Learn to Sail with SEAS

SEAS sailing classes set you on the path to becoming a competent sailor. “Basic Sailing” and “Keelboat Sailing” courses are both beginner courses for new sailors or sailors who want a refresher. The difference is the type of boat you will learn on. Basic Sailing is taught on a small “board boat” and Keelboat Sailing is taught on a 28-foot “keelboat”, which is a yacht. 

All beginner classes consist of weekday evening classroom sessions and weekend days on the water. Board boat and keelboat classes share the same classroom sessions but have separate sessions on the water. This is not a resort-style course that gives you a few pointers and lets you try your luck on the water. Our course includes four evening classroom sessions to learn the theory of sailing:

  • Language and history of sailing

  • Principles of sailing (how it works)

  • Points of sail

  • Rigging and knots

  • Sailboat controls

  • Changing direction

  • True and apparent wind

  • Communication among the crew

  • Rules of the road

  • Mooring and docking

  • Capsize recovery (board boats only)

  • Weather

Our courses also include two days on the water for a board boat or one day for a keelboat. When signing up for a class, you will choose which type of boat to learn on.

BOARDBOAT

A board boat is a small boat usually sailed by one person (but two can fit). In the class you will learn to sail it single handed, which means that you are alone in the boat. Your instructors will coach you from a motorized safety boat. There are several advantages to learning on a board boat:

  • You will gain a feel for sailing quickly because the boat is very responsive

  • Fewer controls to learn

  • Easily transfer your skills to a keelboat later

  • You are the skipper!

There are also some board boat issues to be aware of. You will get wet as you get in and out of the boat, and you will get even wetter if you tip the boat over. Keeping the boat balanced requires a fair amount of physical mobility as you duck under the sail to move from one side of the boat to the other.

 KEELBOAT

A keelboat is a large, stable boat. Ours is a Newport 28 yacht. You will sail as part of a crew of four students and an instructor. Advantages of a keelboat:

  • A more social experience

  • You have an instructor and crew to depend on

  • Less physical mobility required

  • You will usually stay dry

  • You can sail in rougher water

  • Prepares you to own or charter a keelboat

Ongoing practice after your class

Ongoing practice is important! It is how you become a good sailor. The purpose of the class time on the water is to build enough skill to allow you to participate in our open sails (practice sessions) throughout the season. The board boat class includes a SEAS membership that allows you to join open sails throughout the remainder of the sailing season for no additional cost. The keelboat class includes a SEAS membership, and you can participate in one open sail for no additional cost. To continue open sails in the keelboat, you will purchase a Keelboat Crew Pass.

Physical requirements

To sail our keelboat, you must be mobile and strong enough to enter and exit the boat, move around safely onboard, operate the controls, and swim (in case you end up in the water). Our board boats are more physically demanding. You need to help carry the board boats to and from the water, you use your body weight to balance the boat and quickly duck under the sail and move to the other side, and you must be able to right the boat and climb back in after a capsize. You will practice capsize recovery on your first water day (for board boats only). Students must weigh at least 90 pounds.

Both keelboat and boardboat students must pass a short swim test. This test demonstrates to us and sometimes to yourself, your ability or inability to tread water for 5 minutes, dawn a life vest (PFD) that is thrown to you and swim to the far edge of the pool wearing the life vest. Rather than a physical test, it’s intention is to emphasize the importance of always wearing your PFD.

Age requirements

We focus primarily on adult education, but we permit students 13-17 years of age if accompanied by a parent taking the same class or participating in the same open sail.

UPGRADE CLASSES and Advanced Keelboat class

The Upgrade classes are for people who have passed a SEAS class on one type of boat and want to learn the other type. You will skip the classroom sessions and go straight to the water sessions.

The Advanced Keelboat class will prepare you to be a first mate and eventually a skipper. Please contact us to discuss your experience before signing up for this class.

click here to signup for a class

2026 CLASSES AND DATES

All courses have “A1”, “A2”, “B1”, “B2…” components. These simply designate the different Keelboat water dates in the course.

COURSE A‍ Classroom dates: (Tuesdays) May 12, 19 & 26, June 2‍

Basic Sailing A water days: (Saturdays) May 30 & June 6‍

Keelboat Sailing A1 water day: Saturday, June 13‍ ‍

Keelboat Sailing A2 water day: to be agreed with students and instructor ‍

‍ ‍

COURSE B‍ Classroom dates: (Tues & Thurs) June 16, 18, 23 & 25

Basic Sailing B water days: 2 weekend dates in June, TBA

Keelboat Sailing B1 water day: Saturday June TBA

Keelboat Sailing B2 water day: to be agreed with students and instructor

‍COURSE C‍ Classroom dates: (Mondays) July 6, 13, 20 & 27

Basic Sailing C water days: (Saturdays) July 25 & Aug 1

Keelboat Sailing C1 water day: Saturday Aug 8

Keelboat Sailing C2 water day: to be agreed with students and instructor

‍COURSE D‍ Classroom dates: (Tues & Thurs) August 4, 6, 11 & 13‍

Basic Sailing D water days: (Saturdays) August 8 & 15

Keelboat Sailing D1 water day: Saturday Aug 22

Keelboat Sailing D2 water day: to be agreed with students and instructor