All Courses
Introduction to Sailing
Yachting · 16 hours

Introduction to Sailing

From First Sail to Confident Crew

About This Course

A comprehensive beginner sailing course covering sail theory and how a boat sails, the parts of the boat and rigging, points of sail and sail trim, essential knots and line handling, the rules of the road and navigation basics, safety equipment and man-overboard recovery, anchoring mooring and docking, and weather tides and passage planning. Interactive video lessons, guided reading, and knowledge-check quizzes throughout.

What You'll Learn

How a Sail Works: Lift and Drag
Sailing Upwind and Downwind
The Forces on a Sailing Vessel
The Hull, Deck & Cockpit
Standing Rigging: Mast, Shrouds & Stays
Running Rigging: Halyards, Sheets & Control Lines
The Six Points of Sail
Sail Trim for Each Point
Steering for Speed and Balance
The Essential Knots
Coiling, Stowing & Flaking
Line Handling Under Load
The COLREGs: Who Gives Way?
Steering & Sailing Rules in Detail
Aids to Navigation & Basic Chartwork
Safety Equipment: Required & Recommended
Man Overboard Recovery
Preparing for Heavy Weather
Anchoring: Choosing a Spot & Setting the Anchor
Picking Up a Mooring
Docking Under Sail & Power
Reading the Weather
Wind, Sea State & the Beaufort Scale
Tides, Currents & Passage Planning

Course Curriculum

8 modules · 24 lessons · 16 hours

1

Sail Theory & How a Boat Sails

How sails generate lift and drive, the forces on a sailing vessel, and the basic physics of sailing upwind and downwind.

How a Sail Works: Lift and DragSailing Upwind and DownwindThe Forces on a Sailing Vessel
2

Parts of the Boat & Rigging

The hull, deck, and cockpit; the standing rigging (mast, shrouds, stays) and running rigging (halyards, sheets); and the sails and their controls.

The Hull, Deck & CockpitStanding Rigging: Mast, Shrouds & StaysRunning Rigging: Halyards, Sheets & Control Lines
3

Points of Sail & Sail Trim

The six points of sail, how to trim the sails for each, reading telltales, and steering for speed and balance.

The Six Points of SailSail Trim for Each PointSteering for Speed and Balance
4

Knots, Lines & Line Handling

The essential knots every sailor must know, coiling and stowing line, and safe line handling under load.

The Essential KnotsCoiling, Stowing & FlakingLine Handling Under Load
5

Rules of the Road & Navigation Basics

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), steering and sailing rules, and basic chartwork and aids to navigation.

The COLREGs: Who Gives Way?Steering & Sailing Rules in DetailAids to Navigation & Basic Chartwork
6

Safety Equipment & Man Overboard

Required and recommended safety equipment, the man-overboard recovery, and preparing for heavy weather.

Safety Equipment: Required & RecommendedMan Overboard RecoveryPreparing for Heavy Weather
7

Anchoring, Mooring & Docking

Choosing an anchorage and setting the anchor, picking up a mooring, and docking under sail and power.

Anchoring: Choosing a Spot & Setting the AnchorPicking Up a MooringDocking Under Sail & Power
8

Weather, Tides & Passage Planning

Reading the weather, understanding wind and sea state, tides and currents, and planning a safe passage.

Reading the WeatherWind, Sea State & the Beaufort ScaleTides, Currents & Passage Planning
$175.00USD
16 hours
8 modules · 24 lessons
Certificate of completion
Passing score: 70%