Adult Sailing
Ages 18+
Our Intro to Keelboat class for adults is perfect for folks with zero to minimal sailing experience who are interested in beginning their sailing education journey!
Our classes run on our J24 keelboats which are 24 feet long and great for beginners. These boats offer the reactiveness of a dinghy without the risk of capsize, a perfect introduction to sailing. Students in this course will learn the basics of sailing including reading and understanding the wind, rigging, boat handling and maneuvering, and more.
While everyone learns at a different pace, this class will prepare students for either an intermediate course, starting their boat ownership journey, or crewing on another vessel. We look forward to seeing you out on the water!
New Class Added!!
Questions regarding class?
Please email our Program Director, Sandy Rost at:
programs@olympiacommunitysailing.org
Questions regarding registration?
Please email our Office Administrator, Jessie Sordahl, at:
info@olympiacommunitysailing.org
Preparing to Sail
Prior to Class
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Click HERE to complete our Medical and Liability Waiver. These are required to be updated every 12 months and must be submitted BEFORE class starts.
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US Sailing’s Basic Keelboat text is a great place to start, or refresh, your sailing foundation. While this text will not be exclusively featured in our Adult Intro to Keelboat class, it is a great resource to explore before and/or after you sail.
Day of Class
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Snacks (lunch if you are attending a full day course)
Water Bottle (full and reusable)
Sunscreen
Life Jacket
Available to rent for $10/class or you can bring your own.
Please note, our life jacket inventory is geared towards the needs of our youth sailors. If you consider yourself XL or larger, please know that our current stock of lifejackets may not fit. Outfitters, such as West Marine on Olympia’s westside, can help you get fitted so you’ll be ready to sail safely.
ALL students are required to wear lifejackets at ALL times.
Clothing (weather-appropriate and made to get wet!)
Non-cotton clothing (swimwear, tech material, wool, fleece, etc.)
Not okay: heavy sweatshirts, jeans, cotton sweatpants, etc.
Rain Shell - we still sail when it’s raining! Pants if you have them, too.
Extra layers - it gets cold in the evenings!
Cap/sun hat & sunglasses
Closed toed-shoes
Sailboats are dynamic, so well-fitting shoes will prevent you from tripping.
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Park in the gravel lot at Swantown north of the marina office located HERE.
Look for our sign and staff in the fenced-off, upland storage space next to the parking lot. This is where you will check in each class.
Also Good to Know
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Adult keelboat classes are taught on boats that are 24 ft. long that DO NOT have restrooms onboard. Take this into consideration if you are eating or drinking before or during class.
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All day classes will be broken up into morning and afternoon sessions. Please remember to bring lunch with you. If sailors are still at the dock around lunch time, there is sometimes an opportunity to eat nearby, but being on the dock at lunch is not always guaranteed as we would rather spend time on the water, so please plan ahead.
More Opportunities to Sail
Local sailing instructor and long-time friend and advocate to Olympia Community Sailing, Mary Fitzgerald, is offering small group and individual practice sessions this season for sailors who have taken our entry level Adult Learn-to-Sail classes. She is also offering entry level Intro to Sailing classes. These are great opportunities to keep the momentum going in your sailing journey both in skills and in building connections, as Mary has deep roots in the Olympia sailing community. Check out the details for each below!
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The next small group practice sessions will be held on the following dates from 5:00 p.m. to dusk:
June 7
June 21
June 28
July 2
Price:
Small group practice sessions can be run with a minimum of two sailors and up to a maximum of four sailors. The cost for each session is $100/sailor.
Individual practice sessions are also available and can be set up with Mary. The cost for private sessions is $65/hour.
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Intro to Sailing Classes will be offered on the following dates:
Intro to Sailing (Beginner Class)
June 9, 11, 16 and 18 - 5:30 p.m. to dusk
Intro to Sailing (Women Only)
June 26, 27 and 28
June 26 and 27 - 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
June 28 - 5:00 p.m. to dusk
Intro to Sailing (Beginner Class)
July 11 and 12 - 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Price:
Intro to Sailing classes can be run with a minimum of two sailors and up to a maximum of four sailors. The cost for each class is $450/sailor.
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Location
All practice sessions and classes take off from Swantown Marina.
The Vessel
Practices and classes will take place on Mary's personal boat, SV Clara McDougal, a 30' Newport Sloop with simple rig and all the amenities (galley, head/restroom, etc.).
Your Instructor
Mary has been teaching sailing for over 30 years in the Olympia area and has owend her boat, SV Clara McDougal, for 21 years. She has taught for Olympia Parks and Recreation, The Evergreen State College, Olympia Yacht Club and Olympia Community Sailing. She has been accredited as a teacher by US Sailing, American Sailing Association and is a licensed Coast Guard Captain.
Also Important
Sailors should be prepared to supply their own life jacket and familiarize themselves with sailing terminology. The recommended text is American Sailing Association's, Sailing Made Easy. This text will help sailors better understand sailing terminology, concepts of sail trim and rules of the road for boating.
For questions or to sign up for a small group or individual practice sessions and/or Intro to Sailing Classes, please reach out to Mary Fitzgerald directly at:
Note: All classes are intended for adult sailors, age 18+
Please note that the practice sessions and classes shared with you above are offered on behalf of Mary Fitzgerald and are not Olympia Community Sailing sponsored programs.
Stay in the know!
Click on the button below to add your name to our Notification List to stay in the know about all our Adult Learn-to-Sail opportunities.