Community Sailing

About Community Sailing Programs

Community sailing programs are a good way to learn about and experience the joy of sailing at a very reasonable price. Their aim is usually two-fold: to allow people who might not otherwise be able to enjoy sailing to do so, and to use the skills and knowledge learned from sailing to enrich the lives of young people who struggle in other areas of their lives – against social, economic or physical disadvantages. Many also offer programs that allow sailors whose disabilities keep them from sailing regular boats to get out on the water in specially modified sailboats.

As well as lessons, many programs offer opportunities to practice sail, sail for fun, or race. The boats they use in their programs vary, depending on where the sailing is and what boats are available to them. Some also offer the opportunity to learn how to maintain the boats in their programs.

As with everything else, it is best to approach community sailing with awareness. Before entering a program it is a good idea to talk to others who are or have been part of it. A visit to the facility is an opportunity to see what it is like, how well maintained the fleet is, and to meet instructors and students. Some programs even offer those interested the chance to have an introductory sail free.

Below is a list of the community sailing programs I have found so far. If you know of another program not on this list, please let me know and I will be happy to add it. And if you have a desire to learn to sail, but need to find a way to do it inexpensively, I hope you will find a program here to suit your needs.

Community Sailing Programs

U.S. Community Sailing Programs

Community Boating, Boston, MA
Low cost boating for adults, youth and children, adult and youth classes, formal and informal racing, accessible sailing, fleet use. Fleet: Cape Cod Mercurys, Rhodes 19s, Sonars, 420s, Lasers.

Downtown Sailing, Baltimore, MD
Low cost programs and classes at different levels for individuals and families; free for ‘at risk’ youth, youth with disabilities. Fleet: J22s, Sonars, Impulse 21s, Access 303 Ws, Cruising sailboats from 18 to 40 feet.

Sail Newport, Newport ,RI
Sailing lessons, boat rentals, regattas, individual and family memberships. Fleet: J22s and Rhodes 19s.

US Sailing Martin County, FLA
US Sailing Association sanctioned, membership, community sailing hours, adult and youth sailing programs, high school team program. Fleet: Lasers and 420s.

Sail Chicago, Chicago, IL
Membership, lessons for adults and children, sailing, cruising, racing. Fleet: Rhodes 19s, Shields’, Alberg 30, Grampian 26.

Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, Milwaukee, WI:
Adult and youth classes; practice sailing, racing. Fleet: Ensigns, Solings, J 24s, C & C 27s, International 470s, Hunter and DC Dinghies, Access Dinghies, JY Club Trainers.

Community Sailing Center, Burlington Vermont
High schools sailing team, summer camps, adult lessons, racing. Fleet – small keelboats (Sonar, Rhodes, Martin 2 suitable for sailors with disabilities); dinghies (420, Hobie One, Escapes, O’pen Bic).

Traverse Area Community Sailing, Traverse City, Michigan
Youth sailing camps, adult lessons, racing, fun nights, high school race team. Fleet: Lasers, Interlakes, JY 15s.

Oswego Maritime Foundation, Oswego, NY
Youth safety and sailing classes; adult courses; supervised sailing and practice sessions; high school sailing club. Fleet: 19 ft. OMF sailboats.

Charleston Community Sailing, Charleston, SC
Buddy sailing (high school sailors with Girls and Boys Club members), high school sailing, adult and youth lessons, Special Olympics, racing. Fleet: Vanguard 420s.

Fairwind Yacht Club, Marina Del Rey, CA
Training, free sails (after light maintenance), racing, cruising, youth summer and afterschool programs. Volunteer run. Fleet: Capris, Solings. Catalinas, small Hobies, Hunter 26.5.

Leo Robbins Sailing Center, Ventura, CA
Youth and adult classes, beginner to advanced; youth camps. Fleet – Sabots to a Catalina 30.

Treasure Island Sailing Center, San Francisco, CA
Youth, adaptive and adult sailing programs, fun sails, racing. Fleet: Optimists/JY Opti Trainers. J24’s, CFJ’s, Access Dinghies (Adaptive Sailing includes Access Dinghies), Sonars, and J24’s.

California State University Monterey Bay Boating Education Program, Monterey Bay, CA
Adult and youth courses, adaptive sailing, testing. Fleet: FJ 13s, Pico 13s, 20 to 30 ft. keelboats, Martin 16.

