How to Find a Good Sailing Lesson Near Me

A good sailing class near you can provide you with adequate instructions on boating safety and maintenance. This includes understanding how each component in a boat functions, how to harness wind energy, steer, tie knots, and deal with situations that might arise while traveling on water. Considering that a total of 767 people lost their lives in recreational boating accidents in 2020 alone and 77% of these accidents were said to have occurred in vessels whose operators did not receive boating safety instruction, the importance of these lessons cannot be overstated. In addition to this, a good boating lesson also provides you with the technical skills and certifications that are needed to pilot your own yacht. With over $62 million lost to recreational boating accidents in 2020, it is not always wise to pilot your yacht without obtaining adequate training.

When you are considering a sailing lesson near you, it is important that you find out whether they have qualified and certified sailing instructors. Before you sign up for a sailing lesson near you, should ask the following questions:

1. Are You Licensed, Certified, or Registered?

   Sailing instructors are typically required to pass boaters' education requirements, and obtain a boater's license to teach sailing in many jurisdictions in the United States. These include Carlifornia, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, and Washington State. In some of these areas, sailing instructors that receive compensation for their sailing lessons, are operating boats with auxiliary power, and are operating in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard may also be required to obtain a United States Coast Guard Captain License. Likewise, sailing schools are typically also required to fulfill any applicable business registration requirements in states where they are located. As such, before signing up for sailing lessons, you should contact your state's consumer protection office to find out whether there are specific requirements for operating a sailing school in your locality.

   In addition to this, it is always a good idea to find out whether the sailing school you are considering is recognized by a professional association. Most sailing schools in the United States are accredited by professional associations like American Sailing Association, and United States Sailing Association. Accreditation by a professional association does not only mean that the sailing school is a legitimate organization, it also means that the sailing instructors that will handle sailing lessons are qualified and certified. Certified sailing instructors possess excellent sailing skills and relevant experience, and they are more proficient in teaching sailing to novice and advanced learners compared to their colleagues who are not certified. Common sailing certification programs include American Sailing Association Certification Program and the United States Sailing Association Certification Program. Do not hesitate to verify the certification status of the school or instructor you want by contacting the organization where they claim to have obtained these certifications.

2. How Much Do Sailing Lessons Cost?

   Sailing lessons typically cost anywhere between $15 - $50 an hour depending on your location, the sailing school's reputation and billing structure, and the type of instruction you want. Note that not all sailing schools accept hourly rates for sailing lessons. Some schools may require you to pay for the entire lesson which may last anywhere between three to ten days. The estimated cost of a complete sailing lesson is between $200 - $1,000. As such, it is always a good idea to discuss the payment structure and type of sailing lesson you want with the school you want to enroll in.

   When you are contemplating signing up for sailing lessons near you, there are certain tips you can take to reduce the total amount of money that you have to spend. These include:

   • Research sailing lesson prices in your locality: Before signing up for sailing lessons near you, it is always a good idea to research the average price of the particular sailing lesson you want. You can visit two to three sailing schools near you and compare their prices. This helps you to know what to expect from the sailing school you finally decide to enroll in.
   • Ask the sailing school to provide a breakdown of the total cost: Before signing up for sailing lessons near you, it is always important to know what is included in the total cost and what is not. For instance, some sailing schools include the cost of certification exams in the total cost while others require you to register for certification exams separately. Asking the sailing school or instructor to provide a breakdown of the total cost also helps you identify things that are not necessary or relevant for the lesson.
   • Consider signing up for group lessons: You can always minimize what you spend on sailing lessons by signing up for group lessons. This type of lesson is generally cheaper than private lessons. Most sailing schools organize group lessons for a minimum of two and a maximum of eight persons. If you are on a tight budget, then it is always a good idea to find out whether the sailing school near you offers group lessons before you sign up for sailing lessons with them.

What Are Common Sailing Lessons Expenses?

Besides the standard hourly or fixed fees, you may also incur some additional expenses when you finally decide to sign up for sailing lessons. These expenses include:

• Traveling expenses: When you sign up for a sailing lesson near you, there is always the possibility that you may have to leave your immediate locality for practical lessons. This may happen when you choose to take practical lessons on specific waters and if your immediate locality has fewer water bodies.
• Pro-sailing wardrobe expenses: When you sign up for a sailing lesson near you, you may need to purchase sailing equipment such as dry suits, shoes with slip-resistant soles, sailing gloves, sunglasses, and a personal flotation device or life jacket. While some sailing schools include the cost of a life jacket in their lesson fee, others expect you to bring your life jacket to lessons. Note that most sailing schools accept United States Coast Guard type-three life jackets only.
• Rental cost: When you sign up for private sailing lessons near you, you may want to rent a sailboat for practical lessons. This is often a matter of personal taste and preference as most sailing schools provide boats for practical lessons. Note that the cost of renting a sailboat is determined by the type of boat and your location and the estimated price of renting a sailboat is $50 - $250 an hour.

While some of these expenses do not concern your sailing school or sailing instructor directly, others are determined by them. For instance, most sailing schools include the cost of a life jacket in the total lesson cost, while some require you to purchase or rent a life jacket from them. Nevertheless, some sailing schools require you to bring everything you need for sailing lessons. It is always a good idea to find out what expenses are covered in the total lesson cost and what is not. You could also ask for clarifications on how to pay for expenses that are not included in the total lesson cost. Finally, you must agree on a payment plan that suits you and the sailing school or instructor before signing up for lessons.

Who Will Do the Work?

With over 5, 265 recreational sailing accidents recorded in 2020, it is always important to make inquiries about who is going to be handling your sailing lessons. This is because most sailing schools have more than one instructor providing sailing lessons to students. You should always ensure that the sailing instructor assigned to you is duly qualified per the requirements of your state of residence. It is also a good idea to look out for certification and verify its authenticity by contacting the organization that issued the certification in question. Finally, make sure that the sailing school and the sailing instructor are covered by valid liability insurance plans. Request copies of their insurance certificates and contact the insurance provider to validate these certificates.

What Qualifications Should a Sailing Instructor Have?

There are no formal education requirements for sailing instructors in the United States. However, sailing instructors need excellent sailing skills, experience, and good communication skills to provide their services. These work-related skills are typically cultivated over years of practice and hands-on instruction from more experienced sailing instructors. In addition to this, sailing instructors may voluntarily enroll in professional certification programs such as the American Sailing Association Certification Program and United State Sailing Association Certification Program where they are taught different types of sailing including keelboat sailing, basic and advanced coastal cruising, bareboat cruising, celestial navigation, offshore passage making and many more.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are over 81, 900 water transportation workers in the United States. These include sailing instructors, some of whom are members of the United States Coast Guard.

Will You Provide References?

Before signing up for sailing lessons near you, you should always ask the sailing school or instructor to provide a list of references you can contact. Contact these references and ask questions like whether they were satisfied with the lessons, if the instructors maintained safety standards, and whether the classes improved their sailing skills significantly. Do not sign up for lessons until you have called three to four persons on the reference list to verify whatever claims the sailing school or instructor may have made. Doing this improves your chances of signing up with a good sailing school near you. You can also get recommendations on good sailing schools from family and friends. However, it is always important to ask for references irrespective of who recommended the sailing school or instructor to you.

Finally, you can find accredited sailing schools and instructors on Better Business Bureau, and other third-party platforms that allow individuals to register and put up their services for sale. Some of these platforms also allow interested parties to post unbiased opinions on sailing schools and instructors they worked with in the past.

Quick Facts about Sailing Instructors

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Expert Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Sailing Lessons