Learn to Sail

DC Sail offers beginner lesson courses - consisting of 4 classes (12 hours total) with a trained instructor and up to four other novice sailors aboard. We teach in brand new and gently used 19-foot Flying Scot sailboats. You will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to pass the US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Certification test, which along with the Capsize Lesson, will allow you to rent our Flying Scots* without an instructor. Course fees includes Start Sailing Right! textbook and the Red US Sailing Skills booklet.

Subjects covered include:

• How a Sailboat works
• Wind direction, reading the wind and water
• Parts of the boat and rigging
• Essential sailing knots
  
• Points of sail
• Water safety
  
• Steering and proper sail trim
  

*Rentals available for FJs, Lasers and Bugs pending Check out sail.

See below for more on Curriculum, Prepare to Sail, Guarantee Policy and Certification Guarantee. 

2010 Beginner Lessons

Sessions are 2 Saturdays and 2 Sundays in a row, 9:30am-12:30pm. Season runs April 17th through October.

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 Level 1 Certification Curriculum and is divided into general skills and boat handling skills modules:

General Skill Modules

• Wind Direction
• Rigging and unrigging
• 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 in the water recovery
• Getting out of irons
• Upwind sailing
• Downwind sailing

Click here for a quick review reference sheet

Location

All course material is taught at the marina or on our sailboats. There is a heavy emphasis for hands-on teaching. In every lesson students will spend the majority of their time on a sailboat practicing skills and applying their knowledge.

Gangplank Marina is located at 600 Water Street SW in Washington DC

 
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Prepare to Sail

Please meet your instructors at the Pavillion by the Gangplank Marina main entrance. You will be unable to enter the dock without an instructor due to Gangplank security.

• What to wear
  Wear something you don't mind getting a little dirty 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).
  
  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 a rain-jacket. We will evaluate weather conditions at the dock and will sail in the rain if there is no lightning.


• What else to bring
  Sunblock
  Bottled Water
  Hat
  

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Cancellation Policy

DC Sail's boat facility remains open when it is raining. However, we will close the boat facility if there is a serious threat of lightning or if the wind speed exceeds 20 miles per hour.  Click here for our detailed weather policy.

If you need to reschedule your lesson, please do so by phone or email up to four days prior to your lesson time. If you fail to reschedule within this time frame, there is a $75 cancellation fee.

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Certification Guarantee

Our classes are designed around the US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Certification, and most students should be ready to pass the US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Certification test after completion of our four classes.

If you are unable to pass the certification test, you can arrange to have one additional session with an instructor for free.

Many of our students also take advantage of our Social Sails on Wednesday evenings to get a little practice in during these fairly laid-back events before (and after) their check-out sails.

We then encourage you to retest for your US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Certification so that you can rent a Flying Scot on your own. 

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Questions?

Please call or email us. Email to lessons@dcsail.org call (202) 547-1250.