Learn to Sail
Our Basic Sailing Course is led by a certified Society for the Education of American Sailors (SEAS) instructor in collaboration with local sailors from the Chatham Sailing Club. The class is intended to teach the basics of sailing to those 18 and over who have never been on a sailboat, as well as those with some experience. The course scope is similar to ASA 101: American Sailing Association Basic Keelboat Course.
Next scheduled class date is
October 26-27, 2024
Check back for more class dates.
Download the class schedule and information below. For additional information or to save your spot in the next class please contact the CSC Education Chair at AMargolit@hotmail.com or 973-296-8011.
ASA 101 Basic Course
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Our two-day weekend course is held four times per year. The schedule is usually Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, from noon to 5 pm.
**Please check this page or our club calendar for additional scheduled dates.**
The cost for the course is $150 per student (CSC club members receive a 50% discount
Tybee Light Sail & Power Squadron members receive a 33% discount.
Classes will be held at the CSC Clubhouse at Young’s Marina,
218B Wilmington Island Road, Wilmington Island, on the marina docks on Turner Creek
and on the Wilmington River.
We always attend to safety issues on the water and docks. You must be in fair physical condition and able to step from a dock onto a floating boat.
What you'll learn
​
SATURDAY
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Introduction to sailing,
safety on the water, sailing physics.​
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Points of sail, wind awareness, apparent vs true wind.
inspect boats on the dock to identify
components, four knots to know.​
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM - Sailing a course, navigation,
rules on the water.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Weather, tides
and current plus two more knots to know.
SUNDAY
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Review
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - On the water session: teamwork and communication,
sailing maneuvers, docking and crew overboard.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Final review, Q&A,​
5 PM - Exam. Types of sailing craft, feedback.
​
What to bring
Please bring a lunch on Saturday, and plenty of water to
drink throughout the weekend.
​
The American Sailing Association course book, Sailing Made Easy, is highly recommended but not required or provided. Several handouts will be given out before and
during the class.
​
Personal Flotation Devices are required; bring your own or borrow one of ours.
Also wear proper boat shoes and sun protection on both days.
ASA 103 : Coastal Cruising
Next scheduled class: May 19-20, 2024
What you'll learn
​
DAY ONE
Boating safety regulations & guidelines
Boat Systems - battery, auxiliary engine operation, fuel, plumbing and bilge.
Knots, Coiling and Tossing Lines
Weather, Fog, Clouds, Tides & Currents
(Lunch Break)
Leaving the Dock
Compass Steering
Reefing (Main & Jib), heave-to, docking
Water Session Review / Q&A
DAY TWO
Coastal Navigation, Navigation Rules
Navigation Lights, Crew Overboard
Onboarding with halyard & elevator techniques
Emergencies & procedures: running aground, rigging failure, leaks and fouled propeller and more.
(Lunch Break)
COB, Anchoring and mooring
Final Review / Q&A
Exam, graded
Regattas & Cruising, feedback, evaluations, next steps
​
What to bring
Please bring a lunch on Saturday, and plenty of water to
drink throughout the weekend.
​
The American Sailing Association course book, Coastal Cruising Made Easy is highly recommended but not required or provided. Several handouts will be given out before and
during the class.
​
Personal Flotation Devices are required; bring your own or borrow one of ours.
Also wear proper boat shoes and sun protection on both days.
Save your spot
To register for the above 101 and 103 classes, please contact Angela Margolit at the email address below.
Join our facebook
community.
CSC Affiliate programs
Additional learning opportunities and special offers from Sail Savannah and Mariners Learning Systems.
Sail Savannah ASA Certification
After completing our basic non-certificate sailing class, Sail Savannah's ASA Sailing School offers a more hands-on experience and full certification for ASA 101 and ASA 103.
Here's how it works:
Complete our Basic Sailing Course above with Angela Margolit.
Complete ASA 101 certification testing through Sail Savannah: $100
ASA 103 course and certification: $775
Total cost is $875, a savings of $475!
Chatham Sailing Club Members will receive a 10% discount when they enrolled in
both courses through Sail Savannah.
Sail Savannah's Sailing School instructors are experts in building knowledge and experience, so that you can achieve confidence and pilot or crew safely in your sailing adventures - whether you rent a boat from a local harbor, go on an exotic sailing vacation, or considering boat ownership.
Mariners Learning System
Thinking about obtaining your captain's license? Take your boating skills to the next level with our online affiliate program at Mariners Learning Systems. Popular courses include the Sailing Endorsement Captain's License and the OUPV Six Pack Captian's License Course. Mariners Learning System has been a leader in online learning since 2005 and has been educating boaters for nearly two decades. Written by an experienced captain and delivered in an engaging, easy to follow format for any aspiring captain, we know that our courses are the best out there.
