sailboat classes near me

SAILING SCHOOL

12 knots sailing courses.

Weather forecast

Learn how to read clouds and winds like a pro

Competent Crew

Introduction to sailing. Learn how to become an active crew

Bareboat Skipper

Recreational sailing yacht skipper of vessels up to 78 feet

Issued documents

10 days live aboard course on power or sailing yacht. The key objective of the course is to teach candidates to become a recreational sailing yacht skipper and be able to charter and handle big cruising yachts on their own.

Ideal for those who already have little sailing experience and would like to learn coastal navigation.

• navigation at sea
• collision regulations
• practice at sea 200nm
• Skipper on a yacht up to 78ft. / 24m
• 20 miles offshore in day time
• in moderate weather conditions

5-day sailing course on board of a cruising yacht. The main objective of the course is to teach basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, basic sail trim, helm commands, seamanship and safety.

Ideal for candidates with little to no previous sailing experience who wish to train to become an active crew member on a power or sailing yacht.

• no special requirements
• Crew on a yacht up to 78ft. / 24m
• in sight of land and in fair weather
• only with professional skipper

Choose your sailing program. Where to start?

Introduction to sailing, on the coast.

Sailing knots - 3 hours

Understanding of the boat - 3 hours

On the water

Basic keelboat - 3 hours

Basic cruising

Safety on board - 3 hours

Live aboard sailing boat - 5 days

Live aboard power boat - 7 days

Bareboat cruising

Mandatory shore-based course for navigation and collision regulations at sea

Passage planning

Collision regulations

Practice at sea

Sailing boat - 10 days

Motor boat - 7 days

Advanced coastal cruising

Take additional shore-based courses prior to practice at sea

Long-term passage planning

Tidal navigation

Night sailing

Celestial navigation

Live-aboard course in tidal waters

Sailing yacht - 7 days

Upcoming courses

Blue water sailing practice

Availability

Competent crew

Marine weather forecasting

“Perfect boat”

A trust company. Very professional, one small problem we had with an error displayed on one of the oil pressure motors. They came after us and fixed the problem. We had a Lagoon 40 (2021) a very good boat.

Sailing School

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• Sailing courses

Sunsail Sailing Schools

Learn to sail.

At Sunsail, we are passionate about sailing, and sharing the joy, confidence, and sense of wonder that sailing instills in people from all walks of life. Now, Sunsail has made it easier than ever to begin your sailing journey, or to gain more experience on the water with a variety of sailing courses and certification options.

We are happy to announce that  American Sailing  is now the official sailing school partner of Sunsail! One of the largest sailing education systems in the Americas boasting over 400 affiliate sailing schools nationwide, American Sailing is the go-to resource for sailing certifications required to bareboat charter, from Basic Keelboat Training (ASA101), Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA103), and Bareboat Cruising (ASA104), in addition to International Proficiency Certification (IPC) required for many global charter destinations. 

Review American Sailing’s course options and find an American Sailing school near you to get started today. 

Sunsail Sailing schools 

Sunsail offers sailing schools of our own across the world in the United Kingdom, Croatia, Greece, Australia, and Grenada. Take your pick of a huge range of courses at our flagship school in Portsmouth, which will take you from Start Yachting to Yachtmaster. Our sailing schools in Agana and Lefkas provide a perfect backdrop whilst earning your RYA Day Skipper or RYA Competent Crew certifications.  Alternatively, you can head to Grenada to combine a vacation in the sun with the next step on your sailing adventure with our partners at LTD Sailing.

Sunsail Sailing Schools App

We now have our very own Sunsail Sailing Schools App. A quick, easy, fun tool for sailors around the world to use. It includes information on Rules of the Road, Navigation Lights, Day Shapes, Sounds & Lights. To download, search for Sunsail in your App Store, or click on the button below. 

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Start your experience with Sunsail on land and sign up to receive e-mails from us about yachts, offers and destinations.

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Plan Your Dream Vacation

Global 21 st century Sailing education and International Certification

Basic to advanced practical sailing training schools north america and worldwide, sailing vacation skipper training bareboat sailing certifications and licenses accepted by all yacht charter companies, us coast guard approved on-the-water sailing training schools with multimedia online interactive theory courses, the most modern up to date international sailing education program approved by the us coast guard under edu-3.

• Sailing Courses

Over a dozen multimedia online and mobile device sailing courses for complete beginners through advanced training. All surpassing international standards.

Sailing Schools

A global network of sailing schools integrating your theory learned online with practical on the water teachings.

Virtual Reality Training

Learn skills from basic sailing to advanced docking and Nav rules. Accelerate your training with cutting-edge VR tech.

Be amazed with VR   

Courses by rank or specialized skill courses

Introduction to sailing, skipper small keelboat rank, skipper large keelboat rank, bareboat charter master rank, captain rank, show me the ropes - i'm just getting started.

Actually, there are four ropes on a boat: the bell rope, the bucket rope, the life ring rope, and the bolt rope. Just saying, because there are a lot of crusty ol’ sailors that say there are no ropes on a boat. Anyway …

To become a confident and competent sailor, you need theoretical knowledge and practical experience.  Makes sense, right? 

While NauticEd teaches all courses to international sailing standards, we are nationally approved by the United States Coast Guard and our SLC sailing license is accepted internationally including all countries in the Mediterranean. Thus, NauticEd guides you through it all: online multimedia courses and testing, professional practical training schools, and a free electronic logbook that tracks your on-the-water experience.  All the while, our software simultaneously and automatically builds you a globally accepted sailing resume.  It’s the 21st century way of becoming a sailor!

We recommend that you start with Introduction to Sailing which is just $27. However, if you want to see how we roll first before your investment, take our fun FREE Basic Sail Trim course . In this course, you’ll learn about the wind and its forces on the sails through a series of interactive animations. It's a wee bit more advanced than totally basic, but you'll get to see how awesome our course material is. After we have built your confidence in yourself and us, we have three easy choices to continue.

