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Have you always wanted to learn how to sail? Do you want to become a capable and confident crew member at the Downtown Sailing Center? If you said YES, Introduction to Sailing is the course for you!
The course is designed to help new sailors feel comfortable on a boat and give you the basic skills needed to competently crew on a small keelboat with an experienced skipper. During this course, you will learn the following:
We believe in “learning by doing” at the DSC, so the majority of your time will be spent on the water! An experienced instructor will guide you through the curriculum and be on the boat with you at all times. The maximum number of students per boat is 3, to allow everyone plenty of time to learn to drive the boat and trim the sails.
If you have sailing experience but are rusty or did not learn from professionals, we strongly recommend taking this course. Our curriculum is guided by US Sailing materials and you will learn proper and safe sailing techniques.
Please note that there is a firm administrative course change/cancellation fee of $35 per course for switching dates or cancelling. Full cancellation policy is on the FAQ page, located here - please read carefully as refunds are not guaranteed for cancellation within 14 days of class start date.
This is an Adult Education course, and all participants must be at least 16 years of age. To enquire about family-based sailing education options, contact us (email info@downtownsailing.org).
The two-day course takes place from 9am - 4pm each day, with a lunch break in the middle of the day - you can bring your lunch or there will be time to go out to a local fast-food spot. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the day on the water.
This course is taught aboard the DSC’s keelboats, and you’ll sail on either a J/22 or a Sonar. Both have a heavy keel to provide stability and will not tip over during your sail!
Parking is available on site in the gravel lot of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Classes meet behind the BMI pavilion, near the gate to the Downtown Sailing Center main dock. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to orient yourself and meet your instructor. The restroom onsite is a port-a-potty.
Life jackets are required to be worn and will be provided. Please wear close-toed shoes for safety. We recommend dressing for the weather (it can feel cooler on the water than on land!) and bringing a full water bottle, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and a great attitude.
If the course is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!
Please review our FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy, and let us know if you have any questions (email info@downtownsailing.org).
FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THIS COURSE. SPACE IS LIMITED.
Have you ever thought, "I've always wanted to try sailing…"? If the answer is YES, then the DSC’s 3-hour Taste of Sailing course is for you!
This experience-based course will teach you the basics of helming a sailboat, trimming sails, and will introduce you to some cool nautical lingo. We believe in “learning by doing”, so the majority of your time will be spent on the water with one of our experienced instructors.
You’ll learn while sailing around Baltimore’s beautiful waterfront and have the opportunity to experience the city in a whole new way!
Each boat will have a maximum of 4 students, so there will be plenty of opportunities to try your hand at the tiller, handle the sails, or just sit back and take in the sights.
We welcome everyone from the solo sailor (we’ll pair you up with a group!) to family groups. This is a great opportunity for an educational family outing that can be enjoyed by all. We require that children be at least 7 years of age. If your group size is larger than 4, please contact us (email info@downtownsailing.org) for options.
This course is taught aboard our Sonar class keelboats. These 23' boats have a large cockpit and heavy keel to provide stability. They are specifically made to not tip over, so you don't need to worry!
Parking is available on site in the gravel lot of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Classes meet behind the BMI pavilion, near the gate to the Downtown Sailing Center main dock. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to orient yourself and meet your instructor.
Please see our Adult Ed FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy.
The on-site bathroom is a port-a-potty.
If the event is full, you may add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up or we are able to add more boats.
Payment is due at the time of registration to reserve your spot - space is limited so don't delay!
Knowing how to safely recover a crew member from the water is one of the most important skills in sailing.
This 3.5-hour workshop is designed for competent crew members who want to learn and practice Person Overboard (POB) recovery — a required skill for the DSC Skipper Checkout.
You’ll gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge, including:
You will also be introduced to the Figure 8 recovery method, another effective way to return to a person in the water under sail.
The session begins on land with a brief chalk talk outlining the recovery procedures.
You’ll then spend the majority of the workshop on the water practicing the maneuvers. Each participant will receive a handout diagramming the recovery process for future reference.
This is not a beginner course. Participants should feel comfortable with:
For family-based sailing education options, please email info@downtownsailing.org.
Life jackets are required and will be provided.
Note: The on-site restroom is a port-a-potty.
Please review the full cancellation policy and additional information on our Adult Ed FAQ page before registering.
Intermediate Sailing (Level 2): Keelboat Skipper Skill Building
Weekend Course - Saturday & Sunday (9am-4pm)
Are you looking to take your sailing skills to the next level? This intermediate-level course is for competent crew looking to advance their skills in boat-handling. This course is ideal for those with solid crewing skills (see below) who are looking to skipper a small keelboat - the skills learned in this course are tested during the DSC Skipper Checkout.
During this fast-paced course, you will learn how to:
If you're not sure if this is the right class for you, our Adult Education Manager would be happy to answer your questions - email lessons@downtownsailing.org to set up a call.
**This clinic is only for DSC Keelboat Instructors. **
BKI Candidates! Here's your chance to start working on your single-handing skills before the evaluative course in the Spring. During the clinic, you'll have a chance to learn best practices for boat handling, POB maneuvers, and departing/docking a J/22 single-handed.
Are you an instructor but not planning to take BKI this year? Join us - knowing the basics of single-handing can be confidence-building and it's great knowledge to have when instructing a group of novices.
