"At sea I learned how little a person needs." - Robin Lee Graham
Become ocean sailors by following our entire course curriculum. Or chose one or two sailing classes. How may we assist you?
"Our instructor in Basic Keelboat I provided the kind of hard core training that got us fully trained very quickly on all aspects of the fundamentals of sailing... he even took us on his own boat in a race Wednesday night which we enjoyed immensely.
Our keelboat II instructor was simply a gem. He was so natural at sailing and teaching that it was as if he has sailed from birth. He was so intuitively connected with all aspects of sailing.
I have taught medicine in Med School for more than 40 years and know something about teaching and the challenges it presents and I have never known a person more able or attuned to the teaching of his subject than this young gentleman Both my son (19) and I (67) loved working with him and learning from him. My son has fallen in love with sailing and your instructors had a lot to do with it.
My goal is to get my entire family together to do a bareboat rental somewhere exotic. This is a dream that your school can help me accomplish. Thank you for offering this opportunity.
I would not only recommend but encourage anyone interested in learning to sail to seek out your remarkable school and try to learn there."-- Thomas Wagner, PhD, Greer, SC
Our sailing course progression guides you from novice to competent ocean sailor.
If you follow the classes in order, taking your time where necessary to practice and hone
certain skills, you will become a competent sailor.
Classes range from 2 to 14 days in duration. Each sailing class in our 5-level progression builds upon the previous course:
The cost for these sailing courses varies based upon individual courses and the total number of courses you want to take. Please see Tuition & Registration for details.
On a calm day it's like a giant bathtub toy
Basic Keelboat
Our Basic Keelboat courses are designed to take the novice from inexperience to a firm foundation in sailing. The specially designed teaching vessels that we use, the Colgate 26, possess the same basic physics of larger live-aboard cruising vessels but are lighter and more responsive, providing the opportunity for students to gain a thorough understanding of how a keelboat reacts and handles.
The course begins with the basics of sailing in the 3-day Basic Keelboat (BK) 1 course and concludes with skippering ability in the 3-day Basic Keelboat (BK) 2 course. OSA teaches sailing classes in full-day sessions with no more than four students per instructor, guaranteeing students a high level of personalized attention.
Family time in the azure islands
Basic & Bareboat Cruising Courses
OSA's cruising courses take the lake and harbor sailor into the world of live-aboard cruising. Graduates will have the qualifications and ability to bareboat charter a live-aboard cruising vessel for multi-day charters without the aid of a hired captain. You will gain a wealth of experience through the extensive practice of onboard sailing skills while sailing to a new destination every day and anchoring overnight.
The Basic Cruising 3-day sailing course introduces managing and operating a live-aboard cruising vessel for day sails within sight of land. Students train on heavy helm-steered vessels.
In Bareboat Cruising, students
live aboard a modern cruising vessel during 3 days of instruction. The class explores offshore and inshore sailing grounds, experiencing
both anchorages and marinas for evening layovers.
Ocean passages are great incentives for figuring out where in the world we are
Coastal Navigation
Coastal Navigation is an essential step to self-reliance at sea. The course lasts six days and combines Coastal Navigation theory with practical application.
Students sail the coastline exercising pinpoint navigation with and without the aid of electronic navigation devices. These skills are imperative for the aspiring sea bound traveler who is blessed with the technology of GPS and radar yet aware of potential electronic malfunction.
This course ensures that our students have the knowledge to get the vessel and crew home safely.
Ahh, the romance
Coastal Passage Making & Celestial Navigation
The 10-day Coastal Passage Making course entails offshore coastal sailing for significant distances with brief layovers in various ports-of-call. The Coastal Passage curriculum provides students the opportunity to experience overnight sailing as well as nighttime landfall, allowing students to take the next step towards extended ocean passage making.
Students inspect inventory, establish watch schedules, calculate ETA's in consideration of wind, weather and current conditions, and take on all primary responsibilities for ensuring a safe and enjoyable passage. Students graduate with U.S. Sailing's Coastal Passage Making certification and the ability to organize and complete future passages on their own.
over the bounding main
Ocean Passage Making
Ocean Passage Making courses, which include Celestial Navigation, are non-stop ocean sailing adventures.
This course is designed to take all sailing topics previously covered to an advanced level providing the sailor with the final ingredients for true self-reliance at sea. The Ocean Passage course includes multi-day clinics focused in Celestial Navigation Theory and Passage Preparation taken prior to enrollment in the Passage Practical. Students have several enrollment opportunities for these clinics prior to the passage dates.
This is the highest level of sailing instruction provided at the Ocean Sailing Academy. Participants will acquire a great deal of knowledge from the experience. We look forward to sailing with you and enjoying an educational and pleasurable passage!