• Introduction to Sailing : This course is for those who are just getting started and includes for free both the Basic Sail Trim course and the Navigation Rules Course. It's a great way to get started
• Skipper Small Keelboat :  This course, when combined with on-the-water training is approved as meeting the American National Standard for sailing training and assessment. It is for those who want to competently skipper their own smaller keelboat up to about 25 feet (8m); or
• Skipper Bundle (Skipper course and Maneuvering Under Power course):  These courses build further on the American National Standard and are for those starting out on a bigger boat 26 feet to 60 feet (8m to 20m).

When you complete the courses and the requisite amount of logged on-the-water experience, you will receive the associated certificate Rank. Read on ...

For practical on-the-water experience, we strongly encourage you to gain professional instruction from one of our affiliated sailing training schools who we recognize as meeting the American National Standards. Our instructors are highly qualified and socially rated by previous students; this information is viewable on the school's NauticEd page. This allows you to be confident that you are receiving the best instruction and direction as you begin your sailing journey. Gaining more experience can be as simple as sailing with friends, with the local yacht club, a shared boat club, a paid sharing arrangement with a friend's boat, or on your own boat.

As you gain confidence and competence at one level, we encourage you to go back to the sailing school and gain further practical knowledge to raise to the next level. You enter all this experience (and any past experiences) into your FREE electronic Logbook . Plus, your instructors digitally sign your logbook at your competence levels. It's the world's most technologically advanced and simply structured sailing education program.

Our proprietary algorithm analyzes the courses you have passed and your practical sailing experience and then issues Rank and Level based on your accomplishments. Simultaneously, our badge program directs and guides you to perform micro tasks which educate you about proper boating habits and knowledge like checking your EPIRB or side-stay turnbuckles. And don’t worry, by the time you finish our courses you’ll be eating sailing terms for breakfast.

At every step of the way, we are in the background building your globally recognized sailing resume and guiding you as to what to do next.

There is so much more to NauticEd that you will learn about on your guided journey to becoming a confident and competent sailor . The best thing for now however, is that you can start for FREE with 2 free sailing courses and a FREE sailing logbook. Just sign up. It is that easy.

Click here to get started with the FREE Basic Sail Trim Course

Or if you're ready to jump in feet first, click here to review the Introduction to Sailing course

Click here to view our specialized Sailing Courses

Be a better local sailor

To us, you’re already the smartest sailor out there. Too many times we all hear “I got it, you don’t need to teach me anything”. Yet these are the folks shown in the YouTube video collages of greatest boating bungles. The smartest sailor is the one who says “You can never be guilty of learning too much”.

While NauticEd teaches all courses to international sailing standards, we are nationally approved by the United States Coast Guard and our SLC sailing license is accepted internationally including all countries in the Mediterranean. Thus, Nauticed guides you through it all: online multimedia courses and testing, professional practical training schools, and a free electronic logbook that tracks your on-the-water experience.  All the while, our software simultaneously and automatically builds you a globally accepted sailing resume.  It’s the 21st century way of becoming a sailor!

For you, we have some great multimedia courses that are going to up your game, keep you off YouTube, and make your crew follow your leadership because you know what you’re doing with certainty and confidence.

• Skipper courses: we offer a Skipper Small Keelboat course for boats up to 25 ft (8m) or a Skipper Course for larger boats. These courses are similar in depth and knowledge but specifically cover the differences in mastering either size of boat.
• Maneuvering Under Power course: This is our most popular course and for good reason. No further explanation is required other than to ask: Can you confidently back a large boat around in a marina in a 30 knot crosswind?
• Coastal Navigation, Electronic Navigation, and Anchoring courses: For when you want to start venturing away from home base.

But as you know, just passing an online course is not going to make you a competent sailor. You must have practical experience as well. This is why we provide you with a FREE electronic logbook into which you enter past and present practical on-the-water experience. Entries can be as simple as days sailing with friends, the local yacht club, a shared boat club, on your own boat, or you can formalize it with any of our affiliated professional schools. Read on ...

As you continue to grow your theoretical knowledge and practical on-the-water experience, NauticEd is keeping track for you. Every time you pass a course, make an entry into your electronic logbook or perform a badge task, our algorithm automatically calculates and builds your sailing resume for you .  So while we issue Sailing Certifications that are globally accepted, we focus more on ensuring you become worthy of having the helm in your hands. Thus the resume!

Get started now with either the Skipper Small Keelboat Course or the Skipper Bundle of courses (Skipper course and Maneuvering Under Power course) for sailboats larger than 25 feet (7.6 m) and start logging your previous on-the-water sailing experience into your FREE online logbook .

Skipper Small Keelboat Rank requires the Skipper Small Keelboat course . When this course in combined with NauticEd practical training, you are recognized as having met the American National Standards for sailing training . No other American sailing training association or body can boast as such.

The Skipper Rank is for larger boats (larger than 25 ft – 7.6 m). It builds further beyond the American National Standards and requires: Skipper bundle of courses which consists of:

• Skipper Course
• Maneuvering Under Power Course

Skipper a yacht on a sailing vacation

We always say there is nothing better than taking a sailing vacation, and if you can think of something better, well … you can do it on a sailing vacation anyway.

To become a confident and competent Bareboat Charter Master, you need theoretical knowledge and practical experience.  Makes sense, right? 

But don’t fall into the “certification” trap. In order to safely charter a ½ million dollar boat and guide friends and family through ocean waters, a shiny bareboat charter certification sticker earned in a two-weekend cram will never suffice. We have interviewed dozens of the world’s top yacht charter companies and they all have one requirement in common in order to let you charter one of their boats: it is a sailing RESUME demonstrating you are truely worthy to sail. It must display sufficient theoretical knowledge as well as an acceptable amount of practical experience.

NauticEd guides you through becoming properly licensed and recognized for bareboat chartering competence: online multimedia courses and testing, professional practical training schools, and a free electronic logbook that tracks your on-the-water experience.  All the while, our software simultaneously and automatically builds you a globally accepted sailing resume.  It’s the 21st century way of becoming a sailor!

First, we start you out with our Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of multimedia interactive courses and tests. They contain all the theoretical knowledge you need to know including: coastal and electronic navigation, anchoring, maneuvering a large sailboat in a marina, leadership skills, living aboard, dinghy skills and much more.

