Adult Sailing Instruction
These courses introduce you to the life-long joys of sailing. We invite you to sample our hospitality, learn more about sailing,our facilities here at RYC and our family-oriented membership.
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Instruction
Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) offers United States Sailing Association (USSA) certified sailing instruction to adults (18+), both members and non-members. Sets of lessons on the water offer personalized instruction, giving novices a non-intimidating opportunity to learn the basic skills of sailboat handling and care. Even experienced sailing crew can benefit by learning responsible helmsman ship. Students build confidence and gain experience while learning. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Keelboat course provides US SAILING certification-of-competency to skipper a sailboat. This can help wherever one wants to rent or charter a sailboat or become a starter crew member on any racing sailboat. Private lessons are also available.
Scheduling
For your convenience, the courses are offered throughout the week in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Class lengths will vary from 3-hours to 6 hours depending on the session to better accommodate schedules of our participants. Whether you have all summer or one weekend, we will have a course and time frame to meet your needs. Unlike commercial schools, we try to separate lessons rather than holding them on consecutive days, to offer you time to review appropriate textbook sections between lessons and hopefully to expose you to variations in the weather. Classes will run from early May through September In-process classes must be completed by the end of September. After that, weather usually deteriorates, often making sailing instruction unpleasant.
Textbook
Our program uses US Sailing’s “Basic Keelboat” textbook series. These books include Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, & Coastal Navigation. It is very comprehensive, but not overly technical. The text is understandable and includes excellent pictorials of boats, terminology, wind-sail relationships and knots. We suggest that you only skim your copy prior to your lessons. Reviewing appropriate details after each lesson will help clinch your learning experience. Textbooks are included in the price of each lesson.
Clothing & Equipment
Lake Ontario weather is often very different than that on land. In early summer, it is much colder; in fall, it is often warmer. You may be exposed to wind, rain, spray, cold and heat, and strong direct and reflected sunlight. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are provided if you don’t have your own; they will be worn at all times while on the water. If you’re uncertain about how to dress, before you go out, ask your instructor about the day’s anticipated weather.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in selecting a course, please contact Holly Stevens:
E-mail: hstevens@rochesteryc.com
Work Cell: (585) 342-5511