Class of 2016

This summer, classes will be held June 20-21, 2020 from 9AM – 5PM each day at Lake City Beach-Ohuta Park in Lake City, MN. This basic sailing course utilizes material from the US Sailing Association, the national standard for quality sailing instruction, to prepare students for safe sailing in small sailboats. The course includes the following:

• Learning the parts of a sailboat and water safety
• Safe sailing techniques and basic sailing knots (sail a course, tack, jibe, capsize and recovery, points of sail)

The class format is both classroom and hands-on water instruction in Sunfish sailboats. Minimum age requirement is 7 years old, and all students must pass a basic swim check the first day of class. Course fee is $125 for two full days.

Day 1

Classroom

You’ll learn about the various parts of a sailboat as well as become familiar with the terminology used in sailing.

Classroom Instruction

Tying a bowline

There are many knots used everyday in sailing. We will teach you the necessary knots you’ll need to properly rig your sunfish. In this image one our instructors is demonstrating how to tie a bowline.

You’ll get to practice what you’ve learned with hands-on training. This is especially useful in the knot tying section, but you will also learn how to rig your sunfish yourself as well.

Hands on training

Rules of the road

Another important topic is Rules of the Road. These are set by international standards and govern everything you do on the water from meeting power boats to who has the right of way during a race. You’ll learn the basics here.

The last classroom subject we cover is safety at sea. We’ll teach you about proper use of flotation devices, hypothermia and other topics important to sailors.

Safety

On the Water!

Rigging

Next is off to the beach to learn how to rig your sunfish. We’ll have one of our instructors walk you through the entire process, then you’ll rig the sunfish that you will be sailing. Don’t worry if you forgot something, we will be on hand to make sure everything is right.

Now you’re ready to go out on the water one on one with our sailing instructors!

You’ll spend the afternoon sailing solo on your sunfish practicing all the new techniques you’ve learned. Of course if you feel you need a little more time with an instructor onboard we’ll be available for that too.

Sailing Solo

Day 2

Sunfish sailing in the morning. Another chance to polish your new skills sailing solo on one of our sunfish sailboats.

In the afternoon, you will get the opportunity to go out on some of our instructors personal keelboats. This is another great learning opportunity, which we are sure you will enjoy!

Keelboat