Adult Beginner Learn to Sail - Lessons Will Resume April 20, 2024

2024 Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Lessons:

Update - Friday, February 16, 2024 - 

Registration for the Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Lessons for the 2024 Sailing Season opened on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 12:00 Noon.

Within six hours we completely sold out to capacity for the 2024 season.

Waitlist Option: For the Sessions that are at capacity, there is a "Join Waitlist" button available when you open up the white hyperlinks in the red box below. You are welcome to add your information to as many of the Sessions' waitlists as you are interested in attending.

The possibility of moving off of a waitlist (for any of the Sessions) and being able to accommodate you is fairly unlikely, but please do add yourself to the waitlist(s). Typically, we find that once students are "able to get in," they tend to hang on and rarely do we experience cancellations.  Should openings occur where you're on the waitlist(s), we'll absolutely be in touch with you! But, as relayed, it would be rare.

Thank you!

Please click here for our Membership Benefits and Boat Rental Policies. 


DC Sail's beginner sailing course ensures that with practice you will learn the basics of the sport of sailing. We want you to not only learn how to sail but also to continue building your skills. DC Sail is dedicated to making your unique experience something that will last a lifetime. 

COST:

Basic Membership and Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Package: $575

Super Membership and Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Package: $750

Membership Benefits and Boat Rental Policies can be found by clicking here.

By signing up for this course, you receive:
  • Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Lessons: Sessions are composed of four lessons (Lesson 1, 2, 3, 4) to complete the course over two Saturdays and two Sundays, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 4 days of instruction (10-12 hours total *weather dependent).
  • A 12-month membership to DC Sail (required) which provides access to all of our programs and allows for plenty of sailing practice. Membership is activated a few days prior to the first lesson and active for one year from that date. 
  • Class size is either 8 or 12 students. There are four students on the boat with their Instructor on the boat with them.
  • US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Certification (nationally recognized).
  • Ample opportunities to practice your skills on weeknights by attending Members Only Sails. Sailing is a complex sport and requires many hours on the water with opportunities to learn something new every time you leave the docks. Members Only Sails take place Mondays and Wednesdays evenings, mid-May to mid-September.
  • Includes a "Start Sailing Right!" textbook & the US Sailing Red Log Book. 

Instruction takes place in 19-foot Flying Scot sailboats. DC Sail follows the  the US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Curriculum. US Sailing is the governing body of the sport of sailing in the United States. This certification ensures that you are receiving the best quality of sailing education.

REGISTRATION: To register for your lesson package, click on a Session from the red box below - the dates for the four lessons will be posted inside the registration link. Please note that your attendance is required for all four lessons within a Session. We are unable to split Sessions due to logistics. (Full payment must be made at the time of registration. Pending registrations without payment will be auto-cancelled by the system after 15 minutes. Please have your payment information available at the time of registration.)

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:

DC SAIL CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

  • Requests for cancellation 30+ days from start date would receive a full refund.
  • Requests for cancellation within 30 days to 14 days from the start date would receive a 75% refund.
  • Requests for cancellations with less than 14 days prior to the start date would be non-refundable. *Consideration of extraordinary circumstances will be at the discretion of the Executive Director.

WEATHER:

DC Sail's programs and dock remain open when it is raining. However, we will close operations if there is a serious threat of lightning or if the wind speed exceeds 15 miles per hour. If severe weather prevents us from holding the lessons on the water, Instructors will lead lessons on land if possible.

See below for more information related to Curriculum, Prepare to Sail, Guarantee Policy and Certification Information.

 

Registration for the 2024 Sailing Season will open on February 15, 2024 at 12:00 Noon.

When registration opens, the Sessions will be listed as white hyperlinks in the red box below as you scroll down this page. Please note that there may be a brief delay for all of the links to appear as the website updates. You may need to refresh your browser.

We look forward to welcoming you to DC Sail!

Thank you!

Adult Beginner Learn to Sail Lessons

20 Apr 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
27 Apr 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
04 May 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
11 May 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
18 May 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
01 Jun 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
08 Jun 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
15 Jun 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
22 Jun 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
29 Jun 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
13 Jul 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
20 Jul 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
27 Jul 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
03 Aug 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
10 Aug 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
17 Aug 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
24 Aug 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
07 Sep 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
21 Sep 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
28 Sep 2024 10:00 AM • DC Sail, Diamond Teague Park Piers, 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003

Curriculum

Included in the course fee, students will receive a copy of US Sailing's acclaimed Start Sailing Right! textbook and a US Sailing Small Boat Certification Red Book.

The course content is based on the US Sailing Small Boat Certification Curriculum and is divided into general skills and boat handling skills modules:

General Skill Modules

  • Wind Direction
  • Rigging and Derigging
  • Knots/Lines
  • Rules of the Road

Boat Handling Skill Modules

  • Departure/Landing
  • Steering
  • Safety Position
  • Tacking
  • Points of Sail
  • Jibing
  • Capsize Prevention and Recovery
  • Person Overboard Recovery
  • Getting Out of Irons
  • Upwind Sailing
  • Downwind Sailing
  • Capsize recovery

Prepare to Sail

What to wear:

Wear something you don't mind getting a little dirty and possibly wet and consider what the weather is going to be both in terms of temperature and wind speed. It tends to be a bit cooler on the water than on land (that's why sailing is a great summer activity).

Lifejacket - All DC Sail members are required to provide their own USCG Certified PFD (lifejacket). Types I, II, III, and V are all acceptable. Type III jackets are the most common. Following lessons and certification, members must also provide PFDs for any guests they bring to weekend rentals.

Shoes - Tennis sneakers or shoes designed for sailing have the best traction, but any sneaker of some sort will suffice (the softer the sole the better). You must wear closed-toe shoes or sports sandals (choco's or teva's). Flip-flops and open back shoes are not permitted.

Top - A t-shirt will often do the job, but if it's windy or rainy, a light fleece top, sweatshirt, rain-jacket or some combination will meet your needs.

Bottom - Shorts or pants depending on the temperature.

Rain gear - If rain is forecast, please bring rain gear. We will evaluate weather conditions at the dock and will sail in the rain if there no severe weather is in the area. We do not cancel lessons due to rain.

What else to bring: 

Sunblock
Refillable Water Bottle & Snack
Hat

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    Certification Guarantee

    Our classes are designed around the US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Certification, and most students should be ready to pass the US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Certification test after completion of our four classes.

    Many of our students also take advantage of our Member Sails on Monday and Wednesday evenings  to get a little practice in during these fairly laid-back events before (and after) their check-out sails which occur during your first Flying Scot Rental. For Boat Rental Policies, please click here. Additional certification is required by the District of Columbia prior to any Boat Rental.

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    Questions?

    Please call or email us. Email to Traci Mead, Executive Director, or call (202) 547-1250.


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    DC Sail is the community sailing program of National Maritime Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
    Business Mailing Address: 650 Wharf Street SW, Unit 20, Washington, DC 20024
    Diamond Teague Park Piers Waterfront Address: 99 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
    The Wharf Marina Waterfront Address: 650 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
    Telephone: (202) 547-1250 · Email: Traci Mead, Executive Director - tmead@dcsail.org 
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