a small boat around and know
what the sails and forces are doing on the big boat from experience
rather than just books and my explanations. Then, either at the same
or another place, learning to crew and navigate a large boat to the
point of being able to get it home in a pinch.