Sailing the Northwest

Thinking about buying a sailboat? Or do you just not want to make a fool of yourself anymore when you go sailing with your friends? Today marks the beginning of an informational series on Sailing Schools in the Pacific Northwest. 

If this is the year you want to learn how to sail, this series will let you know where you can do just that!  Here is part one of the list of sailing schools we’ll be covering:

Anacortes Yacht Charters
Boats: 22′ to 40′
Costs: $250 to $850 + $20-$59 for certification
Email: info@ayc.com
Phone: 800.233.3004

Description:
Anacortes Yacht Charters has a full range of instruction available to put you at the helm of your own bareboat…even if you are just getting started.

• ASA Sailing School options available to fit your individual needs.
• Anacortes Yacht Charters extensive fleet allows the benefit of the best boat choice for each course.
• Our San Juan Islands are ideal for new boaters to develop their skills as they explore the areas’ many anchorages. These sheltered waters offer a variety of conditions to further your confidence and enjoyment.
• Anacortes Yacht Charters is offering those who attend our ASA Sailing School, an immediate membership in their Captain’s Club. As a Captain’s Club member you will gain special discounts on AYC and Mooring’s charters as well as other great benefits.

Bellhaven Sailing School
Boats: 32′ to 38′
Costs: $270 - $1,365 + $20-$59 for ASA Certification
Email: bellhaven@bellhaven.net
Phone: 360.733.6636

Description:
Bellhaven offers a broad range of sailing courses which emphasize practical, hands on experience on the water. All courses are designed so that students gain practical hands on experience through patient, professional instruction. All courses are certified by the American Sailing Association.

Center for Wooden Boats
Boats: Variety of 14′ to 26′
Costs: $325 to $360
Email: cwb@cwb.org
Phone: 206.382.2628

Description:
The Center for Wooden Boats offers several programs to improve your sailing skills in traditional boats. Our goal is that everyone knows how to sail comfortably, by instinct, by himself or herself.

CWB has two distinct learn to sail programs: SailNOW! and One-on-One.  They recommend group lessons for beginners through their award winning SailNOW! program.

Discovery Sailing School
Boats: Pearson 40′
Costs: n/a
Email: captain@discoverysailing.net
Phone: 206.972.7517

Description:
Discovery Sailing’s mission is to offer the finest quality sailing instruction and skippered charters in the Pacific Northwest of Washington State and British Columbia, Canada. 

Your instructor is Captain Dennis M. (Denny) Thompson. He is a Coast Guard Licensed Master and holds an RYA Yachtmaster’s certificate in Great Britain. He has logged over 65,000 ocean miles including three transatlantic and two transpacific passages and has fifteen years of teaching experience.

The yacht is an offshore equipped Pearson 40 with all the U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. The accommodations below feature a rich, spacious teak interior with sleeping for six.

Elliot Bay Yachting Center
Boats: 34′ to 36′
Costs: n/a
Email: candis@yachtlease.com
Phone: 206.285.9499

Description:
For three days you and three other students live aboard one of our well appointed motor yachts, immersed in the details of yachting. You will be at sea, at the helm and challenged to the fullest be a program that is customized to your skill and knowledge level. You finish your training with a challenging simulated adverse weather exercise - a blind passage.

You’ll learn: yachting nomenclature, boat systems, seamanship, line handling, knots, Rules of the Road, basic vessel maneuvering and safety, close quarter maneuvering, trip planning, navigation, weather, tides and currents, propulsion, anchoring, docking and refueling procedures.

Course Includes:

• Comprehensive 3-Day “hands-on” working school on a luxury yacht
• Course Materials
• All Meals
• Power or Sail