A typical Basic Keelboat Sailing Class:
Learn to Sail Texas will send all of your class materials when you register. There will be assigned reading and exercises to complete prior to the class plus forms you must sign and returned.
Make the most of sailing course, read the lessons and do your home work.

Day One
We limit the time spent in the classroom, your here to be sailors! Class is conducted from 9 - 5, (0900 to 1700), each day. First, a classroom session each day. The classroom is located at:2848B S. Alameda Corpus Christi. This session usually lasts about 90 minutes, followed by a short break. We then meet aboard our training vessel, (Training Won), and conduct another hands on review. A quick lunch, 1100 to 1200, and we shove off for the rest of the afternoon. We return from Corpus Christi Bay and head back to the marina around 4:00 and take the first part of the ASA 101 written test. If the weather is comfortable we'll test on the boat.

Day Two
The second day is similar, short morning classroom session, a day on the water practising; tacks, jibes, and Man Overboard Recoveries, then complete the written test.

Over this two day period you will learn, understand and practise the following:

• Basic Safety Afloat; PFDs, proper gear and clothing, communications, Rules of the Road (Right of Way), and sound signals
• Sailing lexicon; sailboat parts, sail parts, sail types, types of sailboats
• Running and standing rigging identification and function
• Sailing terms and commands used while underway
• Basic marlinspike; There are 6 knots you must master
• Points of sail, (angle of the boat to the wind); There are 7 points of sail if you include "sailing by the lee" and "in irons". You will recognize and understand each.
• USCG Required safety equipment
• Figure 8 man overboard recovery method, (Advanced classes learn at least 2 methods).
• Reefing methods, (reducing sail).
• Tacks, Jibes, and Hoving to
• Legal responsibilities
• Float plans
• Departure and arrival techniques
• Waste disposal and dumping regulations
• Basic Aids To Navigation (ATONS)
• Elementary nautical chart usage

Yes it seems like a lot of material and, yes there is more, a lot more! Reading the assignments and working the exercise at the end of the assigned chapters prior to the start of class will enhance and facilitate your learning experience on the water. This is the beginning of an experience and a quest for knowledge and skill that can last a lifetime. You might start racing or single hand a boat across the bay just to get away, perhaps take your family to a near-by port or cross an ocean. Its all possible. I've been sailing keelboats for nearly 20 years and and after tens of thousands of miles on the water, I am still learning. Come On, Join Us, Lets Learn to Sail Texas in Corpus Christi!
Fair Winds
Captain Chris

What to bring
This is the easy part.
1. White soled tennis shoes, boat mocks or a non marring sport shoe.
2. Appropriate sport clothing. Breathable fabrics that dry easily are popular.
3. An appropriate jacket; summertime a light, water repellant, windbreaker, colder months sweater and an insulated shell.
4. Suntan lotion, sun glasses, cap or visor
5. If you own a comfortable PFD, (life jacket), bring it. Otherwise we'll ask you to wear one of our vests. Learn to sail Texas asks that you wear a PFD as does ASA. However, your adults, we can not force you. If you do not wish to wear a PFD, please note it on your ASA liability waiver.
6. Lunch is around 11:00 - to 12:00, your on your own. Some classes agree to take the boat to one of the local "on the water" restaurants, (Joe's Crab Shack, Pier 99, Landry's etc), as long as it is unanimous its OK.

To view the class schedules or enroll in a class. Please use the appropriate Schedule or Enroll links on the left