Getting Started with Chicago Sailing

Chicago Sailing is committed to you becoming an accomplished, confident sailor. To that end we teach in the same experiential manner that you might find in a flight school. Our courses emphasize effective sailing skills, not tedious tasks. Each evolution is repeated and reviewed until mastery is achieved. Within a few days of on-the-water training you will be joining the thousands of Chicago Sailing students who have successfully vaulted from landlubber to skipper.

It all starts with Basic Sailing 101, the indispensible foundation for one's lifetime of adventure. Chicago Sailing's certified instructors will have you on the water, learning quickly, and mastering the boat. You will be in full control of our instructional vessel, the J/22. We selected this vessel, by virtue of its responsiveness and stability, to promote experiential learning. As a result, students develop a genuine feel for proper boat handling. You will be amazed at how fun learning to sail can be and how fast the sessions go. Before you know it you will be a sailor, qualified to skipper a vessel on your own. Read more about the course by clicking here.

For those with rusty or non-keelboat skippering skills, Chicago Sailing offers the Refresher Sailing 121 course. It is specifically designed to establish a solid keelboat foundation for those with gaps in their sailing backgrounds or for those wishing to bolster their confidence. Our Refresher Sailing serves to bypass the basics, but is definitely not a substitute for Basic Sailing 101. Read the course agenda and sign-up by clicking here .

What's Next?

Now that you are a new skipper you will undoubtedly want to widen your sailing background to include the vital basic knowledge of anchoring, weather, navigation, and boating rules. Chicago Sailing's Advanced Sailing 161 course is the perfect way to acquire these skills and qualify for US SAILING's Basic Keelboat Certification exam. Successful graduates are awarded certification, opening the door to worldwide charter opportunities. Find out more here.

We at Chicago Sailing are always thrilled to see our new sailors passionately embark upon their lifetimes of adventure. The most successful are those who bolster their formal training with on-the-water experience. This is why we encourage sailors to practice regularly. One fun and economical way to do so is Club Sailing, a venue that brings you together with other sailors for a few hours of J/22 sailing and socializing. Club Sailing is held several times each week, including Tuesday evenings when we treat you to our famous Chicago Sailing cookout. Your guests are welcome too. Reserve your spot today.

Do Chicago Sailing's group lesson schedules conflict with your schedule? We can create custom private schedules for all of our lesson offerings based on your scheduling needs. Private lessons are also a great way to brush up on a small list of skills. Information regarding our private lesson rates can be found here. To find out about a custom program tailored to your sailing goals, contact us today.