Adult & Family Sailing
Adults and families can have fun learning together on the water through our signature sailing programs. With options for private lessons, flexible scheduling, and a range of courses from beginner to intermediate, sailing at The Center for Wooden Boats is fun and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
Family Sailing programs require one adult accompany youth 12-17 years. Please see our Youth Programs Page for opportunities like field trips, sailing, and woodworking classes tailored for youth ages 8-15.
Already know how to sail and want to schedule a sailing check out? Learn more here.
Learn to Sail
US SAILING BASIC KEELBOAT CERTIFICATION
The US Sailing Basic Keelboat class is for students who are interested in a comprehensive entry level sailing course which should equip them to skipper keelboats under 27 feet in length, in winds up to 15 knots. This course provides 22 hours of instruction and practice. Upon completion of this course, you will receive the nationally recognized US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification. There are no prerequisites for this class.
SailNOW! LEARN TO SAIL
This is the signature CWB learn-to-sail program for adults and families. Students learn basic boat handling skills that are the foundation for a lifetime of sailing. This one-month intensive learning program starts with shore school followed by 10-hours of practical lessons on the lake.
PRIVATE SAILING LESSONS
One-on-one Private Lessons are perfect for new sailors, experienced sailors wanting a refresher and rental checkout, or anyone wanting to “dip their toe” into the craft of sailing. You’ll practice one-on-one with an instructor - or upgrade your lesson to enjoy with a group fo 2-3 friends and family.
SAFE POWERBOAT hANDLING
This 16-hour hands-on, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate motorboats (up to 26ft) and improve their boat handling skills. No previous experience is required! The US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) have approved this course and an increasing number of states have recognized it as meeting their requirements for a State Boating Education Certificate.
DROP-IN SHORE SCHOOL
This 2-hour class introduces the basics of sailing. Topics include terminology for parts of a boat, points of sail, and basic sailing theory. With this class you will receive to the CWB Sailing Primer!
Improving Your Sailing Skills
SAILING SKILL BUILDING CLINIC
This clinic is perfect for building your sailing skills and your confidence. It provides a low cost way to improve your skills and may be taken as often as you like. It can also be used by SailNOW! or Basic Keelboat students who want some additional sailing time before or after a checked out. This class is not intended for new students who want to learn to sail. It is limited to 3 people per week.
US SAILING PERFORMANCE sAILING CERTIFICATION
This course will help you learn to analyze, adjust, and shape your sails for maximum speed. How to adjust the boats sail controls for optimum performance. This course brings your keelboat sailing skills to a new level without moving up to a bigger boat.
More to Learn & Just for Fun
Small Boat Navigation
Learn navigation and piloting skills for small boats. This class is ideal for small boat cruisers, kayakers and others who want to roam closer to nature.
This is a 10-hour course divided across two weekend days. The first day (6 hours) will teach you how to use nautical charts and other various publications to plan on the water trips for a day or for a month. The second day (4 hours) will focus on understanding how to use Tide and Current publications as part of your navigation toolkit. This is a critical skill for small boat skippers on Puget Sound where we have big tides and strong currents. These skills are transferable to electronic navigation so will form a valuable foundation for more advanced navigation skills. As an additional bonus, you will be introduced to many trip destinations around Puget Sound.
Navigation tools will be provided for the class work. The chart of Puget Sound will be yours to keep after the class.
Small Boat Cruising Clinic
This 4-hour course will introduce you to the world of small boat cruising. Topics include:
How to plan and execute large and small voyages in boats under 22 ft
Features a boat needs to keep you safe and comfortable.
Gear you need
Salish Sea destinations
Small boat cruising is a fantastic way to discover our local waters and provides to opportunity to explore countless lakes and waterways all over North America.
Testimonies
“My friend and I had our first sailing lesson at the CWB. It was great, instructor was clear and kind, we got right into sailing and got to experiment and get a feel for the boat and the wind. ”
“My wife and I took a joint 2-hour lesson, and it was awesome! Derek was personable, knowledgeable, and provided skilled information to maximize our lesson. ”
“I signed up for the private lessons package and have had an excellent experience. Everyone is friendly and takes safety seriously. ”