What to look for in a sailing school/sailing club and what questions to ask.
Experience and Expertise
- How long has the school been in business?
- How long has current ownership been in place?
- What kind of professional development programs/personnel does the school have to help instructors with consistency, Improvements and new sailing knowledge?
- How many students does the school teach in a year?
- Can you meet the school program director, school owner and/or some of the instructors?
Point: Identify a school that has extensive teaching experience, with evidence of continuous efforts to improve it’s teaching techniques, and adaptation to new technology.
Safety and Comfort
- Are PFDs worn by students and instructors?
- Is proper sailing and safety gear provided?
- Are vessels in good operating condition?
- Do vessels carry proper safety gear?
- Are all instructors US SAILIKNG certified, USCG Licensed, experienced and prudent?
- Are reasonable standards set for weather related cancellations?
- Are class sizes reasonable for both comfort and safety?
Point: Indentify a school that takes your safety and comfort seriously.
Classes
- Has the school taken the time to learn about your sailing goals?
- Has the school taken time to help you define your goals within their program and certification offerings?
- Is the school equipped to meet your specific goals?
- This includes experience, personnel, and equipment.
- Does the school offer US SAILING certification?
(for more on “why” US SAILING?: US SAILING)
- If not, what do they offer and why?
- Of the levels of certification and skills that your wish to earn, does the school offer all of the class levels, and are the classes convenient and of adequate frequency throughout the year?
- Does the school have high quality boats, and boats of the proper size for each certification level?
- Are the boats properly equipped for learning at each level?
- Are all instructors USCG licensed, US SAILING certified, professional, and qualified specifically as instructors?
- What is the student/instructor ratio while on the water?
A ratio of 3 students to 1 instructor
(3:1) is highly recommended at the Basic Keelboat level.
- How many hours of instruction are offered at each level?
- Are the school standards, amount of time for instruction and expected outcomes clearly defined for each class level?
- What are you qualified to sail as a skipper, and what are the standard expectations and limitations at each certification level?
- Is there a clear route from beginning sailor to large boat mutli-day cruising sailor (bareboat sailing) at the school?
- Does the school teaching model include sailing experience in-between certification levels?
- If not, why? What is the schools’ commitment to your sailing success as a new or improving sailor, and how is that success monitored and nurtured?
- How does the US SAILING certification process work, including testing and evaluation?
- What does US SAILING certification entitle a sailor to?
- How do I sail in worldwide locations?
- US SAILING certification at the Bareboat level qualifies for the European International Certificate of Competency (required in many EU countries)
- Does the sailing school also offer access to the same boats that are being used for instruction for charter to their students?
- Does the sailing school offer a sailing club so that you can continue to sail after your lessons?
- If so, how does the access to the boats work, and what are the costs?
- Does the sailing school offer the kind of vessels that you would like to sail after your lessons?
Point: Locate a sailing school that understands your sailing goals and has the experience, equipment, personnel and expertise to help you get
there. Class sizes should be small, and course hours long enough to provide ample time to cover and learn material “hands-on”.
Access to Sailing
- How does the sailing club provide access to sailing?
- Rentals?
- Charters?
- Club activities?
- Skippered trips?
- How does charter pricing work within the club?
- Membership dues structure?
- Charter rates?
- Seasons?
- Days?
- 1/2 days?
- What charter model does the club follow?
- Low dues/flexible pay for use
- How available are the boats for members – especially inPrime season?
- Advance booking policies?
- Short notice availability?
- How convenient are start/stop times?
- What are the cancellation policies?
- What kind of insurance is in place for members and
- What are the responsibilities of the member?
- What opportunities does the club have for extended education, group sailing events, organized skippered trips, women’s groups, social activities, racing programs and other ways to get out and enjoy the water?
- Is there an organized way for members to communicate among themselves to organize sailing trips?
Point: Find a sailing club that provides readily available access to a wide size range of well appointed cruising sailboats in an affordable, flexible, and convenient format . In addition, a club that has active social and sail sharing experiences for it’s members.
Fleet of Boats
- What types of boats are in the club fleet?
- Brand/Type/Size?
- Condition/Age?
- Upkeep/Appearance?
- What standard equipment is aboard each vessel?
- Safety gear, tools, spares, galley, convenience Items?
- Are there enough boats in the fleet for good availability for Members?
- Are there enough boats in the fleet of each size range for both classes and customer demand?
- Has the school offered to have you view the fleet as a selling point to their club and school?
- Have you taken the time to look at a school/club’s fleet of boats before committing to that school?
Point: The boats are where you are going to be spending your time. Find a club that has a high quality, well outfitted fleet of boats in the size range and type that you want to sail. Be sure to see the fleet for yourself before signing up with a club!
Customer Service
- What kind of support can you expect from the club dock support staff?
- For vessel operational questions?
- Check in/out?
- Is staff on the dock when you need them?
- How many dock staff personnel are employed?
- How knowledgeable is the dock support staff?
- Does club feature in house mechanical expertise?
- Cruising Support: What is available to you on a multiday trip?
- Towing services/vessel assist included in club Membership?
- What kind of service can you expect from the office staff?
- Understanding of your sailing goals?
- Help with recommendations for sailing courses?
- Booking/scheduling?
- Billing and record keeping?
- Inquiries and requests?
- Hours of operation?
- What kind of service can you expect from club program Director?
- Understanding of your sailing goals?
- Help with recommendations for sailing courses/approach?
- Help where needed with course materials and or certifications/test?
- Help if needed in course completion?
- A place for course feedback, idea or complaints?
Point: Good sailing club management in the front office will make your experience more enjoyable, reliable, and hassle free. Look for a club that will listen to your goals upfront and then be there to help you execute them on your chosen timeline. This should include a real willingness to address questions, problems, or needs along the way so that your success in sailing can continue.