We will have a chalk talk on land first followed by on-the-water practice, so dress for the weather! There will be at least two people on each boat for safety and to allow for learning from each other.
You must be a strong skipper with intentions to take the BKI course this spring OR a current DSC instructor to participate in this event. If you've already expressed interest in BKI certification, you should have received a code from Laura to sign up - anyone interested in BKI who didn't receive the code can email laura@downtownsailing.org.
Docking under sail can feel intimidating — but with the right planning and practice, it becomes a manageable and rewarding skill.
This 3.5-hour workshop is designed for competent crew members who want to confidently plan and execute departures from and returns to the dock under sail aboard a small keelboat.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with:
The session begins on land with a brief chalk talk outlining the techniques and strategies for each type of approach.
You’ll then spend the majority of the workshop on the water practicing departures and dockings multiple times, with personalized coaching from a skilled instructor.
Each participant will receive a handout summarizing the different docking approaches for future reference.
This is an Adult Education course, and all participants must be at least 16 years of age. For family-based sailing education options, please email info@downtownsailing.org.
Sewing Basics and Sailrite Machine Orientation
Are you interested in helping with the Canvas Committee this year, but have never used a sewing machine? This hands-on event will teach you the basics of sewing using a Sailrite sewing machine.
We will cover:
This event will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the day of the class with building entry instructions.
If the event is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!
US Sailing NAV 1, Essentials of Marine Navigation
Course Dates: January 5, 7, 12, 14 (Tu/Thu) 6-9pm
Note that the makeup date, if weather interferes with any evening, will be Tuesday January 19th.
Do you know where you are on the water, and how to get where you’re going safely? New this year, NAV 1 is US Sailing’s foundational navigation course, and it’s a great way to build confidence whether you race, cruise, or simply want to be a more capable skipper or crew member.
This classroom course covers the essentials of modern electronic navigation: how to use your chartplotter or navigation app to confirm your position, plan a safe course, and make sense of the information on your screen. You’ll also learn how to keep a backup plan ready, because good navigators never rely on a single source. The skills apply on inland and coastal waters, day or night, and when visibility is poor.
During this course, you will:
Important: Please come to class with Navionics downloaded on your device of choice (tablet or phone) in order to participate in the exercises.
There are no US Sailing prerequisites, and this course is open to sailors and boaters of all experience levels.
Learn more about NAV 1 on the US Sailing website
Description
This course, taught by certified US Sailing instructors, will teach you the art of traditional navigation techniques, and how to integrate electronic navigation tools into your planning. There are no prerequisites and this hands-on course will allow you to immediately apply the material.
Each student will receive a copy of the US Sailing Essentials of Marine Navigation Student Book. Everyone that passes the exam will receive a sticker for your US Sailing log book.
The course takes place over 3 evening sessions, with a 4th evening for the (optional) certification exam. The makeup date will be used if weather interferes with any of the other day. We will communicate any changes to schedule via email and text message. Please opt in to text messages to ensure you receive any updates (we do not send marketing texts).
The class will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the first day of the class with building entry instructions.
Full payment is required at the time of registration. Space is limited.
Marine Diesel Engines Seminar
This Diesel Engines Seminar will provide you with an introduction to the engines aboard a recreational vessel like the DSC Cruisers. It will be taught at an introductory level and cover the basic and important knowledge any cruiser needs to know to do basic troubleshooting and repairs, and to understand the systems aboard their vessel.
The following topics will be covered:
Bring your questions!
The class will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the day of the class with building entry instructions.
Full payment is required to reserve your space in the course.
Coastal Navigation: US Sailing Certification Course
**Feb 9 will be the makeup date if any of the scheduled days are canceled due to weather
NOTE: Every student will require plotting tools for this course. We recommend the Weems & Plath brand as those are the best for accuracy - and accuracy is critical! The tools are available at Weems & Plath, West Marine, Amazon, and elsewhere.
Required tools are:
Optional: TSD circular slide rule
Each student will receive a copy of the US Sailing Coastal Navigation Student Book and a full-size chart for plotting exercises. Everyone that passes the exam will receive a sticker for your US Sailing log book.
The course takes place over 4 evening sessions, with a 5th evening for the (optional) certification exam.
You will learn the following practical skills:
Determine the Latitude and Longitude of a position.
How to plot a course on a chart, using the true and magnetic compass roses and applying variation and deviation correctly.
Measure distance on a chart with and without a bar scale.
How to plot a Dead Reckoning (DR) course; a course corrected for leeway; a running fix; a fix; a danger bearing; ranges.
How to use published reference material, including the Local Notice to Mariners, Chart #1, a Coast Pilot and Cruising Guide, and a Light List
Determine the height of tide and direction and strength of current at any time or location. Learn how to determine a course to steer given the set and drift of the current.
How to integrate electronic information with traditional navigation techniques.
And more!
Marine Electrical Seminar
New to the wiring and electrical systems aboard your boat? This seminar is an introduction to the electrical systems on a recreational vessel like the DSC Cruisers. It’s taught at an introductory level and covers the essentials every cruiser should know to understand their boat’s systems and handle basic troubleshooting and repairs.
During this seminar, you will:
Details:
Full payment is required to reserve your spot for this course.
Downtown Sailing Center 1425 Key Highway, Suite 110 Baltimore, MD 21230(410) 727-0722 • info@downtownsailing.org
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