Annapolis is known and much loved for its navy waters, picturesque and powerful boats, and aquatic-themed events like Eastport’s Parade of Lights around the Annapolis Harbor. What do all these share (besides Annapolis of course)? Each would not be possible without skilled sailors. With that said, we must concede that Annapolis is also known and loved for its sailing schools, the feature of this article. We devote this one to the several sailing schools in Annapolis that train professionals, amateurs, and even you if you feel so inclined. Take a peak below at what sailing schools in Annapolis could offer you.
What are the schools and what courses do they offer?
The Annapolis Sailing School has been teaching adults to sail since 1959 and in fact, the school was the first in the country to offer sailing courses to adults. With its roots in sailing safety and practice, it’s no wonder the school has produced thousands of happy sailers. The school offers three levels of courses, ranging from beginner to advanced. Within each level, there are courses from which to choose, such as the two-hour introduction to sailing beginner course and the bay country cruising intermediate course. The intermediate and advanced courses require ASA 101 certification (learned in beginner courses). The most popular course, according to their site, is the “Become a Sailor in One Weekend” course, which offers exactly what the course name states. The course starts on a Saturday and gets students sailing on the first day and even speaking like a sailor. The cost is $495 per person. To learn more about this course and about Annapolis Sailing School in general, head to www.annapolissailing.com or visit them in person at 7001 Bembe Beach Road.
J World Annapolis has been around since 1992 and prides itself on offering instruction on the performance aspect of sailing, not just on the basics. Even still, J World supplies courses for beginners to experienced sailors. What makes J World unique is its courses in boat racing and performance sailing. The racing courses highlight speed and safety in organized boat race settings. The performance sailing courses are similar but are more intermediate level. The cruises coming up include a five-day and a two-day sailing fundamentals course. You can learn more about J World online at http://jworldannapolis.com.
SailTime‘s slogan is “Your boat is ready when you are”–a very appropriate slogan for an affordable and low-key sailing school. Just as with the schools above, SailTime offers beginner and advanced courses that range from one day to five days. Students can learn coastal navigation, chartering, cruising, and keelboat sailing via SailTime. To see more, visit https://sailtime.com or 7082 Bembe Beach Road.
Cruise Annapolis offers standard ASA (American Sailing Association) courses just as the above schools do. What makes Cruise Annapolis unique is the bareboat cruising and catamaran cruising courses. Cruise Annapolis boasts of “the finest bareboat fleet on the Chesapeake Bay,” so it’s no wonder they offer this type of course. With each course, you’ll learn boating basics and theory and understand more about what it means to sail specific boats. Upcoming courses include the basic sailing cruise, happening mid June. Cruise Annapolis is located at 222 Severn Avenue and online at http://cruise-annapolis.com.
Horizon Yacht Charters may be an international boating company, but it offers dedicated instruction from sailors who know Annapolis waters. The courses Horizon Yacht Charters offer include: basic keelboat sailing, coastal cruising, and bareboat chartering. These courses have a few prerequisites, but in general, offer instruction on negotiating wind, sea, and speed change. To learn more about Horizon Yacht Charters, go to http://horizonyachtcharters.com/annapolis.
What is a sailing course like?
The schools above recognize that small classes translates into a safer, better learning experience. As a result, when it comes time to practice, an instructor will only take three or four students at a time. Before practice though, instruction in a classroom is given to ensure students have some knowledge of the course matter.
Sailing courses occur between spring and fall, with most happening from April to October.
While sailing can be liberating and incredibly fun, it can also be dangerous if carelessness or incorrect actions ensue. This is why instructors always guide students through sailing steps on the boat. A class will never go out without an instructor.
What is the cost of a sailing course?
The cost varies depending upon experience level, the length of the course, and several other factors. In general, courses from Annapolis Sailing School range from $180 to $2,000. Courses from J World range from $420 to $1315. SailTime’s course cost $225 to $1,195. Cruise Annapolis courses are priced between $950 and $2,100.
If you live in or around Annapolis and you don’t know how to sail, you’re missing out on what makes Annapolis culture so rich. The cost may be steep, but the rewards are great. And who knows, you might even pick up on sailing lingo like “Ready the main!”–a small part of the schooling but indicative of true boater knowledge. Regardless of your position on Sperry Topsiders, you should consider learning to sail.