Oak Harbor Youth Sailing, Oak Harbor, WA
Youth and adult classes. Fleet: El Toros and Lidos.

America True, San Francisco, CA
The America True organization organizes events locally and across the US, bringing together at-risk youth and sailing/yacht clubs for a day of sailing, and works with interested groups to initiate community sailing programs.  It also has teaching programs in the San Francisco area.
Lake Merced:  Youth and adult courses.
Richardson Bay (Camp Clipper):  youth camp.

Canadian Community Sailing Programs

Burlington Sailing and Boating Club, Burlington, ON
Community Programs: Able Sail program (dinghy sailing for the physically challenged), Youth Sail Training Day Camps, Adult & Senior Sail Training, Use of Club-owned Keelboat & Dinghy.

Conestoga Sailing Club, Waterloo, ON
Summer day school program for youth, evening programs for adults of all ages and abilities, from beginner to seasoned racer, racing. Fleet of 16 boats for members use, including an Able-Sail Trimaran for disabled sailors.

Guelph Community Boating Club, Guelph, ON
Inexpensive membership (own-boat or co-op), half price co-op membership for students after Aug. 1st. Co-op Program: Five CL14’s, a CL16, six Lasers, a Wayfarer, a Sunfish, a Skunk, 3 Optimist prams and 3 Mosquitoes, a Hobie 16, an International 14, three Snipes and a Europe dinghy.

Humber Sailing Club, Port Credit, ON
Year round or monthly memberships. Racing, cruising, mentoring; sailing and special skill classes. Club boats: Sharks, J 24s, C & C 29s, Hunter 31s and a Catalina 309.

Oakville Yacht Squadron, Oakville, ON
Team Tempest, shares in use of club Sharks, full membership fee plus extra fee.

Kanata Sailing Club, Kanata, ON
Non-profit co-op. Training, sailing, racing, social. Fleet: Hobie Cats, Albacores, Lasers, Bytes and Tasar.

http://www.kanatasailingclub.com/index.php?pr=About_Us

Kingston Yacht Club, Kingston, ON
Community Club Program requires full membership plus extra fee to cover costs of maintaining community fleet of boats; fleet of Sharks.

Lac Deschenes Sailing Club, Ottawa, ON
With membership, can choose to use club boats – lasers (3), Wayfarer, Hobie 18.

SailONEC (Ottawa New Edinburgh Club), Ottawa, ON
Lessons, racing training, sailing camp for young people. Fleet: 7 CL16s, 10 Lasers, 2 Feva RSXL and 10 Picos

St. James Town Sailing Club, Toronto, ON
Learn-to-Sail lessons, advanced sailing lessons, racing and race training. Fleet: Albacores, Lasers, Byte CII, Hobie 16, Nacra 500.

Toronto Island Sailing Club, Toronto, ON
Sailing lessons, racing, social sailing nights. Fleet: Albacores, Lasers and Hobie Cats.

Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club, Toronto, ON
Lessons, sailing, racing, cruising. Fleet membership (use of fleet boats). Fleet: four small keel boats (2 sharks, 1 tanzer and 1 soling), 4 Wayfarers.

Mooredale Sailing Club, Toronto, ON
Lessons, water safety, racing; fleet – Albacores, Lasers and a Hobie Cat.

Westwood Sailing Club,Toronto, ON
Lessons, training, racing clinics, racing. Fleet: Albacores, Hobie Cats, Lasers.

Regina Sailing Club, Regina, SK
Sailing school or club membership. Club boats – Lasers and Laser IIs.

Club Locarno, Vancouver, BC
Lessons, free clinics. Fleet – Lasers, Vanguard 1s, Tasars, RS500s, Nacra 500s, 570s, F18s; Hobie Tiger.

North Okanagan Sailing Associations, Vernon, BC
Boatshare memberships available, lessons, racing. Fleet: 5 Mistrals, 2 Laser IIs, 2 Lasers, 1 Flying Junior, 1 Hobie 14.

UBC Sailing, Vancouver, BC
Lessons and sailing events, for UBC students, and community members (different fees). Fleet – flying Juniors, Vanguard 15s, Lasers, RS 500s, 29ers, Hobie 16s and Nacra F18s.