Then you enter your past and present practical on-the-water experience into your FREE electronic logbook. Entries can be as simple as days sailing with friends, the local yacht club, a shared boat club, on your own boat, and/or if you need more formalized training or a refresher, you can learn with any of our affiliated professional practical training schools.

All the while, NauticEd is keeping track for you. Every time you pass a course, make an entry into your electronic logbook or perform a badge task, our algorithm automatically calculates and builds your international accepted sailing resume demonstrating your Rank of Bareboat Charter Master.  This is what all yacht charter companies require. Read on ...

The Bareboat Charter Master Rank requires the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses:

• Maneuvering Under Power
• Bareboat Chartering
• Coastal Navigation
• Electronic Navigation

You can access these courses individually or as one bundle.

To gain the NauticEd SLC international sailing license valid for European waters, you must complete the Bareboat Charter Master Rank and do a 1 day assessment of your skills. But don't mistake the simplicity of the process for ease of good knowledge and proper skills. The SLC has high standards, standards that keep people off youtube's best sailing bungles videos and keep their friends and family safe on the water.

So, here is a big bold audacious challenge for you: achieve your internationally accepted NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master Rank and an SLC or ICC, then go skipper the most amazing sailing vacation of your life.

Get started with the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of Courses here

Visit the SLC international sailing license page here

The deep blue and beyond

Religious or not, they say that you will meet God on the ocean at some time. The ocean demands that you be prepared and able to handle what it will throw at you. It has a way of teaching you what you don’t know.

That said, maximum preparedness is the key. But you already know that; that is why you are here now. You know that to be safe, you need theoretical knowledge and significant practical experience. But how much knowledge and how much experience?

NauticEd guides you through it all: online multimedia courses and testing, professional practical training schools both near shore and offshore, a free electronic logbook that tracks your on-the-water experience, and badges that teach you proper and safe boating behavior.  All the while, our software simultaneously and automatically builds you a globally accepted sailing resume and sailing license (the SLC) .  It’s the 21st century way of becoming a sailor!

We recommend you start out with the Captain’s bundle of online multimedia courses. These ready you for the deep blue and beyond: understanding global weather systems, storm tactics, and safety at sea knowledge such as how to ditch into a life raft, what should already be stored in your ditch bag, global communication systems, what to do if you lose your rudder or hit a container, and how to repair shredded sails. We also focus on life aboard and simple tips and tricks to make life easier. If you are serious about sailing , then this is the bundle of courses for you.

But as you know, just passing an online course is not going to make you a competent blue water sailor. You must have practical experience as well. This is why we provide you with a FREE electronic logbook into which you enter past and present practical on-the-water experience. Entries can be as simple as days sailing with friends, the local yacht club, a shared boat club, on your own boat. We also introduce you to specialized training schools that focus on offshore training . You’ll have an opportunity to join their passages and see for yourself the wonder and, truth-be-told, sometimes hardship of an ocean passage. Read on ...

The Captain Rank requires the Captain Bundle of courses:

• Storm Tactics
• Global Weather Systems
• Advanced Sail Trim
• Safety at Sea

Access individually or as one bundle .

Start now by signing up for the NauticEd Captain’s Bundle of Courses and begin filling out your FREE NauticEd practical logbook.

View the Captain Bundle of Courses here

Sea talk testimonials

I really appreciate your website and services. Living on the East Coast the winter gets really looooong. Having a site like yours to work on is a great way to stay tuned into sailing and to improve your skills. John R , Student

Trusted by the world's leading sailing companies

How Nauticed works

Why Learn the Theory?

Online, at home, in your own time multimedia theory learning integrates perfectly with on-the-water practical teaching to make you a confident and competent sailor.

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  Socrates

To be a confident and competent sailor, you have to have theory knowledge. Even if you are an experienced sailor, there is always more to learn. Theory covers broad topics like the rules of the nautical road, understanding tides, and coastal navigation as well as minute tips and tricks.

For example: How do you lift a heavy man back on board? Should you let out the main sheet or the traveler, why? Can you convert true to magnetic in an instant? What is the best anchor to use for a rock bottom? What is a cardinal mark? What does an isolated danger mark look like?

A solid theoretical sailing education will enable you to apply this knowledge to your on the water experiences.

Why online?  Welcome to the 21st Century for Sailing Education! NauticEd offers online multimedia theory courses that integrate perfectly with on-the-water practical training and experience.

• Easy & Immediate Access:  Learn at your own pace, at home, on an airplane, in a coffee shop or waiting in the doctor’s office. Mobile or laptop.  With in seconds of signing up, you are learning.
• Instant Results & Resume:  Online, real-time grading of tests and other tools allow you to evaluate your learning. Completed courses show instantly on your resume.
• Retention:  Multimedia format with interactive animations, videos, and colorful graphics hold your attention and aid retention.
• Social Learning Environment:  With NauticEd’s nano forums, students can collaborate with fellow students and instructors.
• Better Use of On-The-Water Training: Maximize your practical training time by showing up already knowledgeable and tested.

Sailing Resume vs Sailing Certification

Ask any yacht charter company and they all will tell you that they require a complete sailing resume; not a certification . NauticEd helps build and store your sailing resume in the cloud - for FREE.

Think about a job application.  A person with solid educational credentials as well as real world experience gets the best job.  Same with sailing.  Sailing theory plus hands on experience makes the best sailor. 

NauticEd’s proprietary software combines your theoretical sailing courses with your logged practical on-the-water experience and all your other sailing accomplishments and international licenses such as the SLC into a resume demonstrating your sea-worthiness. 

At certain milestones along the way, we’ll issue you a ‘certification”, but only after you have passed the theoretical courses and logged the requisite experience.  Your certification will list your rank and level:  Rank relates to the courses you have taken and Level corresponds to your practical experience.  But you can’t get one without the other.  That’s because education and experience go hand in hand. 

If you need a sailing license for European waters, our software will issue it instantly the moment you acheive all the practical and theory requirements.

Additionally, when you are assessed by an instructor according to American National Standards rubrics or International Standards rubrics, your Rank and Level becomes Verified. When your experience is affirmed by your CrewMates ™ your experience is Authenticated.

