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*Special offering - the Fort McHenry Cherry Blossoms are predicted to be in full bloom so you'll get to see them from the water!*
Have you ever thought, "I've always wanted to try sailing…"? If the answer is YES, then the DSC’s 3-hour Taste of Sailing course is for you!
This experience-based course will teach you the basics of helming a sailboat, trimming sails, and will introduce you to some cool nautical lingo. We believe in “learning by doing”, so the majority of your time will be spent on the water with one of our experienced instructors.
You’ll learn while sailing around Baltimore’s beautiful waterfront and have the opportunity to experience the city in a whole new way!
Each boat will have a maximum of 4 students, so there will be plenty of opportunities to try your hand at the tiller, handle the sails, or just sit back and take in the sights.
We welcome everyone from the solo sailor (we’ll pair you up with a group!) to family groups. This is a great opportunity for an educational family outing that can be enjoyed by all. We require that children be at least 7 years of age. If your group size is larger than 4, please contact us (email info@downtownsailing.org) for options.
Please note that there is a firm administrative course change/cancellation fee of $35 per course for switching dates or cancelling. Full cancellation policy is on the FAQ page, located here - please read carefully as refunds are not guaranteed for cancellation within 14 days of class start date.
This course is taught aboard our Sonar class keelboats. These 23' boats have a large cockpit and heavy keel to provide stability. They are specifically made to not tip over, so you don't need to worry!
Parking is available on site in the gravel lot of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Classes meet behind the BMI pavilion, near the gate to the Downtown Sailing Center main dock. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to orient yourself and meet your instructor.
Life jackets are required to be worn and will be provided. Please wear close-toed shoes for safety. We recommend dressing for the weather (it can feel cooler on the water than on land!) and bringing a full water bottle, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and a great attitude.
Please see our Adult Ed FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy.
The on-site bathroom is a port-a-potty.
If the event is full, you may add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up or we are able to add more boats.
Payment is due at the time of registration to reserve your spot - space is limited so don't delay!
Have you always wanted to learn how to sail? Do you want to become a capable and confident crew member at the Downtown Sailing Center? If you said YES, Introduction to Sailing is the course for you!
The course is designed to help new sailors feel comfortable on a boat and give you the basic skills needed to competently crew on a small keelboat with an experienced skipper. During this course, you will learn the following:
We believe in “learning by doing” at the DSC, so the majority of your time will be spent on the water! An experienced instructor will guide you through the curriculum and be on the boat with you at all times. The maximum number of students per boat is 3, to allow everyone plenty of time to learn to drive the boat and trim the sails.
If you have sailing experience but are rusty or did not learn from professionals, we strongly recommend taking this course. Our curriculum is guided by US Sailing materials and you will learn proper and safe sailing techniques.
This is an Adult Education course, and all participants must be at least 16 years of age. To enquire about family-based sailing education options, contact us (email info@downtownsailing.org).
The two-day course takes place from 9am - 4pm each day, with a lunch break in the middle of the day - you can bring your lunch or there will be time to go out to a local fast-food spot. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the day on the water.
This course is taught aboard the DSC’s keelboats, and you’ll sail on either a J/22 or a Sonar. Both have a heavy keel to provide stability and will not tip over during your sail!
Parking is available on site in the gravel lot of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Classes meet behind the BMI pavilion, near the gate to the Downtown Sailing Center main dock. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to orient yourself and meet your instructor. The restroom onsite is a port-a-potty.
If the course is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!
Please review our FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy, and let us know if you have any questions (email info@downtownsailing.org).
FULL PAYMENT IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THIS COURSE. SPACE IS LIMITED.
Performance Sailing
Weekend Course - Saturday & Sunday (9am-4pm)
This course is for sailors looking to take their skills to the next level and learn about optimal sail trim, spinnaker sailing, and generally getting the most speed out of your boat. This is not a learn-to-sail course, participants must be comfortable with all aspects of boat handling, wind awareness, executing smooth tacks and jibes, etc.
This will be an intense and fast-paced course, and you will learn the following skills:
This is not a racing tactics course, but participants will practice rounding marks, and some fun races will be held for skills practice.
Keelboat handling skills are required - all participants require DSC skipper-level skills, to be capable crew with good helming skills, to have passed the US Sailing Basic Keelboat course, or similar. Please refer to the below skills list to ensure you are ready for this course!
Pre-Requisites:
If you have any questions about the course or as to whether this is the right time for you to take it - please email the Adult Education Manager at lessons@downtownsailing.org to set up a call.
The two-day course takes place from 9am - 4pm each day, with a lunch break in the middle of the day. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the day on the water.
Life jackets are required to be worn and will be provided. Please wear close-toed shoes for safety. We recommend dressing for the weather (it can feel cooler on the water than on land!) and bringing a full water bottle, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and a great attitude. The restroom onsite is a port-a-potty.
