So you have decided to take sailing more seriously. You're no longer content to be just sitting around and watching your captain or companions do the sailing. You want to feel the winds blowing as you yourself steer the course for your boat. You want to learn to sail. But where and how do you start?
The best way to start to learn how to sail is to take sailing lessons. Sailing is a wonderful sport and activity and some people who have sailed previously may be easily tempted to learn the ropes on their own instead of going through formal schooling or training. But there is much value in undergoing sailing lessons, especially for beginners.
For one, going through a sailing lesson or attending a sailing school forces you to take a moment to understand the basics of sailing. You will be surprised to discover things that you normally took for granted and learn things that you thought you already knew. Even the very language of sailing is quite unique and you would surely save yourself a lot of trouble if you know where is the starboard.
Coastal cities all over America abound with sailing schools where various levels of sailing classes are offered. These sailing classes can range from days to a few weeks and would cater to beginners as well as experienced sailors.
While there is no better education than the real experience of sailing in the waters, sailing lessons can do a lot in boosting the confidence of beginning sailors. Because they are presumed to understand the basics of sailing and the nature of the boat's movement in relation to the wind after the lessons, they can sail more safely and confidently. In a sense, the fact that you took the time to methodically learn how to sail puts you several steps ahead than the complete novice.
But even experienced sailors can still benefit from sailing lessons. There are sailing schools (read more about saliling schools) that not only offer classes for beginners but also advanced courses for those who want to improve their skills in sailing. As in other things in life, there is no end to learning and relearning when it comes to sailing.
When choosing the place where to take sailing lessons, it is best to do some research on the various sailing schools and organizations in your area that are offering sailing lessons. Depending on your preferences, you can go for the smaller mom-and-pop type of organizations to nationally accredited sailing institutions. Some of the basic things you should find out when you do your research is the coverage of their sailing program, the cost, the length of instruction, the types of boats used for the lessons, the size and schedule of the classes, among others. You may also want to inquire if the school offers certification and if there are other privileges that you can get from the sailing school or organization.
You can check out the sailing courses offered by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the US Power Squadron. They teach courses covering topics ranging from basic navigation to diesel engine maintenance. You may also inquire with national schools and certification levels such as the US SAILING and American Sailing Association. They have programs that teach several levels of certification from small dinghies to basic keelboat handling. If you successfully complete the courses, you get a certification that many charter companies recognize.
Aside from sailing schools, there are also a lot of instructional videos and CDs available that will help you understand the science and sport of sailing. Remember, you are never too old or too young to learn to sail.
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Sailing Lessons
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Make sailing a lifelong skill, find all the major schools and learn basic instructions here.
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Sailing lessons 