All this takes place in the background by our software. Your resume simply grows automatically as you sail and learn. And that’s why yacht charter companies worldwide LOVE our Resume/Certification program. And why countries who require a proper legal sailing license, accept the NauticEd SLC. You will LOVE what we do for you.

Sign up now , get two free courses and watch your resume grow – automatically.

Get a Free Sailor's Logbook

When you sign up for free, we give you a free sailor’s logbook. Why?

Whether you’re a new or experienced sailor, electronically logging your on-the-water experience is the best way to track your own growth and demonstrate your sea worthiness to yourself and to others.

This is why NauticEd provides you with a FREE electronic logbook into which you enter your past and present practical on-the-water experience. Entries can be as simple as a day sailing with friends, the local yacht club, a shared boat club, on your own boat, or you can formalize it with any of our affiliated professional schools. Our proprietary CrewMates ™ feature lets your regular crew members authenticate your logbook entries at the click of a button on your mobile device or computer. The more you sail, the more your logbook grows and the higher level you achieve within a Rank. And, with NauticEd’s automatic resume generating software, every time you make an entry into your logbook, it appears instantly on your sailing resume. Its all stored in the cloud accessible by you 24/7.

Welcome to the 21st century way of becoming a sailor. 

Sign up for FREE here NOW

Bareboat Charter Sailing License

Looking to bareboat charter a yacht on a sailing vacation? Need a license to qualify?  NauticEd has a plan and customized steps to ensure you succeed.

So here is the truth of the matter, you only need a Bareboat Charter License in Europe and the Seychelles. In every other location, you do not need a license or certification to sail a recreational vessel. Some states in the USA legally require residents to have a State Boater License Card, but that is it. So what then is all the hoohaa from certain sailing associations? Some people call them certification factories!

What is absolutely required of a skipper from every yacht charter company worldwide is a worthy resume.  Why?  Because some “license” or “certification” associations issue you a license/certification after a one or two weekend sailing course and a paper test. But, five or even ten days of sailing experience is simply not enough. These certifictions can not necessarily be trusted across the board. So yacht charter companies require an extensive resume demonstrating your sailing education, your practical logbook of experience as master of the vessel, and any achievements and competence sign-offs by practical sailing instructors (instructor sign-offs are recommended but not necessarily required).

So how does NauticEd help its students meet this need?

The NauticEd resume system and software simply and cleverly follows yacht charter requirements. Thus, when your resume reflects sufficient theory and practical experience to actually be competent in the eyes of yacht charter companies, the NauticEd software issues you a Bareboat Charter Master Rank.   Every yacht charter company in the world accepts this Rank because it demonstrates your real bareboat charter worthiness.

And if the country you are vacationing in requires an actual sailing license, then NauticEd can facilitate this. We partner with RYA schools worldwide to issue you an ICC (International Certificate of Competence (created by United Nations)) or we can issue you an SLC which requires, in addition to the Bareboat Charter Master Rank, a one day assessment of your practical skills and knowledge. Note: be aware of sailing associations claiming that their "IPC" is aka the ICC. It is just not true!

Simply stated, if you don't have a proper sailing resume (regardless of the certification/license issued to you) you will be hiring a skipper. And that is not a bad thing. A hired skipper can usually show you places you never would have found, tell stories, teach you some tricks, and keep you safe.

First, we start you out with our Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of multimedia interactive courses and tests. Then you enter your past and present practical on-the-water experience into your FREE electronic logbook. For the ICC or SLC license you must have a sailing skills assessment. If you pass, your instructor logs in and clicks to verify your competence and the license is issued automatically - instantly. All of this is stored automatically in your resume; in the cloud. When you are ready to go chartering, simply click a button and the charter company is sent your credentials.

Start with the Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses NOW

Check out the SLC international sailing license here

SLC & ICC International Sailing License

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) and the Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) are internationally accepted licenses for skippers wanting to charter recreational yachts in European waters.

Gain the ICC or SLC through NauticEd

The ICC, issued under United Nations Resolution 40, created a universally agreed upon standard of competence for skippers of recreational boats.

Recently, the SLC has become recognized as a more readily accessible and acceptable license because more schools are able to adminsiter the practical sailing competence assessment - especially in North America.

Because the ICC was created by the United Nations, a country that has adopted Resolution 40 must approve and assign a company or association to issue an ICC License. The United Kingdom has adopted Resolution 40; it has approved the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to issue the ICC license to sailors after a skills assessment.   But because neither the USA nor Canada have adopted Resolution 40, no USA or Canadian appointed company or association can issue a true ICC.  To solve this, NauticEd has teamed up with the Royal Yachting Association to help our students obtain the ICC through available RYA schools.

Additionally, NauticEd is able to issue the SLC which is equally accepted by those countries whose port authorites require a sailing license. Read on ...

To receive an ICC or an SLC, students must pass a one-day assessment that tests their international sailing knowledge as well as their on-the-water boating skills. The NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master Bundle of courses serves to gain enough theoretical knowledge to pass the theory portion of the assessment.  The practical on-the-water portion of the assessment requires demonstration of skills associated with bareboat chartering. The full skills list is downloadable for free under the student's curriculum tab when they sign-in to NauticEd. Significant past sailing experience is also required to be logged in the student's free online logbook. All this ensures that not only is the student legally licensed to charter a yacht, but also the student has a sufficient resume to be accepted by the charter company.

If you are going on a sailing vacation, contact us . Not only are we experts and agents for all the yacht charter companies, we can advise if you need a license and if your resume is adequate.

Learn more about the ICC and the SLC

Go to the SLC page

Set up a FREE account now. Get two free sailing courses and a free logbook and resume building tool

Complete Beginner?

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” Helen Hays, the first lady of American Theater.

Are you new to sailing and don't know where to start?

In order to become a sailor, you need theoretical knowledge and on-the-water experience. But what courses do you need? And how do you gain experience?

If you are just starting your sailing journey, we recommend you start with our fun FREE online course – Basic Sail Trim .  It is an enjoyable course, full of animations that help you realize the romance of sailing. Then as you gain confidence in yourself, take one of our Skippering courses.  Additional courses are available as you progress on your sailing journey.  No matter your eventual sailing goal, NauticEd can provide you with the appropriate level of sailing education.