This 3.5 hour workshop is ideal for the competent crew member looking to learn to plan and execute a departure from and return to the dock under sail in a small keelboat.
You will learn the procedures for departing and docking under different wind directions - upwind, crosswind, and downwind - and will get to practice each of them multiple times with coaching from a skilled instructor. You will also learn how to create a backup plan in case your approach does not work out as anticipated.
The workshop will begin on land with a chalk talk describing each approach, and you will spend the majority of the time on the water practicing. You’ll receive a handout describing the different approaches for future reference.
Prior to attending this workshop, you should feel comfortable with the below skills:
During this event, you will learn:
The course is 3.5 hours in length without a meal break. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the session on the water.
Introduction to Sailing Weekday Course
Thursday & Friday (9am-4pm)
Intermediate Sailing (Level 2): Keelboat Skipper Skill Building
Are you looking to take your sailing skills to the next level? This intermediate-level course is for competent crew looking to advance their skills in boat-handling. This course is ideal for those with solid crewing skills (see below) who are looking to skipper a small keelboat - the skills learned in this course are tested during the DSC Skipper Checkout.
During this fast-paced course, you will learn how to:
If you're not sure if this is the right class for you, our Adult Education Manager would be happy to answer your questions - email lessons@downtownsailing.org to set up a call.
Monday & Tuesday (9am-4pm)
Wednesday through Sunday (9am-4pm daily)
The US Sailing Basic Keelboat course is an intensive course designed to teach you all aspects of handling a keelboat, including sailing technique, water safety (including rescuing a person in the water), knots, vocabulary, and an introduction to weather. This is a nationally recognized certification course which, once completed, will allow you to progress to more advanced US Sailing courses including Basic Cruising and Bareboat Cruising.
Please read this page thoroughly to decide if this course is right for you, and if so, which option is best for you. This 5-day schedule is our fastest-paced option, and is best suited for those with some sailing experience.
The course culminates with written and practical exams, and in order to earn the Basic Keelboat Certification, each student must successfully demonstrate the ability to responsibly skipper and crew a simple daysailing keelboat in familiar waters in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. The skills tested are listed here.
Each student will receive a copy of the US Sailing Basic Keelboat textbook. Upon successful completion of the exams, students will receive a logbook, sticker, and one-year US Sailing membership.
The 5-day course takes place from 9am - 4pm each day, with a lunch break in the middle of the day - you can bring your lunch or there will be time to go out to a local fast-food spot. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the day on the water.
Ready to take your sailing skills to the next level? Join us to learn how to sail with a symmetrical spinnaker — often called the "third sail."
This workshop is designed for sailors who are already comfortable crewing with main and jib and want to expand their skills. Instruction takes place aboard our J/22 and Sonar keelboats.
During this 3.5-hour on-the-water workshop, you will practice:
Each participant will rotate through key crew positions while flying the spinnaker, including:
This is not a beginner course. Before attending, you should feel confident with:
DSC staff carefully monitor wind conditions and will reschedule the workshop if conditions are not appropriate for introductory spinnaker training.
For family-based sailing education options, please email info@downtownsailing.org.
Life jackets are required and will be provided.
Note: The on-site restroom is a port-a-potty.
Please review the full cancellation policy and additional details on our Adult Ed FAQ page before registering.
Knowing how to safely recover a crew member from the water is one of the most important skills in sailing.
This 3.5-hour workshop is designed for competent crew members who want to learn and practice Person Overboard (POB) recovery — a required skill for the DSC Skipper Checkout.
You’ll gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge, including:
You will also be introduced to the Figure 8 recovery method, another effective way to return to a person in the water under sail.
The session begins on land with a brief chalk talk outlining the recovery procedures.
You’ll then spend the majority of the workshop on the water practicing the maneuvers. Each participant will receive a handout diagramming the recovery process for future reference.
This is not a beginner course. Participants should feel comfortable with:
Please review the full cancellation policy and additional information on our Adult Ed FAQ page before registering.
Advanced Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification Completion Weekend Course
Saturday & Sunday (9am-4pm)
Are you looking to round off your sailing education with the US Sailing Basic Keelboat certification? Are you already a competent sailor, with the ability to smoothly execute dockings & departures under sail, the Figure 8 POB, and the Quick Stop?
This advanced-level course is for those who have successfully completed the Level 1 and 2 courses at the DSC and have had adequate practice time to solidify skills. This course will complete the Basic Keelboat curriculum on Day 1, and on Day 2 you will complete the US Sailing Basic Keelboat written and practical exams.
To decide if you are ready for this class, please review the following questions - if you can say YES to all of them, this is a great time for you to take this class! This is not a class to be taken immediately after the Intermediate Sailing course - practice time in between is required to make sure you get the most out of this Advanced level class. In particular, you MUST be able to execute both types of POBs and dock smoothly under all wind conditions. These skills will not be practiced in this course, but you WILL be tested on them during Day 2.
