Learn to Sail

Pre-sail Orientation is intended to give you an introduction to the sport of sailing and Sail Chicago. The course includes preparation before going sailing, sailing terminology, equipment, basic boat handling and seamanship, safety rules, emergency procedures, and review of knots. Students enrolled in on-the-water classes will receive US Sailing handbooks and handouts. 

Sail Into Summer, Members, or anyone wanting to learn about the program are encouraged to attend free of charge.

This is a hands-on class—you will be sailing the boat in your first lesson! In this entry level class, you will learn to read the wind, rig the boat, get underway, set your sails, maneuver the boat upwind and downwind, tack and jibe, and return to the mooring. The course covers fundamentals of sailing theory, safety on the water, boating “rules of the road”, sailing knots, and weather.

Classes are held at Monroe Harbor in downtown Chicago, with a maximum class size of four students. Students meet once per week for four weeks or twice per week for two weeks.

Intermediate Sailing is the level up from basic sailing and is intended to advance your boat handling skills, harbor sailing, and crew management abilities. You will review basic sailing skills and expand your knowledge of points of sail, sail trim, weather, and right-of-way rules. You will learn close-quarters boat handling, reducing sail (reefing), anchoring, crew overboard recovery and safety/emergency/rescue techniques.

Classes are held at Monroe Harbor in downtown Chicago, with a maximum class size of four students. Students meet once per week for four weeks or twice per week for two weeks.

Skipper Training provides sailors with an opportunity to solidify material learned in Basic and Intermediate Sailing courses and is intended to develop the additional skills required to skipper a boat on your own. Topics include solidifying your small boat handling skills, including harbor sailing, mooring departures and returns under sail, crew overboard recovery, crew coordination, heavy weather sailing tactics, weather, safety on the water, and Sail Chicago procedures.

New members who have sailed a boat on their own may enroll in this course as part of their New Member Package. Successful completion of this course is required in order to qualify to reserve Sail Chicago boats.

In order to qualify for Skipper certification, students will need to adequately demonstrate a mastery of skipper skills necessary for basic keelboat checkout. Qualification for Skipper certification is at the discretion of the instructor.

Classes are held at Monroe Harbor in downtown Chicago, with a maximum class size of four students. Students meet once per week for four weeks or twice per week for two weeks.

You'll gain hands on training in racing tactics and rules and improve your sailing skills. Experience the thrill and teamwork of participating in races and get involved in the Chicago racing community. The program includes a pre-racing orientation seminar, on the water racing training sessions, and an official US Sailing The Racing Rules of Sailing (2013-2016) handbook.