Adult Sailing Instruction
These courses introduce you to the life-long joys of sailing. We invite you to sample our hospitality, learn more about sailing, our facilities here at RYC and our family-oriented membership.
2025 registration is now open. New this year, we will be offering week day, weekend and evening options for classes. When registering, register for one that best fits with your schedule. If you are mainly free weekends, please register for the weekend class.
Once registered, we will pair you with an instructor and schedule your first lesson.
**If you don't see a time that fits your schedule, please let us know! We are flexible and happy to help! Call 585-342-5511x141**
Instruction
Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) offers United States Sailing Association (USSA) certified sailing instruction to adults (18+), both members and non-members. Sets of lessons on the water offer personalized instruction, giving novices a non-intimidating opportunity to learn the basic skills of sailboat handling and care. Even experienced sailing crew can benefit by learning responsible helmsman ship. Students build confidence and gain experience while learning. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Keelboat course provides US SAILING certification-of-competency to skipper a sailboat. This can help wherever one wants to rent or charter a sailboat or become a starter crew member on any racing sailboat. Private lessons are also available.
Scheduling
For your convenience, the courses are offered throughout the week in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Class lengths will vary from 3-hours depending on the session to better accommodate schedules of our participants. Whether you have all summer or one weekend, we will have a course and time frame to meet your needs. Unlike commercial schools, we try to separate lessons rather than holding them on consecutive days, to offer you time to review appropriate textbook sections between lessons and hopefully to expose you to variations in the weather. Classes will run from June through September In-process classes must be completed by the end of September. After that, weather usually deteriorates, often making sailing instruction unpleasant.
Textbook
Our program uses US Sailing’s “Basic Keelboat” textbook series. These books include Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, & Coastal Navigation. It is very comprehensive, but not overly technical. The text is understandable and includes excellent pictorials of boats, terminology, wind-sail relationships and knots. We suggest that you only skim your copy prior to your lessons. Reviewing appropriate details after each lesson will help clinch your learning experience. Textbooks are included in the price of each lesson.
Clothing & Equipment
Lake Ontario weather is often very different than that on land. In early summer, it is much colder; in fall, it is often warmer. You may be exposed to wind, rain, spray, cold and heat, and strong direct and reflected sunlight. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are provided if you don’t have your own; they will be worn at all times while on the water. If you’re uncertain about how to dress, before you go out, ask your instructor about the day’s anticipated weather.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in selecting a course, please contact our Sailing Director:
E-mail: [email protected]
Work Phone: (585) 342-5511 x141
Discover Sailing Experience
Members: $35.00
Non-Members: $55.00
Groups of 3 or more may arrange private outings.
The RYC Discover Sailing Experience Course is the perfect introduction into sailing. You can participate in a fun two hour sail with a partner, group of friends, work colleagues, or family for a minimal fee. Discover your love for the seas and sailing on this short cruise.
Discover Sailing is a great opportunity to find out just how fun, safe, accessible, and affordable sailing is and enjoy the great social club environment. A qualified certified Instructor will be out on the water with you, ensuring your safety. Discover Sailing Experiences are held on a Keelboat. Our Keelboats allow you to learn to sail without the fear of capsizing. The Discover Sailing Experience is ideal for people who have never been sailing and have no sailing knowledge.
Sailcation
Cost: $95
Join us at RYC with a two hour sail combined with lunch on our deck overlooking the waterfront. You can participate in a fun two hour sail with a partner, group of friends, work colleagues, or family for a minimal fee. Discover your love for the seas and sailing on this short cruise followed by a delicious lunch near the water.
The Sailcation is a great opportunity to find out just how fun, safe, accessible, and affordable sailing is and enjoy the great social club environment. A qualified certified Instructor will be out on the water with you, ensuring your safety. The sailing portion is held on a Keelboat. Our Keelboats allow you to learn to sail without the fear of capsizing. This experience is ideal for people who have never been sailing and have no sailing knowledge. Price includes lunch, drink and two hour sail.
Learn to Sail
Members: $450.00
Non-Members: $590.00
**Prices include text**
The 12 hours of “Learn to Sail” are a prerequisite for “Basic Keel boat”. They offer beginners, and experienced crew members alike, hands-on sailing experience and confidence to helm a sailboat with the knowledge of the Rules of the Road.
Instruction begins in the boats (Ideal 18 or Sonar), on the water, in the first lesson. After about an hour’s orientation you will sail the boat out! You can learn how to rig and secure sails, lines and gear; steer by the wind; trim sails properly; recover an overboard victim; dock and undock your sailboat. You’ll tie the few basic nautical knots, be exposed to nautical terms and can learn the Rules of the Road on the water.
Note: If an experienced crew can demonstrate these skills in the first lesson, he/she may advance directly to the Basic Keel boat lessons without additional charge. Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Basic Keelboat
Members: $450.00
Non-Members: $590.00
**Prices include text**
Pre-Requisite: Learn to Sail, or ability to demonstrate skills listed above.
More info click here: US Sailing Basic Keelboat Course
The twelve-hours of “Basic Keel boat” provide the Basic Keelboat graduate will have successfully demonstrated the ability to responsibly skipper and crew a simple daysailing keelboat in familiar waters in light to moderate wind and sea conditions.
After passing the Basic Keel boat on-water evaluation and the US SAILING multiple-choice written test, you will be deemed competent to sail a small keel boat safely on your own. You earn a Basic Keel boat sticker for your official US SAILING Logbook, certifying your sailing skill level. This can help qualify you to charter sailboats from rental agencies here and abroad. You also receive one year’s US SAILING membership.
Note: Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Advanced Keelboat
Members: $450.00
Non-Members: $590.00
**Prices include text**
Pre-Requisite: Learn to Sail, Basic Keelboat certified. The twelve-hours of "Advanced Keelboat” will have successfully demonstrated the ability to responsibly skipper and crew a simple daysailing keelboat in familiar waters in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. This course is a continuation after the Basic Keelboat US Sailing Certified course. Improving skills to become more comfortable with sailing in various conditions. Note: Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Refresher Course
Members: $75.00/hour
Non-Members: $100.00/hour
Are you unsure of how everything works, but you're dreading letting another summer go by without sailing? This is the course for you! We are aware that not everyone can get on a boat as often as they would like and that everyone can get a little rusty after the off-season... but there's no need to retake a whole sailing course. If you just need to brush up your boat handling skills, let us help you get back on board! We make it our goal to give you the knowledge and confidence to safely get on the water again.
Note: This refresher course is intended for intermediate sailors.
Classes are scheduled as requested. Classes are intended to review skills as requested by participants. A minimum of two participants is required to run a course.
Private Lessons
Members: $75.00/hour
Non-Members: $100.00/hour
Our Certified Instructors may also be booked to provide private lessons for more advanced lessons or you may opt for additional sailing time with an instructor if you feel the need before going for final Keelboat qualification. Private lessons are held on Ideal 18's or Sonars.
Note: Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Reserve a Sailboat
RYC members are welcome to our Club Sonars and Idal 18s! Once Cleared by an adult sail instructor, you are welcome to reserve a boat for a half day or full day. Simply use our online registration system to reserve a boat by clicking HERE.
Powerboat Handling
Members: $280
Non-Members: $330
This sixteen hour, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a powerboat or improve their on-the-water boat handling skills. No experience necessary. The topics are covered using a variety of techniques in the classroom and dockside, emphasizing on-the-water practical application of all skills. http://www.uspowerboating.com/Class needs at least two students in order for it to run.