Students learn to sail a boat of about 20 feet in length in moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. No prior experience is required to take this class.

Our week-end public ASA Basic Keelboat course is limited to 4 people so you get plenty of personal instruction. The course combines classroom and on the water instruction. When you complete Basic Keelboat certification, you will have enough practical experience to skipper a sailboat of about 22′ in light to moderate winds.

Students will learn to skills to perform as skipper or crew of a 30-50 foot boat by sailing in coastal waters. Upon completion students will be able to demonstrate the ability to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered (outboard or inboard engine) keelboat of approximately 25 to 35 feet length by day in moderate winds and sea conditions.

Students will learn to pilot a sloop rigged keelboat, 30 to 45 feet in length during a multi-day cruise on inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and seas. Topics to be covered include provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, routine maintenance, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation including basic chart plotting and GPS operation, multiple-anchor mooring, docking, health & safety, emergency operations, weather interpretation, and dinghy/tender operation.

In this 4 day class, students will learn the navigational theory and hands on skills needed to safely sail a vessel in near coastal or inland waters with a focus on real world, practical navigation in a class room setting. Students move from dead reckoning to more advanced piloting incorporating current, leeway, and GPS navigation. Students learn to use tide and current tables, light lists, Chart No. 1, Notice to Mariners, and other tools.

This 1 day course is designed to teach docking in high wind situations. It covers the basic theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury.

After reviewing study materials prior, students will spend an entire day on the boat practicing what they learn. Topics to be covered include forces that act on the boat, engine and rudder control, properly securing mooring lines, spring lines, safety, and crew responsibilities.