Cruising

Do you want to sail beyond the Key Bridge and explore the Chesapeake Bay? Or do you dream about a sailing vacation in the Caribbean? Well, you aren’t alone. Many Downtown Sailing Center (DSC) members who learn to sail on our J/22s and Sonars eventually want to learn to sail larger boats. The DSC’s cruising program provides recreational and educational sailing opportunities on our fleet of cruising-class* sailboats. As DSC cruising crew or a cruising skipper, you can enjoy sailing on our cruising boats, take classes to become better cruising crew, or even gain the knowledge and practice the skills needed to become a cruising skipper. DSC cruising skippers may charter our boats for their own private sailing vacations, as well.

A cruising committee, comprised of DSC members, manages the cruising program. Committee members volunteer their time to manage the cruising fleet, as well as the cruising programs and events. Any DSC member (other than social members) may participate in the cruising program by adding cruising privileges on to their membership. Cruising crew privileges are a $50 add-on to any any DSC crew or skipper membership. Cruising skipper privileges are a $100 add-on to any any DSC skipper membership. Cruising skippers must be approved by the cruising committee.

By participating in the cruising program, you can learn:

• how to plan a cruise;
• how to operate an auxiliary-powered cruising sailboat;
• how to handle, reef and anchor a cruising sailboat;
• coastal navigation; and
• how to maintain and do repairs on a cruising sailboat.

In addition, DSC cruising crew and cruising skippers have the opportunity to:

• attend lectures on topics of interest to cruisers;
• take cruising "continuing education" classes;
• earn US SAILING Basic Cruising and/or Bareboat Cruising Certification;
• accumulate hours underway to document experience; and 
• operate the cruising boats in various outreach programs of the DSC.

DSC members (crew level or above) who would like to try cruising before adding on cruising privileges may do so on select open sails or on one of the two (spring and fall) newbie overnight cruises. 

Cruising on Wednesday and Sunday Open Sails

Some of the DSC’s cruising sailboats go out on select Wednesday and Sunday membership sails (see Calendar for dates), giving members (at crew level or above) the opportunity to experience sailing on a large boat and decide if they want to participate in the cruising program. On Wednesday or Sunday membership sails:

• DSC members may act as crew at no charge. 
• The cruising skipper may designate their own first mate, but the dockmaster will assign other crew.

If you are interested in sailing on one of the cruisers, ask the dockmaster if one is scheduled to go out when you arrive for an open sail.

*The term "cruising-class" generally refers to keelboats with auxiliary power (inboard or outboard engines) and some provisions for sleeping and cooking.

Registration

Registration is not required for the Sunday and Wednesday open sails, which are open to all members on a first-come first-served basis after checking in with the dockmaster.

You must register in advance for newbie cruises. The number of registrations accepted will be based on the number of cruisers going out for the event (based on availability of boats and cruising skippers). Early registrants will have priority. Registration will open two weeks prior to the event. It is our sincere desire to be able to accommodate all those who want to attend cruising events, but this may not always be possible. Those registrants who are accepted for an event will be contacted by a cruising skipper or a cruising committee member with additional details for the event.

Cancellation Policy

Registration for cruising events is limited, so please show up for any event for which you have registered! If you don't show up, you may be preventing another person who wanted — and was available — to attend from attending that event. It is even possible that a boat may not be able to go out due to insufficient crew. If you register for an event and realize you aren't going to be able to attend, please send an email to grady@downtownsailing.org at least two business days prior to the event so that someone on the waiting list can take your place.

Questions?

For more information about the cruising program, please send an email to Membership and Office Manager Grady Byus.