American Sailing Academy

Components of Basic Sailing Course

History of Sailing
How and why do sailboats sail
Points of sail and sail settings
Parts of a sailing vessel
Small outboard motor operation
Rules of the road
Safety – dockside and on the water
Basic VHF radio operation
Practice reaching, running and sailing close-hauled
More practice reaching, running and sailing close hauled
Tacking and jibing
Man overboard drill
Docking under power
Anchoring
Basic knots
Proper securing of a sailboat
How to read a chart
Sailing story telling

At the end of the Basic Sailing Course; students will be certified to take command of the Catalina 22 and/or O’Day 22 sailing vessels within the Key Lime Sailing Club’s fleet.  This certificate may also be recognized by many of the other sail charter and rental companies.

Advanced Sailing Courses
These advanced sailing courses will be available either on an ad hoc basis or specially offered at the best times on our Key Lime Sailing Club events calendar.  For example, the children’s summer camp and Catalina tune up clinic will require additional, highly qualified staff; thus, offered according to demand at the times scheduled in our calendar.

Coastal navigation using both GPS and compass
Charter boat operation
Preparing for live aboard life
Outboard motor tuning and maintenance
Advanced docking
Racing school
Catalina tune up clinic
Children’s summer sailing camp program
Multihull sailing

Detailed Curriculum for Basic Sailing Course –
(Note:  Because of the variety of days and times this course is given, as well as the possibility of bad weather{rare as it is in the Keys!}; the curriculum below is a general statement of how the lectures and on board lessons will be presented)

FIRST LESSON – SAILBOATS AND HOW/WHY THEY SAIL
The WIND; necessity for good communication(s) at all times; history of sailing; sailing terminology; the sailing circle and basis sailing maneuvers; how design of the boat contributes to a modern sailboat abilities; sailing an A to B to C and back again course on paper; rescuing a man overboard; and, a quick checklist of required and preferred safety equipment.

FIRST ON THE WATER LESSON
Introduction to your Catalina 22; locating, identifying and using required safety equipment; how to start and operate your outboard motor; discussion of parts of the boat, rigging the sails, leaving the dock; sailing the points of sail and executing tacking and jibing procedures.

SECOND LESSON – SAFETY, EMERGENCIES, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, RULES OF THE ROAD/SEA
Review of the proper use of safety equipment (life preservers, throwable device, flares, fire extinguisher); anchoring and docking, dealing storms and heavy wind conditions, grounding, and getting free; Rules of the Road/Sea; other boating regulations; basic knots.

SECOND ON THE WATER LESSON
Sailing the triangular course to put tacking, jibing, the points of sail and sail trim to use to sail from A to B to C and safely return; man overboard practice.

THIRD LESSON – WIND AND WAVES, TIDES AND CURRENT, NAVIGATION
How the wind over open water, shallow water and into currents affects waves and sailing conditions; tide and current; learning the chart symbols, and the navigation chart to find your way and determine your position.  Closing discussion of how the wind velocity and direction, the fetch, current strength and directions and points of sail contribute to a sailing plan for the day.

THIRD ON THE WATER LESSON
Marrying the principles of tacking, jibing, running, reaching with positions on the chart (A to B to C).  Identifying marks, islands, channels (ICW), landmarks (KLSC’s microwave tower), and other navigation aids.  How to secure a sailboat safely.

FINAL SESSION
Taking command of your vessel, sign Hold Harmless Agreement, issue of chart, VHF radio (including its proper usage), where to go to sailing adventures around the Key Lime Sailing Club, then the story telling really begins!