Welcome to DC Sail!

DC Sail is the community sailing program of the National Maritime Heritage Foundation. 

Our mission is to promote and sustain affordable educational, recreational and competitive sailing programs for all ages in a fun and safe environment. DC Sail empowers its participants to develop self-respect and sportsmanship, foster teamwork, and cultivate sailing skills and an appreciation for maritime-related activities. In addition, DC Sail enhances the DC community by using sailing to bolster community spirit and volunteerism.

Our active programs, located in both Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C., are re-connecting people of the metropolitan region to the water. Sailing opportunities are available for adults and youth aboard small boats as well as our 65-foot schooner, American Spirit. Proceeds from our programs and year-around fundraising initiatives go toward offering under-served youth the opportunity to learn to sail through our Youth Scholarship Program.

DC Sail is the gateway to community sailing in Washington, DC!

We offer “Learn to Sail” programs for children, teens, and adults. 

Registration for the 2024 Cantina Cup Regatta & Fundraising Event is Open!

Saturday, September 14, 2024

The Cantina Cup Regatta was created 17 years ago as an annual event to bring together DC Sail's members and local sailing organizations to support the mission of promoting and sustaining affordable, educational, recreational and competitive sailing programs for youth in a fun and safe environment.

Racing will take place throughout the day, culminating at our "After Party & Awards Ceremony Event."

Cantina Cup Regatta is our signature fundraising event that supports the DC Sail Youth Scholarship Program which provides over $20,000 annually in scholarship opportunities to children under the age of 18. These grateful scholarship recipients, who would otherwise not have the chance to learn to sail, are provided the ability to explore the beauty of the sport of sailing, along with water and boating safety curriculum, and build an appreciation of our fragile waterway and eco-systems. They attend our programs at little to no cost to their families.

With the growth of our programs and facilities, we have the ability to increase the number of children we serve in the DC Metro area.  And with your help, we hope to provide even more scholarship opportunities in 2025!

To register for the regatta, review the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and Regatta Results, or sign up to attend the "Cantina Cup After Party & Awards Ceremony," please use the links on the Cantina Cup section. (Or please click here.)

We are also seeking individual and corporate sponsorship of the annual fundraising event. Please contact Traci Mead to explore opportunities to show your support in helping us to provide these unique and beautiful programs for children less fortunate than ourselves. Phone: 202-547-1250 or email: tmead@dcsail.org.

Not a Racer? You can still be of help! Please consider a generous donation to support our Youth Scholarship Program by clicking here.

Thank you and see you on September 14, 2024!

  

2024 Adult Sailing Opportunities 

“Learn to Sail” packages start at $575 for adults and include a 12-Month Basic Membership. We also offer Refresher Course and "Intro to FJs" which will prepare you for our Adult Racing Program. Please click here to review our many Adult programs - click any of the areas to learn more about how you can get out on the water with DC Sail. 

2024 Youth Sailing Opportunities 

Kids Set Sail Summer Camp:

Kids Set Sail (ages 7-15). Kids Set Sail is a week-long day camp with eight separate sessions held from late June through mid-August. Click here to be delivered to the KSS web page for information and registration. Previous sailing experience is not required.

American Spirit Schooner Camp:

We are excited to after a few years' hiatus, we resuming our week-long Sailing and Marine Studies program geared toward youth ages 12 to 17. 

The camp, which is held aboard our 65-foot schooner, American Spirit, will educate students on subjects pertaining to Sailing on a Schooner, Seamanship, Local History and Marine Science with a focus on local flora and fauna.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects are part of the excellent, award-winning, on-the-water and dockside curriculum. Please click here to view the Schooner Camp web page. 

High School Racing Program:

Click here for information about the program. 

Sailors, ages 12 and up may participate. For sailors new to the sport, specifically racing skills, we offer a wonderful "Green Fleet" program that incorporates "learn to sail/learn to race" coaching and allows youth sailors to become familiar with sailing the Flying Junior fleet, an Olympic racing boat. It is perfect for youth sailors who may have some experience with summer camps or other sailing, perhaps with family, but do not have training on Flying Juniors in race tactics, starting sequences, rules of the road, etc. Either way, with the "Green Fleet," no sailing experience is required!

2024 Schooner Sailing Opportunities 

Explore ticketed events on board our 65-foot Schooner, American Spirit! We host public events such as our Cherry Blossom Cruises, Mother's Day Cruise, Father's Day Cruise, and our 4th of July Fireworks Cruise. We also host our popular Sunset Sails which run every-other Friday evening from mid-May to early October. 

The vessel is also available for Private Charters for up to 35 passengers for a three-hour cruise! Please see our Schooner Sailing page for more information. We also host Educational Charters for school groups on "American Spirit."

DC Sail Featured on "The Weather Channel"