Downtown Sailing Center

CRUISING

Wavelength cruiser

Many people who learn to sail in the DSC's dinghys or daysailers eventually want to move up to larger boats, whether it is to sail further distances or to explore the Chesapeake Bay. The DSC has established its Cruising Program to provide educational and recreational sailing opportunities on cruising-class* sailboats to its members. As a DSC Cruiser, you can enjoy sailing on our larger cruising boats, take classes to become a better cruising crew member or skipper, and eventually charter our boats.

The DSC Cruising Program offers several educational opportunities where you can learn:

  • How to operate an auxiliary powered cruising sailboat
  • How to plan a cruise
  • Coastal navigation
  • Boat handling, reefing, anchoring
  • How to maintain and do repairs on a cruising sailboat

In addition, DSC cruising members have the opportunity to:

  • Attend lectures on topics of interest to cruisers
  • Earn ASA certification for bareboat chartering
  • Accumulate hours underway to document experience
  • Operate the cruising boats in various outreach programs of the DSC

For more information about the Cruising Program please e-mail cruising@downtownsailing.org

* - the term "cruising-class" generally refers to keel boats with auxilliary power (inboard or outboard engines) and some provision for sleeping and cooking.

Worton Creek anchorage

Photo Credit: Barbara MacHale