Ready to get on the water?  There are a multitude of options to gain practical experience without owning your own boat. First, NauticEd has professional sailing instructors worldwide through our affiliated sailing school program.  Beyond that, NauticEd recommends sailing clubs, yacht clubs, shared boat programs, shared friendship syndicates, friend’s boats, racing regattas, Caribbean and Mediterranean crewed charter trips, local meet-up groups and the like. Before you know it, you’ll have some serious water under your belt.

When you start with NauticEd, we will hold your hand and guide you with a realistic plan to achieve your sailing goals and dreams.  We’ll even stretch your imagination a little. Could you imagine yourself skippering a boat on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean? We can! Whatever your dream, NauticEd will be there helping you with your knowledge and experience.

So cast off the lines and sign-up for free.

Click here to sign-up and get started with Basic Sail Trim NOW .

Simple and Easy Access

Cross-Platform, Multimedia, Interactive, Real-Time, Mobile Friendly and More

All our courses are multimedia and mobile friendly and operate across platforms and browsers. You can also add to your logbook right from the dock as you step off your boat. When your instructor signs your logbook online, you are instantly notified of your success and upgrade. No need for paper resumes and shiny stickers, just give your private logbook code to yacht charter companies who can instantly see your seaworthiness on your cloud stored electronic resume.

We apply the highest technology systems to everything we do.

Welcome to the 21st century of Sailing Training.

Sign-up for free now to get started. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

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STCW is coming to Panama City!

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Simplify Your USCG License Application Submission with Sea School’s New Online Portal

Navigating the complexities of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) licensing process just got a whole lot easier! At Sea School, we are excited to announce the launch of our new online submission portal, designed to streamline the collection, review, and submission of your documents for a USCG license. No more back and forth – our […]

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In-Person Boating Training

Local clubs offer top-notch in-person training.

When you want in-person boating education from certified instructors, we offer several types of training to meet your needs. You can dive deep with 6–8 week courses, get your feet wet with 2-hour seminars and take the helm with our flexible on the water boating instruction led by certified volunteer instructors who are boaters just like you. Our clubs offer instruction tailored to the needs of local boaters.

Find a Class Near You

“I signed up to take courses from New Jersey’s Saddle River Power Squadron. I knew nothing about boating, and I had heard that United States Power Squadrons was the way to learn. Over the years, the squadron and the boat became a way of life. Thank you for 37 great boating years.”

–Arnold Bucksbaum

Dive Deep With Courses

Beginner, intermediate, or advanced—whatever your skill level, we have in-depth courses to boost your knowledge and confidence on the water. Our courses will prepare you to boat safely whether you’re near shore or out on the deep blue. Courses take anywhere from 6–8 weeks.

Explore Our Courses

Get Your Feet Wet With Seminars

Round out your knowledge or discover something new by taking a brief seminar led by experienced volunteer instructors. Running about two hours, our focused seminars provide a thorough overview on a variety of subjects.

Explore Our Seminars

Take the Helm With Hands-On Training

Feel more confident and look more confident handling your powerboat. Our hands-on training program helps you develop handling skills and techniques that last a lifetime. Our experienced, certified instructors combine classroom learning with on-the-water coaching. That means with technical education plus real-world techniques, you get onto the water and into fun, safer, and faster!

Explore Hands-On Training

Learn to Boat Virtually

Explore a 3.5-by-4-mile lake aboard your very own virtual Boston Whaler. Practice leaving the dock, pivot turns, mooring, docking, emergency stop, crew overboard, trailering, navigating the boat ramp, and more. Our Boating Skills Virtual Trainer makes learning to boat a year-round activity.

Check Out Virtual Boating

Members Get More With Boat Operator Certification

As a member, you can access our Operator Certification Program with four levels of certification from inland to offshore. You can establish boating credentials, upgrade your resume for chartering, or meet state requirements.

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Want to be a better boater?

Learn more about our programs and have more fun on the water!

SARA-BAY SAILING SCHOOL & CHARTER

• Charters & Rentals

Sailboat Courses & Sailing Instructions

Most folks only dream of sailing. At Sara-Bay Sailing School, we can make those dreams come true. Come sail with Sara-Bay Sailing School and Charter on the aqua blue waters of beautiful Sarasota Bay on the west coast of Florida. The winds are usually light from the east until the sea breeze kicks in shortly after noon each day when the winds build to a pleasant, cooling 10-15 knot breeze from the west. This makes for ideal sailing! See the courses listed below:

Basic Keelboat Certification (ASA 101)

A course for beginners. Students are not required to have any previous sailing experience. It is required you have sailing gloves, boat shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat and a “let’s have fun and learn to sail” attitude. Most classes have 2 students with a maximum of 3 — assuring personal attention and lots of hands-on experience during this 2 day – 12-hour course. The written test, which takes about 1 hour, is given on the second day after sailing is completed. Classes are aboard a Catalina 22. We meet at 9AM at our office, sail until noon, and usually come dock for lunch and a break. After Lunch we sail again, enjoying the afternoon breezes and return to the dock around 4 PM. Upon completion of this course, take the Basic Coastal Cruising Certification course, the next step in the ASA’s Learn to Sail program.

Course Materials Include:

• ASA Sailing Made Easy Book
• Official ASA Logbook
• Federal Requirement Booklet
• U.S. Coast Guard Aids To Navigation

Topics Covered Includes:

• Boating safety
• Sailing theory and terminology
• Points of sail, tacking and jibing
• Basic sail trim
• Man overboard recovery
• Basic rules of the road
• Meets USCG Safe Boating course requirements

Basic Coastal Cruising Certification (ASA 103)

A more advanced course with emphasis on the following sailing skills: (this class is two days with 12 hours of instruction with a written examination for certification). Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to day charter a boat without an instructor aboard (see our information on Charters).

• Coastal Cruising Made Easy Book
• Reefing skills
• Basic navigation with apps.
• Freeing a grounded vessel

Bareboat Cruising Certification (ASA 104)

An advanced cruising Standard to gain offshore sailing experience and bareboat certification . The individual will act as skipper and crew of a 35′ sloop. The course is a 2-day cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway and Sarasota Bay. The Standard includes knowledge of boat systems and maintenance procedures.

