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10 Steps to Sailing Mastery Timeline |
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Step 1: Get Started with Keelboat Sailing
Step 2: Earn Your First Certification
Step 3: Coastal Cruising Skills
Step 4: Gain Experience with Bareboat Charters
Step 5: Sportboat Certification
Step 6: Mastering High Wind Sailing
Step 7: Advanced Navigation Skills
Step 8: Expand Your Bareboat Experience
Step 9: Bareboat Cruising & Docking Mastery
Step 10: Get Internationally Certified
Final Step: Sail the World!
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Why Spinnaker Sailing?
As Nationally Awarded ASA sailing school, we take pride in offering programs and instructors that consistently meet and often exceed the rigorous standards of ASA certification. Our teaching staff includes ASA-licensed Masters, Coast Guard-certified Captains, and seasoned international racers with many years of hands-on experience.
Basic Sailing and Beyond
Our Basic Keelboat program is divided into two sections: Basic 1 and Basic 2. This structure accommodates students with varying levels of experience, from college sailors to those who’ve grown up on family boats. We recommend reviewing the course outlines (linked below) to assess your knowledge. If you’re confident you’ve mastered the material for a particular class, give us a call to discuss starting at a more advanced level.
The total cost for Basic Keelboat 1 and 2 is $1,245, with a discounted rate of $1,200 for midweek sessions. If you prefer to take the classes separately, each costs $700 ($650 midweek).
We run Basic 1 and 2 classes almost every weekend, and they don’t need to be taken on consecutive weekends. For added flexibility, we also offer a 4-day midweek class (Monday through Thursday) that combines both levels.
Basic Coastal Cruising is priced at $1,295, or $1,245 midweek, and is typically scheduled over two consecutive weekends. A midweek option (Monday through Thursday) is also available for this course.
If you want to be certified through the American Sailing Association (ASA)—and we highly recommend it—membership is required for the first year at a cost of $70. After that, renewal is optional and not necessary to retain your certification. Written tests for certification are $50 each.
Text Book
We suggest reading Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobson, a trusted resource for over 25 years. It’s widely available at used bookstores, on Amazon for around $25, or on our bookshelf for $28.
We give you one of our free sailing logbooks or you can purchase an ASA logbook to document your sailing experiences and to store the certification sticker ASA sends you. Logging every sailing experience—whether as crew or skipper—is crucial for building credibility and demonstrating your experience.
Videos
The Basic Keelboat and Basic Coast Cruising Classes are fully support with free videos specific to the class and boat you'll be sailing. This is a huge advantage as it gives you the chance to experience the skills even prior to stepping on the boat! Check Out Basic Keelboat Lesson Videos here!
The Boats
At Spinnaker Sailing School in San Francisco, you’ll learn on Andrews 21 and J/80 sailboats, specifically chosen to handle the unique and challenging conditions of the San Francisco Bay and Coastal Areas. Each boat is fully equipped with the gear required for safe and comfortable sailing, along with all U.S. Coast Guard-mandated safety and emergency equipment. Our dedicated full-time maintenance team ensures that every vessel is always in top condition.
The Instructors
There’s a significant difference between being an excellent sailor and an excellent teacher. At Spinnaker Sailing, we understand that patience and confidence are essential to your success on the water. That’s why we carefully select our instructors, ensuring they bring not only top-tier expertise but also a friendly, approachable teaching style that fosters a positive learning environment.
