***Please keep in mind that the following description indicates what normally happens during a regular class during our regular sailing season. ***

Whether you’re a first-timer, or an experienced sailor in need of a refresher, our Basic Sailing Course is a great, affordable way to learn the basics and get on the water!  You'll receive SIX instructional sessions, with all equipment provided, and instructed by nationally-certified Basic Sailing instructors. Included:

4 Evening Classroom Sessions:

• Learn sailing terms

• aerodynamics and hydrodynamics

• points of sail

• sail trim

• rigging

• launching

• mooring

• rules of the road

• boat handling and docking

• knot tying

• swim test and boating safety

• Textbook included

ALSO:

2 Weekend Water Days:

• sailing practice on the water

• rig a sailboat

• supervised instruction (safety boats)

• All boats and equipment provided.

• A life-jacket (provided but are your encouraged to bring your own)

• Make up days if needed

WHAT TO EXPECT: Sailing is a physically demanding experience. Everything taught in our course provides the skills to sail a small boat, preparing you for a larger craft. Sailing classes are held at Kingsland Point Park, Kathryn Davis Pavilion, in beautiful Sleepy Hollow, NY. 

Here's a preview of a typical sailing instruction (usually Saturday or Sunday if rain date). Times are approximate and are subject to change due to weather conditions and other things outside of our control:

• Morning Setup (9am): Students arrive, meeting your instructors for a morning briefing. Partner with fellow classmates to carry boats and equipment from our boathouse a short distance to the river shore. There you'll be responsible for rigging the boats, tying knots, and raising sail on the beach. Instructors and water assistants will be on-hand to help and provide guidance, but you'll be expected to "learn by doing." Boats are moved into the water and anchored onto floating moorings. The entire class also assists in moving the motorized safety boats into the water.

• Begin Sailing (11 - 12pm): Swim out to and board your sailboat, casting off with your fellow students and instructors. Students will sail in the small cove off the beach and navigate through a morning of sailing instruction (tacking, jibing, stopping, general maneuvering with the wind) and various safety drills (capsizing & recovery, man-overboard, docking). You may be out on the water and in the sun for several hours and therefore water and sunscreen are a must!

• Break (45 minutes): Sail your boat back to shore, attach to a mooring, and wade or swim back to the beach. Grab your packed lunch and share a bite with your classmates at the tables of Kingsland Point park, comparing notes on your day.

• Afternoon Sailing (ending 3-3:30pm): Practice your sailing, mastering the wind, and general boatmanship through various instructor-led drills (tacking, jibing, stopping, maneuvering). Hopefully the wind, river, and sun are friendly!

• Afternoon Takedown (3-4:30pm): Sail back to shore and practice picking up a mooring. You will be responsible for de-rigging your boat. Everyone pitches in to put the boats away in the boathouse, including the safety boats.

• 5pm+ (optional): Ask questions, compare notes and grab a drink with your fellow sailors, and rest up for your next day on the water!

 Age & Physical Requirements: Students must be 18 years or older, in reasonable physical condition and able to swim. Passing a swim test is required by all participants. Students 13-17 years old must weigh at least 65 pounds (minimum safe weight to pilot our Sunfish), and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times - in the classroom and on the boat - who are also registered for the course.

You will also be required to pass a capsize drill on the first water day, which involves you swimming briefly in the Hudson while you work to right a capsized boat.

SEAS membership: Your course fee also includes a SEAS associate membership throughout the end of the calendar year. This gives you access to summer-long “open sails” on weekends and evenings (provided you pass the course), as well as year-round social events with your fellow sailors. For experienced sailors and returning students, we offer an affordable annual membership fee.

Sign up for a sailing class! →