• Provisioning
• Boat systems and maintenance
• Using VHF radio
• Drawbridge protocol
• Navigating passes and intracoastal
• Offshore sailing | GPS navigation
• Tides and currents
• Avoiding Seasickness
• Rules of the Road

Cruising Catamaran Made Easy (ASA 114)

ASA 114 Cruising Catamaran is a one-day addendum to ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising.

• Cruising Catamarans Made Easy Book
• Boat Systems
• Docking In Close Quarters
• Anchoring and Mooring
• Sailing Maneuvers and Sail Trim
• Safety Considerations Under Power and Sail-Crew Overboard and Recovery

Gift Certificates Available from Sara-Bay Sailing School

Procedure for Gift Certificates:

1. Click on the Gift Certificate link (listed to the right) The gift certificate will appear in a pop-up window.

2. Fill in the text boxes on the screen – along with your gift messag e.

3. Using the print function (or right click on the mouse and choose ‘Print…’ from the menu) on your computer to print out the certificate.

4. The certificate requires validation. Call Sara Bay Sailing at (1)941. 914.5132 for payment options. Gift certificate is good for 2 years upon purchase and validation.

Education & Training

Boating Courses, Education & Training

One way to expand your knowledge base is to check out our many articles and resources right here, at Discover Boating. But still, nothing beats actual experience on the water. The solution? A hands-on training course, and many are available throughout the nation.

Boating safety courses and hands-on training classes are offered by:

• BoatUS Foundation

The National Safe Boating Council

The u.s. coast guard auxiliary, united states power squadron, boatus education programs.

BoatUS offers a number of different educational programs through its affiliate, the BoatUS Foundation . These include free boating safety courses given online, as well as more advanced online courses which do cost a fee ($8.50 to $40 depending on the topic and the course’s depth), but cover advanced topics like how to use AIS or GPS, propane systems on boats, and hurricane preparation.

In-class training courses are on a limited state-by-state basis, and sometimes with a nominal fee. The very best educational option, however, is probably on-the-water hands-on training classes. Again, these are limited to specific locations. Several are offered at boat shows (and your ticket to the show is often included in the package) so you can check out new boats and learn better boat handling on the very same day. Pricing ranges widely depending on the course you choose and its length, but options include topics like Introduction to Boating, Precision Docking and Boat Handling, and woman-only Women Making Waves courses.

Check Out Our Boating Safety Basics Videos

The National Safe Boating Council , a group made up of over 500 U.S. and international organizations with an interest in boating safety and education, offers a range of different training courses for boaters with skill levels ranging from novice to experienced. Their depth also ranges widely, from online offerings to multiple-day on-the-water courses. Some are advanced enough to qualify for Instructor Certification, and are verified by third-party assessment to conform with American National Standards for on-water skill training. The National Safe Boating Council also supports the “Skipper Club,” in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, for teaching teens age 13 through 19 on-water powerboating skills and maneuvers, terminology, and equipment.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers one of the most widely available and topically wide-ranging selections of training courses out there. Their National Public Education Calendar Database lists out subject matter including topics like boating skills and seamanship, boating safety, sailing skills, GPS use, and more, which you can then search for availability by zip code. These range from one-hour classes targeting four- to nine-year-olds, to advanced eight-hour courses that will benefit even old salts.

The U.S. Power Squadron , a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to boating safety and education, offers a number of educational courses through its America’s Boating Club arm. These are interactive online sessions, covering topics like marine radios and GPS, weather, and more. Note that many of these are provided through the BoatU.S. Foundation and are identical in nature, though they also offer webinars that bring students and instructors together via a “virtual classroom.”

National boat clubs like Carefree Boat Club, Freedom Boat Club , Your Boat Club , and SailTime , as well as smaller regional boat clubs offer hands-on, on-the-water training. In fact, prior to taking out one of the club boats the training is usually mandatory for new members. Many clubs also offer yearly refreshers, special education sessions, and other opportunities to advance your boating education on a regular basis. Best of all, in most cases this training is included in your membership with no extra charge.

Learn More in Boat Club Memberships: Why Should You Join?

Get a Boating License

Finding out how to get a boating license is a great first step towards getting out on the water as a responsible boater.

Find the Right Boat

The first step in the boat-buying process is also the most important—determining what type of boat is right for you.

Additional Boating Education Resources

There are also many youth programs designed specifically to help kids and young boaters learn the ropes. And on top of all that, numerous private organizations offer real-world boating education. As you decide how to best advance your own boating skills, also consider:

• Safely Moored offers professional hands-on boating instruction and safety training, as well as yacht management, dockside services, and yacht sales in South Florida.
• The Recreational Powerboating Association (RPBA) has hands-on powerboat instruction, powerboat certification and powerboat schools.
• The American Sailing Association (ASA) is the oldest and largest keelboat certification authority in the United States, with 300 affiliated sailing schools worldwide.
• The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) , the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States through wide-ranging educational programs.
• US Powerboating offers courses for powerboat operators and is an affiliate of US Sailing.

Read Next: Boating Safety Guide

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AMERICA’S #1 SAILING SCHOOL®

Learn to cruise & see the world, offshore sailing school — america’s top sailing and cruising academy, adventures that change lives.

Offshore Sailing School is America’s top sailing and cruising academy, offering life-changing adventures and industry-leading sailing and powerboat instruction. For over 60 years, Offshore Sailing School has set the standard in comprehensive training for beginners and advanced sailors and boaters. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced sailor or boater, Offshore Sailing School has the right course for you.

• Learn to Sail: Start your journey with our beginner course, the gateway to confident sailing.
• Learn to Cruise : Gain the skills and certification to skipper and handle a live-aboard monohull or catamaran yacht with ease and enjoy world-wide bareboat chartering.
• Passage Making :  Master blue water sailing with the ultimate sailing certification and expand your horizons under sail.
• Competitive Racing: Elevate your sailboat racing skills as you learn sailboat racing rules and tactics from expert racing coaches.
• Advanced Cruising Courses:   Enhance your live-aboard catamaran or monohull cruising boat confidence, master challenging conditions while docking and maneuvering in close quarters.
• Team Building:   Strengthen bonds and communication through challenging and fun team sailing activities.
• Powerboat Training: Become a skilled powerboat skipper with confidence to charter and captain your own yacht.
• Flotilla Vacations: Explore the world under sail with Colgate Sailing Adventures® hosted sailing vacations on bareboat charter yachts.

