Beginning Sailors
Keelboat 1 (ASA 101) students prepping the boat, Marina Del Rey.
Start Here - Learn the Fundamentals of Sailing
Our Intro to Keelboat program is all new this season and gives you a new way to start your sailing journey! Intro to Keelboat is a lighter version of our ASA 101 – Keelboat 1 Course, which we are still running each month. Whichever option fits you best, you’ll learn to sail how people always learned to sail: by sailing often!
One weekend day
No prior experience required
4 hour charters every weekend
Intro to Keelboat required
Intro to Keelboat
One lesson, tons of fun.
What You'll Learn
This short, private course starts the sailing journey in one, bite-size lesson. You’ll learn key skills and help sail a boat. Becoming a great sailor takes time, but you never want to rush the fundamentals. Our instructors teach by having your sail the boat. You will learn a ton, without being overwhelmed, and have a blast.
This course is for people who like the idea of sailing boats and want a professional instructor to let you give it a try. After the lesson, you’ll also have the opportunity to schedule and join our “Easy Crew” charters, student-led community sails. These regular sailing experiences will give you the tools to make sailing a part of your lifestyle!
We know you’ll look back on this lesson as the beginning of a long and wonderful sailing journey. Going forward, you’ll have a good foundation to continue learning, by enrolling in a Bluewater Sailing Keelboat 1 course (ASA 101), or other Sailing Clinics (ASA 111), and attending any of our regularly scheduled Easy Crew charters.
If you are considering the ASA 101 course, but prefer to start with good one-day introduction to sailing, this course will set you up for success and is the place to start your journey.
What's Included
- 5 hours of sailing and learning with one of our experienced, fun, and patient instructors
- Access to ongoing community sails (“Easy Crew”) included
The Agenda
Part One: Learn to steer the sailboat and beginning situational awareness skills
Part Two: With your hands-on helm, practice your new skills
We sail both in beautiful Marina del Rey, and/or Santa Monica Bay when conditions are appropriate for beginners.
What's Next
Enroll in this Course
Prerequisite
No prior experience required
Course Length
Course Topics
- All hands-on learning!
- Wind Awareness
- Rudder control
- Basics of sail trim
- Safety at sea
- Rules of the Road
Tuition
Textbook optional
Upcoming Course Dates
Easy Crew
Join our community of learners.
What You'll Learn
Unique to Bluewater Sailing, these 4-hour weekend charters are opportunities to sail with other new sailors, like yourself. Easy Crew charters are scheduled every weekend, either on Saturday or Sunday.
The big difference between an Easy Crew charter and waiting for a friend’s invitation is you choose the dates you want to sail. In other words, Easy Crew sails are like “having a friend that owns a boat”, but you invite yourself to go sailing!
The skipper is a student with more experience. The crew members are other students enjoying their new sailing skills. These charters are not instructor-led, but everyone helps sail the boat.
Easy Crew charters is a core feature of the Bluewater Sailing program. You sail as often as you like. Scheduling them often will keep you in “learning mode” with fun charters. If you want to be a better sailor, we recommend scheduling Easy Crew charters in between instructional sessions, like the monthly Beginning Clinics.
What's Included
One 4-hour sail on a community sail with your fellow students.
What's Next
Enroll in this Course
Prerequisite
Course Length
Course Topics
- Focus on the “art of sailing”
- Learn with other students
- Join a community of sailors
Tuition
No textbook required.
Upcoming Course Dates
Sailing Clinics
Looking for a simpler way to start sailing?
What You'll Learn
These sessions are for people who love learning how to sail. These short and affordable clinics continue your education and journey. After every clinic, you’ll enjoy sailing more thoroughly. You’ll meet other interesting sailors and further your practice at your own pace.
More about the clinics.
Each session has its own focus and presents new sailing skills that enhance your precision and continue your quest to be a better sailor. These instructional sessions are for people who love sailing and want to be better sailors.
Each is an opportunity to learn something new and more deeply. Stream as much sailing as you want, but get real skills from these sessions.
After the clinic, practice what you’ve learned. Whatever your goals, including just going for a sail and meeting new friends, these sessions will meet your expectations.
Fundamental sailing skills go beyond a certificate. It is about hands-on practice. We intend to teach you to sail by having you sail the boat.
What's Included
One instructor-led session focused on a specific topic.
What's Next
Enroll in this Course
Prerequisite
Course Length
Course Topics
Each clinic has a specific focus, such as:
- Precision Sailing and Boat Handling
- Upwind sail trim
- Downwind sail trim
- Keel trim
- Boat balance
- Sail Twist
- Light wind sailing
- Crew Overboard Drills
- Docking
- Performance Skills
- Introduction to Racing