This is a 2+ hour evening sail any evening Monday-Thursday. We will depart from Elm Hill Marina at approximately 6:00 p.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m. Full-day weekend programs are also available. Call to discuss.

This program will introduce you to the pleasure of sailing. Learn to tack, jibe and trim the sheets, or just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. In either case, plan on 2+ hours of “on the water” fun.

$200.00 for the first 2 hours with 1 or 2 people.
$450.00 for a full-day (up-to 8 hours).
$50.00 per hour for each additional hour.
$50.00 per person for each additional person, maximum of 6.
Call to book a reservation.

SAVE! Book reservations for both Keelboats and Cruising at the same time and save 10%! Call for details!

Introduction to Keelboats

This is a basic sailing course. It is intended to prepare students to handle a boat of up to about 20 ft. in length in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. Areas covered will include parts of a sailboat, function of these parts, sailing jargon, sails and their application, points of sail, basic application of the Navigation Rules, as well as the many aspects of regulations associated with safe boat operation.

ASA Basic Keelboat certification is available to those who successfully complete a written exam and a practical skills assessment.

Prerequisites: None

This course requires approximately 15 hours of time – 3 classroom and 12 on-the-water. The cost is $350.00 per student. The class size is limited to a minimum of 2 students and a maximum of 4 students. Classes are held on Saturday and Sunday throughout the year from 8:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. each day.

Training materials are included in the course fee. These will be shipped upon receipt of a confirmed reservation. Please book reservations at least 2 weeks in advance to allow time for shipping and review prior to the first day of class.

Introduction to Cruising

This a more advanced course that develops skills in handling, as skipper or crew, auxiliary (motorized) sailboats of about 20 to 30 feet in length in moderate winds and sea conditions. This course expands upon the lessons of the Introduction to Keelboats course to understand how they apply to larger cruising vessels. This includes additional jargon, sails, sail selection and application, state and federal requirements for larger vessels, additional safety considerations, handling a vessel under power and concerns for longer voyages, including weather and seamanship.

ASA Basic Coastal Cruising certification is available to those who successfully complete a written exam and a practical skills assessment.

Prerequisites: Introduction to Keelboats or an ASA Basic Keelboat certification.

This course requires approximately 12 hours of on-the-water instructional time. The cost is $300.00 per student. The class size is limited to a minimum of 2 students and a maximum of 4 students. Classes are held on Saturday and Sunday throughout the year from 9:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. each day.

Additional reading in Sailing Fundamentals will be assigned upon receipt of a confirmed reservation. Please book reservations at least 2 weeks in advance to allow time for review prior to the first day of class.

Coastal Navigation

Although there are no prerequisites, this is an advanced course. Those wishing to pursue should have some experience utilizing charts for navigation. Upon completion students will be able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. There is no sailing skills component to this course. Those interested in practical application within a certification course should pursue an ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising course.

ASA Coastal Navigation certification is available to those who successfully complete a written exam.

Prerequisites: None

This course requires approximately 16 hours of classroom time. The cost is $200.00 per student. The class size is limited to a minimum of 6 students and a maximum of 15 students. Classes are held on consecutive Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the year from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day. (Alternative schedules may be arranged. Call to discuss.)

Training materials required include the Coastal Navigation text, training chart, parallel rules, dividers and a calculator. Since many students have already purchased some or all of this material, the cost of training materials is not included in the course fee. The Coastal Navigation text and training chart may be purchased through Sail KC ($65.00 plus shipping and handling). The remaining supplies may be purchased through Sail KC or your local marine supply store. Although prices vary substantially, you should be able to purchase the remaining material for as little as about $30.00.

Substantial pre-work is required for this course. Material ordered through Sail KC will be shipped upon receipt of a confirmed reservation. Please book reservations at least 4 weeks in advance to allow time for receipt of ordered material and completion of pre-work.

Bareboat Chartering

This is an advanced cruising course for individuals with cruising experience. Upon completion students will be able to act as skipper or crew of a 30-50 foot boat sailing by day in coastal waters.

This course is only taught while on charter. Prices are quoted upon request based upon the number of students, the destination selected, the length of the charter (minimum of 3 days) and the size of the vessel chosen.

Call to discuss your qualifications, prerequisites required and to request a quote.

Reschedule and Cancellation Policy

Schedules are subject to change without notice. All courses require a minimum number of students. Failure to reach this minimum will result in cancellation. This determination will be made 7 days prior to the first day of class. Students may reschedule to a future date or receive a refund of the fees paid less the cost of training materials already shipped.

Training courses are held rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.

A 50% deposit is required to confirm a reservation. This deposit is non-refundable. The remaining 50% of the course fee is due prior to the beginning of class. All fees are non-refundable once class has begun.

A student may reschedule a class up to two weeks prior to the first day of class without penalty. Within two weeks of class, requests to reschedule a course are subject to a $50.00 rescheduling fee.