Offshore Sailing School Fast Track® Programs provide the certifications and powerboat credentials you need to unlock a world of life-changing adventures! 

Led by Steve and Doris Colgate , our expert team of instructors is dedicated to making you a confident skipper, ready to explore waters near home or in distant ports. Choose from our Offshore Sailing School locations in Florida or the British Virgin Islands for The Greatest Classroom in the World®!

Fast Track® Sail & Power Courses

FAST TRACK® TO COASTAL PASSAGE MAKING

Start with the in-depth Online Coastal Navigation course, then step aboard for 6 days of intensive training covering night operations, advanced navigation, and coastal passage making on a catamaran or monohull. 105/106

FAST TRACK® TO OFFSHORE PASSAGE MAKING

Take a deep dive into long distance sailing with 5 days of celestial navigation, followed by 6 days of hands-on experience, gaining skills and confidence for offshore passage making and navigating without heavy reliance on electronics. 107/108

FAST TRACK® TO PERFORMANCE SAILING

In just five days, gain a solid foundation in sailing with focus on learning the basics, then mastering performance techniques, essential for excelling in local club races and enhancing your boat handling skills as skipper and crew. 101/102

FAST TRACK® TO POWER CRUISING

Learn to skipper a big powercat, manage its electronics and systems; dock, moor, and anchor in various wind conditions. In 6 days, gain skills and confidence to charter on your own with family and friends. No prior experience required. OSS 112

FAST TRACK® TO MONOHULL CRUISING

Dive into sailboat cruising on monohulls with two days learning on a Colgate 26, then board a 44′-50’ monohull for 6 days of exciting big boat instruction. Perfect course for cruising on your boat or a chartered yacht. 101/103/104

FAST TRACK® TO CATAMARAN CRUISING

Go from couch to the captain’s chair with two days learning to sail on a Colgate 26, then 6 days of comprehensive big boat instruction on one of our impressive 40′-45′ cruising catamarans. 101/103/104/114

Individual Sailing Course Options

LEARN TO SAIL

Start your sailing lifestyle with an exciting, comprehensive three-day course, covering all the fundamentals of sailing on a fun, safe, sophisticated, and easy to sail Colgate 26 daysailer. No prerequisites. 101

PERFORMANCE SAILING

Sailboat racing classes in the Offshore Sailing School OSS 102 Performance Sailing Course are taught on award-winning, high performance Colgate 26 sport sailboats. These sailboat racing lessons are the next step up from Offshore Sailing School’s Learn to Sail Certification Courses – OSS 102.

BASIC & BAREBOAT CRUISING

Transition from day sailing to confident cruiser in this six-day course and go from big boat basic cruising skills to ready-to-skipper and charter a cruising catamaran or monohull yacht. 103/104 or 103/104/114

BOAT HANDLING & DOCKING

A comprehensive, specialized 4-day course for seasoned sailors, designed to refine your sailing proficiency, with emphasis on boat handling abilities, docking competence, and maneuvering skills on larger monohull and catamaran yachts. 111

COASTAL PASSAGE MAKING

Take the helm with our Coastal Passage Making course: a perfect blend of practical training and advanced navigation. Join us for a hands-on experience to refine your skills and prepare you for your next sailing adventure. 106

OFFSHORE PASSAGE MAKING

Adventure into long distance cruising in an intensive six-day course, focusing on night sailing out of sight of land, standing watches, voyage planning and provisioning, celestial and electronic navigation. 108

CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

A five-day shore based course with intensive use of sextants, in preparation for offshore Passage Making or setting off on your own. Includes extensive use of sextants and tables to calculate your position at sea. 107

WEEKEND WARRIOR SERIES

Take your sailing to the next level with our advanced programs. Sharpen your skills, boost your confidence, and explore new challenges with expert guidance.

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DEVELOP GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TRUST AND RESPECT!

Our Online Courses

COASTAL NAVIGATION

Comprehensive, self-paced online course tailored to advance navigation skills in preparation for the Advanced Cruising Course. Focus is on chart navigation and includes all necessary tools and materials for a complete learning experience.

ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION 1

An engaging and flexible online program designed to build a solid foundation for all sailors and boaters, in the context of Modern Navigation equipment, using Electronic Systems, essential skills and techniques.

Jump-start your sailing education with this fascinating way to learn the basics of sailing. A great tool for beginners and “rusty” sailors, interactive online lessons compliment what’s covered in Offshore Sailing School’s Learn to Sail 101 course.

OUR LOCATIONS

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

• Scrub Island
• St. Petersburg
• Captiva Island
• Fort Myers Beach

Great Vacations Start with the Perfect Course

GO FROM THE COUCH TO THE CAPTAIN’S CHAIR IN ONE WEEK!

See What Our Graduates Are Saying

Jhon Schepler

“Time well spent! Definitely will be back for more. Our instructor was excellent, patient and quick to act when assistance was needed.”

OSS 101 LEARN TO SAIL

Shea Gottshall

CHARLOTTE, NC

“Such a great experience, amazing trip and class! I learned much more than I ever thought possible. Great instructors, incredibly knowledgeable in all aspects of sailing, patient and detailed in their lessons. I recommend this program to anyone interested in learning about sailing, particularly for a novice like me.”

OSS 101/103/104 /114 Fast Track® to Catamaran Cruising

MUSKEGO, WI

“Offshore made it easy to learn! From easing us through the many tactical details related to arrival and expectations with extensive email communications, to the excellent books to the truly remarkable instructor who made learning a joy – the Fast Track to Cruising was one of the best weeks ever. Great memories, excellent skills development. What more could one ask for?”

OSS 101/103/104 Fast Track® to Catamaran Cruising

Jacques Mayo

“Our instructors were excellent. They let the students try many new things by themselves that increased our confidence level. They were very patient and reassuring. We had a tough passage from Miami to Captiva via Key West in bad weather. The sailing was difficult, and the learning experience was outstanding.”

