CRUISING LESSONS
Think you’re ready to try your hand at sailing something larger than a Sonar? Then DSC cruising classes are for you!
The DSC now offers two US SAILING cruising certification courses: Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising. Each five-day, four-night course offers students the chance to learn in a real-world environment aboard a 43-foot sailing ketch. The classes give each student a chance to be “Captain for a day,” which helps prepare students to participate in weekend cruises and bareboat chartering. Students will learn basic coastal navigation, steering, sail trim, proper use of a VHF radio and a variety of other skills.
Basic Cruising graduates will, by the end of the class, have successfully demonstrated the ability to responsibly skipper and crew an auxiliary-powered cruising sailboat during daylight hours, within sight of land in moderate wind and sea conditions. Bareboat Cruising graduates will have learned to successfully bring an inboard auxiliary-powered vessel safely to anchor during daylight hours. Graduates of the courses will also be familiar with the boat’s engine and electrical system.
US SAILING cruising courses are taught by U.S. Coast Guard-certified Capt. Phil Schnering on the 43-foot sailing ketch Pintita. The Pintita has heat and air conditioning, a hot water heater, a full galley, two heads with showers, fore and aft cabins, a “salon” with additional bunks and a fully-enclosed center cockpit. Captain Schnering fully provisions the boat for each course and students onboard for several days usually go ashore for dinner one evening.
Currently both Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising are offered on each trip, though if you are interested in taking only one of the courses, please call DSC office. We may decide to hold separated courses if there is a large amount of interest.
In previous years cruising courses, which have limited space, have filled early. We recommend you sign up for your course as early as possible to assure you have a space on the trip. If you have any additional questions about these courses, just give us a call at 410-727-0722 or send an e-mail to education@downtownsailing.org.
The cost for the course is $1,000 and includes textbooks and food. Students must pay their own membership fees to US SAILING if they wish to receive a paper copy of their certification.
US SAILING is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States. To read more about the curriculum for US SAILING cruising classes, visit http://www.ussailing.org/commercial/basiccruis.asp.
The Downtown Sailing Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit community sailing center.
Located at The Baltimore Museum of Industry
Photography donated by Andy Herbick Photography, and others.