Daniel Wade
I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.
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The best sailing schools vary by location and what you want to learn with top choices being San Juan Sailing School and Blue Water Sailing School or even Club Nautique. Other good choices around the world include RYA Sailing School and Andaman Yachting but also Nautilus Sailing School.
Key Takeaways
A sailing school can help teach you new skills or give you insights to sailing
Some schools allow you to learn to sail in beautiful places like the British Virgin Islands
Whether you do recreational sailing or professionally there is a sailing course for you
Most people take beginner courses to improve their learning time or take private lessons
A bareboat charter is a good way to test your skills on a boat without additional help
A sailing school is arguably the best place to learn sailing as these sailing classes can teach you the basics. But what sailing schools are best? In my experience sailing schools will differ based on the competent crew course and how good your sailing instructor will be. Your sailing skills will also develop over time with more practice in addition to any knowledge obtained from the American Sailing Association.
Here are some to the top rated schools:
Nautilus School of Sailing
Nautilus Sailing offers luxury sailing courses in various locations like the Caribbean Mexico Spain South Pacific and Croatia. Students experience live-aboard training on catamarans or monohulls during the one-week course gaining a strong foundation in sailing skills.
Successful completion leads to ASA certification and membership with the course price inclusive of three daily meals on board. Prices begin at $5475 for the Monohull course and $6275 for the Catamaran course with certifications for various courses that you chose.
Pros
Has a 5.0 out of 5 star reviews
One of a kind learning experience
Cons
One of the more expensive sailing schools out there
Blue Water in Florida
Blue Water Sailing School is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and is an ASA-affiliated institution with a 21-year history and a history of being named ASA School of the Year. It has four locations in Fort Lauderdale, St. Thomas Newport and the Bahamas to meet various needs to failors.
The school offers a range of sailing courses catering to both those looking to charter a boat and those interested in full-time cruising. The courses are live-aboard cruises with varying destinations depending on what course you are taking taught on 40 to 50-foot Beneteaus and catamarans. A one-week course costs $1895 and includes accommodations, instruction provisions and certification fees.
Pros
Has a 4.7 out of 5 star reviews
Features desirable sailing destinations perfect for the sport
Cons
Do not typically offer one day courses
Club Nautique of California
Those wanting to learn on a luxury sailing yacht can check out Club Nautique in San Francisco Bay with locations in Alameda and Sausalito California since 1980. They specialize in certifying intermediate and advanced level students in coastal and offshore passagemaking for both sailboats and powerboats.
They are a US Sailing-affiliated school offering a diverse fleet of 50 boats within 26 to 50 feet in length and have Coast Guard certified instructors. They provide an 8-day basic cruising skippers package for $1295 and have a successful track record.
Pros
Has ratings of 4.0 out of 5 stars
Best for beginners but can expand to all experience levels
Cons
Has mixed reviews depending on skill level
How to Find the Right Sailing School
Finding the right sailing school for you will be different from what others might be trying to do. Everyone has their own budget and sailing goals that will likely be different from yours so take the time to figure out your sailing goals.
You may be taking a sailing course to improve your knowledge with yacht charters before a vacation or want to have more control of your surroundings while at sea. No matter your desires there is a sailing course designed with that in mind.
Once you have your goals and budget figured out it is time to see where you would like to conduct these courses. Location matters especially if you are crunched for time.
Additional Classes
When choosing a sailing school consider whether you want to continue with that school for additional courses as some offer multiple levels of instruction. Continuing with the same school can offer benefits such as familiarity with their boats instructors and the local area.
Alternatively you may prefer gaining experience in a different setting. If you have specific interests like docking or navigation check which courses the school offers. Inquire about options like private classes couples or classes flexible schedules on weekends and weekdays and the school's policy regarding classes during busy holiday weekends when waterways may be crowded.
Check the Curriculum
Enrolling in a sailing school with a structured curriculum provides reassurance through standardized skill development ensuring a methodical learning process. This structured approach unlike learning from a friend prevents skipping essential skills and facilitates skill assessment.
Additionally it ensures clear communication of your progress to other sailing companies. When choosing a sailing school consider the balance between on-water and classroom instruction based on your preferences and expectations.
Read Reviews
Not every review you see online is going to dictate how good or bad the class can be but the reviews should aid in your decision to some degree. If a lot of people are raving about how good the class was there is a good chance you may like it too.
To make an informed decision about spending money on a class it is advisable to research reviews. The ASA recognizes outstanding sailing instructors based on positive reviews from students.
This gives you an opportunity for what to expect based on what other people have gone through. If there is any doubt consider giving the instructor a call to ask the many questions such as helm time and class sizes.
Consider Age and Size of Boats
Getting your feet wet for sailing might not matter a lot depending on how old the sailboat is but it must be in good shape. If you intend to use one or more charter boats in your life you might want to consider training on one before renting it. Some schools have many options to choose for their boats.
Keep in mind the type of boat and the condition it is in before making the leap to take the course. Some courses have newer boats more often than others and it could make an impact on your learning experience.
The size of the boat matters too as you typically want to have a smaller or mid-sized boat if you are new to sailing. Larger ones are fine too but you will be learning more information at the same time to navigate the boat.
Certifications Matter
The course you are taking might have different certifications in different locations around the world. For example ASA schools and USS Sailing standards are similar but have different focuses.
If you come across a good sailing school that has slightly different certifications ask about how that applies to you and your sailing goals. You do not want to miss a key element that you may need to know somewhere else in the world.
Refunds or Cancellations
Check with the school of choice to see about refunding your money if something were to come up. If you need to cancel for any reason this is important to know if you are getting your money back or not.
Make it a Vacation
If you live in Florida but do not want to train in local waters around you you could consider taking classes overseas. While the conditions will be different depending on where you go you can still learn what you need and apply it back home.
A handful of people will make it a vacation and travel to excotic places to learn sailing. Who would not want to learn how to sail in Croatia especially near the Dalmatian Islands?
Sail on, Sailor!