From First Sail to Confident Crew
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.
8 modules · 24 lessons · 16 hours
How sails generate lift and drive, the forces on a sailing vessel, and the basic physics of sailing upwind and downwind.
The hull, deck, and cockpit; the standing rigging (mast, shrouds, stays) and running rigging (halyards, sheets); and the sails and their controls.
The six points of sail, how to trim the sails for each, reading telltales, and steering for speed and balance.
The essential knots every sailor must know, coiling and stowing line, and safe line handling under load.
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), steering and sailing rules, and basic chartwork and aids to navigation.
Required and recommended safety equipment, the man-overboard recovery, and preparing for heavy weather.
Choosing an anchorage and setting the anchor, picking up a mooring, and docking under sail and power.
Reading the weather, understanding wind and sea state, tides and currents, and planning a safe passage.
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