OSS 107/108 Fast Track® to Offshore Cruising

SPARTANBURG, SC

“Money well spent. Would do it again, but I don’t need to! After only 5 days of classroom and power cruising time, I feel confident that I can better handle my boat in a variety of situations.”

OSS 109 Fast Track® to Power Cruising

Kristin Mahendra

ST. CHARLES, MO

“My instructor’s overall enthusiasm for sailing was so contagious, he has me addicted to sailing and craving more! He did an amazing job identifying my strengths and weaknesses in the classroom and on-water, and tailored his teaching to meet my needs and abilities.”

Courtney Stroot

“That’s me steering a big catamaran. It was absolutely the best seven-day adventure ever. An amazing instructor, exuded knowledge, skill and most of all, patience. I loved rafting up with the other students from the class.”

OSS 101/103/104/114 Fast Track® to Catamaran Cruising

Wyatt Blasingame

MORRISON, CO

“My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful experience in the Fast Track to Cruising Course in the British Virgin Islands. The instructors were excellent – extremely knowledgeable and patient. I had some small boat experience and my wife was a complete novice, but we’re now comfortable and excited to take our first bareboat charter on our own.”

OSS 101/103/104 Fast Track® to Cruising

Naomi and Jeff Weingart

WESTPORT, CT

IOSS 101/103/104 /114 Fast Track® to Catamaran Cruising

Merzi Dubash

OLD BRIDGE, NJ

“This is the second time I’ve taken the Learn to Sail course. The last was 10 years ago. The experience was awesome. My instructor was excellent, gave me plenty of opportunity to practice, and never shied away from answering questions. In 3 days, he provided all the knowledge needed to sail. I recommend this course for any sailing enthusiast.”

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OSS BROCHURE

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Have a question? We’re here to help, whenever you need us.

Unsinkable & Legendary

THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE KEELBOAT, BY STEVE COLGATE

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• Fast Track to Sailing | Beginner to Advanced in Six Days
• Learn to Sail Certification Courses
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• Steve Colgate Inducted Into National Sailing Hall of Fame
• OSS Student Proposes During Course
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Learn to Sail

Your dream of sailing can easily become a reality. The Sailboat Club is an accredited training facility of the American Sailing Association (ASA) and offers instruction to fit any schedule. View Courses

The Sailboat Club is designed for sailors who want the benefits of boat ownership without the hassles or the big expense. All you have to do is reserve a boat and go sailing. Become a member today. View Details

Charter Boats

A captained charter with The Sailboat Club is a 4 or 8 hour sail. Just sit back and enjoy the sights or sail the boat yourself, with a captain not far away to provide guidance – the choice is yours. Learn More

Our Convenient Location

Located next to Julington Creek Fish Camp on the St. John's River. Easily accessible from all parts of the greater Jacksonville area. Come by for a tour!

Our Expert Instructors

Learn to sail from our certified instructors lead by Cap'n Don, one of the most experienced captains in the business.

Our Beautiful Sailing Area

The St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean.

We have several Precision , Morgan , and Catalina sailboats in various sizes from 22 feet up to 37 feet.

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Weather Forecast

Home  Education  Adult Sailing

Adult Sailing

Learn to sail with us sailing, whether you’re a first-time sailor or an experienced instructor... we have an educational opportunity for everyone....

Part of US Sailing’s vision is to introduce as many people as possible to this great sport. We want to make sure you’re learning in a safe, fun, high-quality environment…because if you’re a well-trained, competent sailor you’ll love sailing as much as we do.

US Sailing provides education and instruction in four separate areas: Small Boat (i.e. day sailing), Keelboat, Powerboat and Windsurfing. Learn more about the different programs offered by US Sailing schools and instructors. We’ll help you decide what kind of boat you want to learn on and find a course to take – and we’ve written the books ourselves to make sure they’re the best around.

Sailing Certification Courses

Get started here.

Have you ever dreamed of sailing to an exotic destination?  Perhaps you are looking for a sport to do with your family or better yet, it is on your bucket list.  Whatever the reason, sailing is easy to learn and unlike some other sports, it is something you can do throughout your lifetime.

Find a School Near you!

Small Keelboat Track

• Basic Keelboat
• Performance Sailing
• Learn Basic Keelboat Online

Cruising Track

• Basic Cruising
• Bareboat Cruising
• Catamaran Endorsement
• Coastal Navigation
• Coastal Passage Making
• Celestial Navigation
• Cruising Powerboat Courses

Interested in learning how to sail, but not sure if you are ready for a full commitment?

Sailing is the perfect activity for anyone who enjoys water sports and outdoor recreation. Sailing can be exciting or relaxing. You can compete in racing or take a leisurely sail with family and friends. Regardless of age, ability or limitation, sailing has something for everyone.

Take Your first sail

• Sailing Basics
• Get Started
• Get Inspired
• Be a First Sail Location

Adaptive Sailing

Access to the sport of sailing for all.

Sailing is a sport of freedom –of the wind, water, body and spirit. Our Adaptive Sailing resources, courses, and events are designed to share the freedom of sailing with people with disabilities. Looking to incorporate an adaptive program at your organization? Looking to connect with disabled sailors or find a place to sail? US Sailing is here to support you.

Download the Adaptive Sailing Resource manual

• Classifications
• Instructor Workshop
• Accreditation 
• Sailor Resources

Safety At Sea

Be prepared for uncertain and trying at sea scenarios.

The four types of SAS courses offered are designed for sailors of all types and levels — cruisers and racers, novices and experts and will prepare you for unsafe conditions and at sea challenges.

find out more about Safety At Sea seminars

• Find a Course
• Attendance Look Up
• Host a Course

Safety at Sea

• Safety at Sea Planning
• Hosting a US Sailing Championship

Andrew Clouston SVP Programs & Services Email Andrew Clouston

Betsy Alison Adult Director Email Betsy Alison 401-342-7914

Diana Emmanuelli Competition Manager Email Diana Emmanuelli 401-342-7912

Karen Davidson Adult Program Coordinator Email Karen Davidson (401) 342-7934

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