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Beginner Classes

Sail with confidence!
Recognized as ASA’s School of the Year

If you've never stepped on a boat before, or just getting started learning to sail you're in the right place.

In all our beginner classes you'll learn step-by-step instructions for everything from hoisting the sail to docking. All of our courses are summarized below so take a cruise through our course calendar to check availability and dates, enroll in your next class!

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  • ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing | June 17 & 18 | Port Washington: $547.50

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: None

    This is a perfect introductory course to help you learn about sailing. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a boat of about 20 feet in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. You will learn the fundamentals of keelboat sailing, including sail theory and practice, terminology, safety equipment and procedures, crew overboard recovery, sailing knots and much more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

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    ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing | June 20 & 21 | Port Washington: $547.50

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: None

    This is a perfect introductory course to help you learn about sailing. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a boat of about 20 feet in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. You will learn the fundamentals of keelboat sailing, including sail theory and practice, terminology, safety equipment and procedures, crew overboard recovery, sailing knots and much more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day week day course over Tuesday and Wednesday.

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  • ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising | July 8 & 9 | Port Washington: $679.00

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: ASA 101

    This course is the next step into the world of coastal cruising. It provides the necessary knowledge to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 28 – 35 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions. You will learn the basics of daytime coastal cruising in moderate wind and sea conditions including the recommended safety equipment, forecasting weather, reading navigational charts, marlinspike seamanship, boat handling under sail and power and more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

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    ASA 118 Docking Endorsement | July 21st | McKinley Marina: $297.50

    McKinley Marina Center Docks
    Prerequisites:

    Join us for this one-day course in which you will learn strategies and techniques to safely and efficiently dock a 30′ – 32′ auxiliary-powered sailboat in a variety of conditions. Hands-on practice will increase your overall boat handling confidence while you gain knowledge of basic auxiliary power theory, engine and steering controls, proper use of dock lines, crew communication, and safety.

    The Docking Techniques for Single Engine Boats by Capt. Tom Tursi textbook is included with your purchase of this course and will be mailed to you.

    Format: This course is offered as a 1 day week course, Friday 10:00AM – 3:30PM.

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  • ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing | Sept 9 & 10 | Port Washington: $547.50

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: None

    This is a perfect introductory course to help you learn about sailing. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a boat of about 20 feet in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. You will learn the fundamentals of keelboat sailing, including sail theory and practice, terminology, safety equipment and procedures, crew overboard recovery, sailing knots and much more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

    Register

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    ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising | September 14th & 15th | McKinley Marine, Milwaukee, WI: $679.00

    McKinley Marina Center Docks
    Prerequisites: ASA 101

    This course is the next step into the world of coastal cruising. It provides the necessary knowledge to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 28 – 35 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions. You will learn the basics of daytime coastal cruising in moderate wind and sea conditions including the recommended safety equipment, forecasting weather, reading navigational charts, marlinspike seamanship, boat handling under sail and power and more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekday course over Thursday and Friday.

    • Thursday, September 14th – 8:30am – 4:30pm
    • Friday, September 15th – 8:30am – 4:30pm

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  • ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising | Oct 14 & 15 | Port Washington, WI: $679.00

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: ASA 101 Basic Keelboat

    This course is the next step into the world of coastal cruising. It provides the necessary knowledge to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 28 – 35 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions. You will learn the basics of daytime coastal cruising in moderate wind and sea conditions including the recommended safety equipment, forecasting weather, reading navigational charts, marlinspike seamanship, boat handling under sail and power and more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

    Register

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  • ASA 105 COASTAL NAVIGATION | MARCH – APRIL | MADISON, WI: $397.00

    ONLINE - Virtual Instructor
    Prerequisites: NONE

    This course teaches navigational skills required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters. This is a perfect course to better understand coastal navigation and how you interact with the world around you. Beyond your GPS, you’ll learn skills to safely navigate waters that include tidal and current changes. In this course you will learn chart reading, maritime publications, navigation equipment, tide and current tables, plotting position, bearings, running fixes, set and drift, navigation lights, day shapes, buoyage systems, current and leeway and much more.

     

    Format: Hybrid Instructor Led Training via ZOOM – followed by 2 days In Person at Hoofer Sailing Club – UW Madison. This course is offered as a 5 remote 3 hour sessions, followed by a Saturday, and Sunday, 8 hours each day.

    Thursday, March 7 – 5:30-8:30pm (virtual instructor via Zoom)
    Thursday, March 14 – 5:30-8:30pm (virtual instructor via Zoom)
    Thursday, March 21 – 5:30-8:30pm (virtual instructor via Zoom)
    Thursday, March 28 – 5:30-8:30pm (virtual instructor via Zoom)
    Thursday, April 4 – 5:30-8:30pm (virtual instructor via Zoom)
    Saturday, April 6 – Times TBD (in-person at Hoofer Sailing Club)
    Sunday, April 7 – Times TBD (in-person at Hoofer Sailing Club) – Review & Exam

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  • ASA 101 Keelboat 1 | May 25 & 26 | Milwaukee Yacht Club: $597.50

    SOLD OUT

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  • ASA 101/103 Basic Sailing & Basic Cruising Combo | June 7-9 | Port Washington, WI: $1,347.00

    PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    Prerequisites: None

    ASA101 – This is a perfect course for students with fundamental sailing knowledge. Because of the shortened format, the course moves along quickly. The Basic Keelboat will be a refresher as much as learning new skills. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a boat of about 20 feet in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. The course is taught by USCG Captains and your certification is recognized by the United States Coast Guard as a Safe Boating Course.

    ASA103 – General Description: With past experience and ASA101 Certification sailing fundamentals, this course is the next step and serves as an introductory course to the world of coastal cruising. It provides the necessary knowledge to cruise safely in local and regional waters as both skipper and crew on an auxiliary powered sailboat of about 30 – 35 feet in length, in moderate winds and sea conditions.

    Format: This course is offered as a 3 day weekend course over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 8 hours each day.

    Friday, June 7th, 2024 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
    Saturday, June 8th, 2024 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
    Sunday, June 9th, 2024 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)

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    ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing | June 15 & 16 | Milwaukee Yacht Club: $597.50

    This is a perfect introductory course to help you learn about sailing. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a boat of about 20 feet in light to moderate winds and sea conditions in familiar waters without supervision. You will learn the fundamentals of keelboat sailing, including sail theory and practice, terminology, safety equipment and procedures, crew overboard recovery, sailing knots and much more.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

    Register

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    ASA 102 Keelboat 2 | June 22 & 23 | Milwaukee Yacht Club: $597.50

    This course is the next step to help you learn more about sailing and maximizing efficient use use of proper sail trim. It will provide the necessary knowledge to sail a sloop-rigged keelboat of approximately 20 to 30 feet in length by day in winds up to 20 knots. Depart, sail, and return with control demonstrating teamwork.

    Format: This course is offered as a 2 day weekend course over Saturday and Sunday.

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Doug and I took our first sailing lessons this past weekend and just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed it.

Don and Ben were absolutely excellent in their teaching skills and presentation of the material. They were very easy to understand and reviewed all of the material thoroughly. We felt very comfortable out on the water as everything was explained in a matter we could understand being totally lay sailors! You have an awesome crew of instructors and just wanted you to let you know it was a wonderful experience and will highly recommend your sailing school to others.
- Doug & Mary C.

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