Sailing Lessons

Learning to sail and joining the sailing community can be a very rewarding life experience and sailing is a great way to spend your vacations. Learning to sail is easier than most people think and a US Sailing certification from Windworks Sailing & Powerboating is the best way feel confident out on the water.

Why Windworks & US Sailing?

• US Sailing requires more time on the water to get certified and a low student to teacher ratio.
• US Sailing is the only sailing body recognized by Congress.
• US Sailing provides the most comprehensive certifications available that result in the greatest student confidence.
• Windworks Sailing & Powerboating provides the highest level of education and is the only US Sailing school in Washington that certifies other US Sailing instructors.
• Windworks instructors are US Sailing certified, Coast Guard licensed, and professional educators.
• Windworks school is consistently rated 5 Stars on Google by its students. Check our reviews.

What does it take to get certified?

US Sailing & Windworks currently offers four levels of certification:

• Crew Level: A crew-level certification can be accomplished in one day and will provide the skills necessary to participate as a crew member on a small keelboat.
• Basic Keelboat: Build on what you learned in Crew Level and skipper your own boat. Find out how pilot a sailboat, navigate, anchor and manage a crew. Certifies student to skipper vessels up to 27’/tiller outboard
• Basic Cruising: Build on what you learned in Basic Keelboat by learning how to sail larger keelboats, up to 42 feet in length. You will learn basic navigation, sail theory, boat handling, anchoring, and docking.
• Bareboat Cruising:  Build on what you learned in Basic Cruising and get certified to skipper vessels up to 42 feet in length for multi-day charters. Bareboat Cruising will provide the knowledge to confidently and safely pilot a craft in a wide variety of conditions and anywhere in the world.

This course is designed for students who have never sailed before and want to learn how to skipper a small keelboat. The skills learned in this class can be built upon with our Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising and will eventually certify the student to take larger boats for multi-day charters.

US Sailing’s Basic Keelboat certification is the most comprehensive certification in the market and will give you the ability to responsibly skipper and crew a simple daysailing keelboat in familiar waters in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. The certification is broken into three classes that must be taken in order:

• Basic Keelboat 1 (BK1): Learn about safety, getting on and off the dock, how to raise the sails and more. Certifies student to sail as a crew member.
• Basic Keelboat 2 (BK2): Build on Basic Keelboat 1 with more sailing theory, boat handling, docking and practical experience.
• Basic Keelboat 3 (BK3): Build on Basic Keelboat 2 with more sailing theory, basic navigation, and other skills necessary to skipper a boat.

Successful completion prepares you to:

• Certification that allows you sail up to 25′ tiller steered sailboat.
• Crew operations and skills
• Leaving the dock or mooring
• Boat control in open and confined waters
• Heavy weather sailing
• Basic navigation skills
• Overboard rescue methods
• Safety and emergency procedures
• Anchoring techniques

Prerequisites

No Experience required

Pricing

Basic Keelboat 1:

• Members & Non-members: $295
• Book a mid-week course for a 50% discount!

Basic Keelboat 2 & 3:

• Members: $440
• Non-Members: $500

Learn to sail a cruising keelboat. Cruising keelboats generally have inboard diesel engines, a steering wheel, are set up for multiple day trips and, also, most cruising vessels and include hot and cold water, cooking facilities, sleeping quarters, and private bathrooms with showers. The larger size of the vessel is more comfortable for day sailing, as they can accommodate more passengers.

US Sailing’s Basic Cruising certification is the most comprehensive certification in the market and will give you the confidence to safely sail anywhere in the world and in a variety of weather conditions. The certification is broken into three classes that must be taken in order:

• Basic Cruising Part 1 (BC1)
• Basic Cruising Part 2 (BC2)
• Basic Cruising Part 3 (BC3)

Successful completion prepares you to:

• Certification that allows you sail up to 42′ sailboat.
• Organize and direct crew operations.
• Day-trip planning.
• Basic charts and navigation.
• Sail trim, heaving-to.
• Heavy weather sailing techniques.
• Inboard engine techniques.
• Docking techniques.
• Anchoring techniques.
• Safety and emergency procedures.

