Sara Schroeder
Lean into sailing this spring by signing up for the 2026 Basic Crewing and Sailing course! Join the Seattle Mountaineers sailing program for another fantastic year of day sails, raft-ups, and racing.
Learn from experienced skippers on how to raise and trim sails, navigate winds via tack and gybe, tie knots, name parts of the boat, and be safe on the water. Offered just once per year, the Basic Crew and Sailing course includes three in-class sessions on Tuesday nights, practical hands-on learning during the class sessions, line to practice knots, one At-The-Dock session, and two training sails occurring April through June.
In this course, you will:
- Rig a sloop-rigged sailboat
- Learn and use terms for parts of a boat
- Assist in departing from and arriving at a dock under power
- Have a basic understanding of sail trim and points of sail
- Learn about sailing gear and requirements for sailing on our Skippers vessels
- Learn and execute safety practices under weather conditions which may be encountered during Mountaineers sails
- Function as a crew member during a sail
- Have a basic understanding of navigation aids
- Learn rules of the road, including right-of-way and give-way
- Practice your sailing skills under the watchful eye of the Skipper
- Experience sailing on different types and sizes of vessels
Completion of the course puts you on the crew list for Mountaineers sails on skipper-owned boats for free! Register today - spots are going fast!
This course uses the US Sailing Basic Keelboat book as a guide. It's highly recommended to purchase the book for additional reference.
