Back to Sailing School 2020 ##Hands-on instruction about dock lines at J/World Annapolis. Photo courtesy of J/World Annapolis
New and Skilled Sailors Have Learning Opportunities To Explore
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f you want to learn how to sail, the Chesapeake Bay offers a myriad of options for you from Sailing 101 to How To Race. Most quality sailing schools also offer a wide range of courses for more experienced sailors. Some students return to sailing after a long absence or hope to learn a different aspect of sailing, such as cruising instead of racing (or vice versa). Some have bought a new boat and need some professional guidance learning how to dock her. Name your sailing challenge, and there’s a sailing course or custom program on the Chesapeake Bay for it.
For beginners
If you’re brand new to sailing, you want to start at the beginning; even those with some experience may want to do so. Learn-to-sail programs are usually group programs with some classroom instruction mixed in with on-the-water instruction. The boats can range from 12 feet long up to 40 feet long, depending on the school. It’s a great time to learn to sail, because so many sailing-related businesses offer beginning instruction from April through Halloween (or beyond down south). Of course, sailing schools teach sailing, but so do charter companies and sometimes even yacht brokerages and dealerships (those who sell the boats instructing you how to sail them, too). When looking for the right school for your situation, ask yourself a few important questions: are the school’s
teaching boats the kind of boat you’d like to sail on or a good learning platform for it? For example, if you’d like to sail a 50-foot boat, should you start on a 16-footer or something more substantial? Many professionals believe that it’s easier to start small and work your way up than the other way around. You also want to know who the instructors are. Do you want to learn from an old salt with ocean sailing experience, or would a college-aged sailor who’s grown up sailing be okay? Are the instructors experienced and certified and/or licensed? Any sailing school you consider should welcome you to come visit, see the facilities and boats, and meet a few instructors. If the place feels right to you, sign up. If the docks are rickety, the instructors seem rude, and the boats look shabby, continue to research options, as there are many.
What’s the next step in sailing?
Top sailing schools offer students some options to practice sailing during the season after their class is over. Many schools have some sort of a “club” option or rental program. It’s important to find out if a prospective school offers something like that, because sailing is an experiential sport— you must practice what you’ve learned, or the lessons won’t “stick.” You might also consider a sailing club where you might find boats to borrow or rent. Turn to page 73 for SpinSheet’s Club Notes, which we run monthly. We often feature opportunities to meet club sailors with boat-sharing opportunities. Fractional sailing, which is a term for a sort of time-share arrangement, is popular as well. SailTime Annapolis is a good place to start for shared boat ownership.
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