For those who have not taken the Level 1 and 2 courses at the DSC, if you can answer all of the above questions affirmatively, you are welcome to join us! If you have any questions as to your readiness and wish to consult with the Adult Education Manager, please email lessons@downtownsailing.org to set up a call.
If you have taken both Level 1 and Level 2 at the DSC, we will discount your cost of this course so that the total cost of this self-paced Basic Keelboat option is the same as the 5 or 6 day option. Please email lessons@downtownsailing.org if this applies to you.
A supportive sailing clinic for women and non-binary sailors preparing to become DSC skippers.
Women on the Water (WOW) is an all-volunteer program dedicated to increasing access to sailing for women and non-binary people. As WOW continues to grow, we are excited to support more sailors who are interested in becoming skippers and leaders on the water.
This Skipper Skills Clinic is designed for women and non-binary DSC members who are working toward their skipper checkout.
If you are comfortable with basic sailing skills - such as tacking, jibing, and understanding wind awareness - this clinic is a great opportunity to practice more advanced boat handling and build the confidence needed to take the next step toward skipper certification.
Our experienced sailors will help guide practice and create a supportive environment where you can ask questions, refine your skills, and prepare for your checkout.
That’s completely okay! If you're looking for a more relaxed sailing experience or are newer to sailing, we encourage you to join one of our regular Monday WOW sails, where beginners and experienced sailors sail together in a supportive learning environment.
If you are already checked out as a DSC skipper, please consider signing up to volunteer skipper for this clinic.
Volunteering is a great way to strengthen your own skills while helping other women and non-binary sailors grow their confidence on the water. WOW depends on volunteer skippers to make these events possible—thank you for helping build this community!
WOW sessions take place on the first and third Mondays of each month during the sailing season. We occasionally hold Skipper Clinics like this one. Check the events calendar for more dates.
The Downtown Sailing Center welcomes women and non-binary people of all experience levels. Skipper Skills Clinics are open to DSC members only.
We're happy to help. Email info@downtownsailing.org if you have any questions about the program or what to expect.
Docking under sail can feel intimidating — but with the right planning and practice, it becomes a manageable and rewarding skill.
This 3.5-hour workshop is designed for competent crew members who want to confidently plan and execute departures from and returns to the dock under sail aboard a small keelboat.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with:
The session begins on land with a brief chalk talk outlining the techniques and strategies for each type of approach.
You’ll then spend the majority of the workshop on the water practicing departures and dockings multiple times, with personalized coaching from a skilled instructor.
Each participant will receive a handout summarizing the different docking approaches for future reference.
This is an Adult Education course, and all participants must be at least 16 years of age. For family-based sailing education options, please email info@downtownsailing.org.
Weekday Course - Thursday and Friday (9am-4pm)
Saturday/Sunday over 3 Weekends (6 Days, 9am-4pm daily)
Please read this page thoroughly to decide if this course is right for you, and if so, which option is best for you. This 6-day schedule is our medium-pace option, and is best suited for those with at least a little bit of sailing experience.
The four-evening course takes place from 5pm - 8pm each day. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the day on the water.
That’s completely okay! If you're looking for a more relaxed sailing experience or are newer to sailing, we encourage you to join one of our regular Monday WOW sails, where beginners and experienced sailors sail together in a supportive learning environment. Our next regular WOW sail is July 6th!
You'll practice each maneuver multiple times with coaching from a skilled instructor.
That’s completely okay! If you're looking for a more relaxed sailing experience or are newer to sailing, we encourage you to join one of our regular Monday WOW sails, where beginners and experienced sailors sail together in a supportive learning environment. Our next regular WOW sail is August 3rd!
That’s completely okay! If you're looking for a more relaxed sailing experience or are newer to sailing, we encourage you to join one of our regular Monday WOW sails, where beginners and experienced sailors sail together in a supportive learning environment. Our next regular WOW sail is August 31st!
Wednesday & Thursday (9am-4pm)
Women on the Water (WOW)
Skipper Skills Clinic
An all-volunteer effort to increase access to sailing for all women and non-binary people.
WOW is growing, and we need more women and non-binary skippers to help ensure the success of this program!
This skipper skills clinic is for women/non-binary DSC members with their sights set on skipperhood! If you have learned the basics of tacking, jibiing, and wind awareness - come out to practice the more advanced skills and get ready for YOUR skipper check out!
Beginner or not interested in becoming a skipper? That's ok and our our general WOW sails will start again in April 2027!
If you are already checked out as a DSC skipper, please sign up to volunteer skipper. This will allow you to develop your skills while boosting other women. We cannot run this program without your support!
WOW will take place on the first and third Mondays during the season.
The Downtown Sailing Center welcomes women and non-binary people of all skills and experience levels to participate with us.
If you have further questions, email info@downtownsailing.org
The Downtown Sailing Center
1425 Key Highway, Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21230(410) 727-0722 • info@downtownsailing.org
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