Prerequisites

Basic Keelboat Part 3 (BK3) or equivalent

Pricing

BC1, BC2, BC3 Package

• Members: $740
• Non-members: $850

You finally made it, gone through all the classes, had sufficient time on the water, and now you are ready to get through the next level. Taking the cruisers out for more than a day sail, that’s what real sailors want, to take her where the wind blows you, and stay aboard anchored in a far away harbor.

The first night you will charter your destination and get provisions for the trip, feel free to stay the night in the marina on your vessel. The group will set sail in the am at the designated time, and be anchored or moored by sunset. The next morning you will set sail again, and take the test on the boat before arriving back to the dock before sunset.

Successful completion prepares you to:

• Certification allows you to skipper vessels up to 42 feet.
• Organize and direct crew operations.
• Plan multiple day charters.
• Advanced seamanship.
• Advanced sailing techniques.
• Advanced heavy weather sailing techniques.
• Advanced docking techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of boat systems including diesel engine troubleshooting and galley safety procedures.

Prerequisites

Basic Cruising (BC3)

Bareboat cruising also requires Navigation & Piloting Part 1 & 2 for a separate fee $475 for members and $550 for non-members.

Pricing

• WWSC Members: $795
• Non-members: $895

Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Navigation & Piloting, and Bareboat Cruising on one of our larger vessels. Have fun while learning in an actual hands on environment. At the end of this trip you will be a certified US Sailing Bare Boat skipper. The 5 day, 4 night, course will follow the same curriculum as separate courses in less time as you will be learning day and night. During each day sailing and navigating, and at night spent in different harbors, and at anchor, on your very own sailing adventure.

Successful completion prepares you to:

• Certification allows you to skipper vessels up to 42 feet.
• Organize and direct crew operations.
• Plan multiple day charters.
• Advanced charting & navigation
• Advanced seamanship.
• Advanced sailing techniques.
• Advanced heavy weather sailing techniques.
• Advanced docking techniques.
• Advanced anchoring techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of boat systems including diesel engine troubleshooting and galley safety procedures.

Prerequisites

Basic Keelboat Part 1 (BK1)

Note: If you are coming from out-of-State, we will set up a BK1 class the Sunday prior to your departure, and can stay the night on the larger vessel used in the cruise. There will be 3 written tests, BK, BC, BBC, plus the OTW practical. Please study prior to boarding, by picking up the text booklets at WWSC, or if you are out-of-State we will arrange to have the booklets sent to you.

Pricing

• WWSC Members: $1,500
• Non-members: $2,000

You finally made it, gone through all the classes, had sufficient time on the water, and now you are ready to get through the next level. Taking cruisers out for more than a day sail, that’s what real sailors want, to take her where the wind blows you, and stay aboard anchored in a far away harbor.

You will learn, and practice, the skills required for safe coastal passages as a skipper or crew aboard an inboard auxiliary powered cruising sailboat during passages on coastal waters, in all weather conditions, including all levels of visibility and all hours of the day and night.

Successful completion prepares you to:

Preparation to Sail

• Prepare a plan for an open ocean passage of at least 600 nautical miles.
• Develop a comprehensive provisioning and galley duty plan.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive check of the vessel, her rig and equipment.

Crew Operations and Skills

• Develop a primary and alternative watch schedule and duty roster for the skipper, navigator, crew, galley and ship’s maintenance for the passage.
• Demonstrate a plan of advanced weather forecasting: global weather patterns, high and low pressure systems, fronts, storms, squalls, gales, hurricanes and various fog conditions.
• Leaving the Dock or Mooring:
• Develop a departure plan for the vessel and crew, and demonstrate appropriate helmsman and crew coordination and skills for leaving a dock in adverse (actual or simulated) conditions.

Navigation

• Demonstrate competency in proper offshore navigation techniques.
• Maintain a continuous ship’s log in a timely manner to include significant events, navigation entries and weather records.

Communications

• Be familiar with the operation of the SSB radio as well as other modern means of long range communications.

Boat Control In Open Water

• Demonstrate decision making and boathandling skills for boat control in any wind and sea conditions.

Heavy Weather Sailing

• Demonstrate boat control in adverse conditions (actual or simulated) using a sea anchor or drogue.
• Demonstrate boat control in adverse conditions (actual or simulated) using storm sails, and heaving-to or running off.

Prerequisites

Bareboat Cruising (BBC)

US Costal Navigation

Pricing

• WWSC Members: $1,795
• Non-members: $2,250

* Textbook and food included