If you want to learn how to sail in Bermuda, we're ready to help you by offering a variety of options. We have two different types of boats, dinghies and keel boats so you can experience both types of sailing.

Our dinghies are the 420 Class, a boat for 2 people with 3 sails, main, jib and spinnaker. Dinghies are smaller and a bit more responsive than keel boats. You'll be sailing closer to the water on a more agile boat where a mistake may result in a quick swim! You will be coached from a power boat, giving you the instructions you need in order to learn how to control your boat.

Our keel boats are the J24, a boat for 4 students with 4 sails, main, jib, genoa and spinnaker. These boats are bigger and more relaxed than the dinghies. The coach will be on board with you, so the learning process turns out being a bit more personalized.

We offer courses year round as well as private lessons. Please check the site to find information about our different courses, or contact the Sailing Office to chat about your goals.  

LEVEL 1 – J24 & 420 – Learn to Sail Course

NOTE: when (420) appears this is a drill only for 420’s; when (J24) appears this is a drill only for J24’s

Lesson 1:

On Land or boat:

·         Boat parts – names and function

·         Points of sail – names and purposes

·         Sails trim – basic concept

·         Tacks – movements and way of switching hands (420)

·         Rigging the boat

On the Water:

·         Steer the boat on beam reach point of sail.

·         Tacks

Lesson 2:

On Land or boat:

·         Sails trim & power and de power

·         Capsize drill – what to do to bring the boat back up (420)

On the Water:

·         Beam Reach sailing

·         Alter course + - 30 degrees adjusting the sails

·         Capsize drill (420)

Lesson 3:

On Land or boat:

·         Up wind sailing – concept of high and fast – read the sails

·         Down wind – unwanted gibe – sail trim – read the gibe

On the Water:

·         Up wind Sailing

·         Downwind sailing

·         Tacks and Gibes

Lesson 4:

On Land or boat:

·         Review of up and down wind Sailing

On the Water:

·         Up wind sailing

·         Downwind sailing

·         Alter course + - 30 to 90 degrees - sails trim

·         Tacks and Gibes

LEVEL 2 – J24 & 420 - Intermediate Course

NOTE: when (420) appears this is a drill only for 420’s; when (J24) appears this is a drill only for J24’s

Lesson 1:

On Land or boat:

·         Review of up and down wind Sailing

·         Powering up and de powering using the main sheet

On the Water

·         Up wind sailing

·         Downwind sailing

·         Tacks and Gibes

Lesson 2:

On Land or boat:

·         What to do to pick up the mooring (J24) – to dock at the ramp (420)

·         How to sail in and out among boats on moorings

On the Water:

·         Slalom among boats on moorings

·         Sail in and out among boats

·         Pick up the mooring (J24) – dock at the ramp (420)

Lesson 3:

On Land or boat:

·         Man over board manoeuvre

On the Water

·         Up wind sailing

·         Downwind sailing

·         Tacks and Gibes

·         Man over board manoeuvres

Lesson 4:

On Land or boat:

·         What to do to pick up the mooring (J24) – to dock at the ramp (420)

·         How to sail in and out among boats on moorings

On the Water:

·         Slalom among boats on moorings

·         Sail in and out among boats

·         Pick up the mooring (J24) – dock at the ramp (420)

LEVEL 3 – J24 & 420 - Advanced Course

NOTE: when (420) appears this is a drill only for 420’s; when (J24) appears this is a drill only for J24’s

Lesson 1:

On Land or boat:

·         Parts and names involved

·         Theory of spinnaker – how to hoist and drop – points of sail – sail trim

On the Water:

·         Up Wind sail

·         Downwind sail – hoist and drop of spinnaker – spinnaker trim

·         Use of the genoa depending on wind strength

Lesson 2:

On Land or boat:

·         Review of spinnaker parts, and sail trim – gibes

On the Water:

·         Up and down wind sail

·         Hoist and drop of spinnaker

·         Spinnaker trim

·         Gibes with the spinnaker

Lesson 3:

On Land or boat:

·         Review of spinnaker sailing

On the Water

·         Up and down wind sail

·         Hoist and drop of spinnaker

·         Spinnaker trim changing course + - 90 degrees

·         Gibes with spinnaker

Lesson 4:

On Land or boat:

·         Review of spinnaker sailing

On the Water

·         Up and down wind sail

·         Hoist and drop of spinnaker

·         Spinnaker trim changing course + - 90 degrees

·         Gibes with spinnaker

LEVEL 4 – J24 & 420 – Learn to Race Course

NOTE: when (420) appears this is a drill only for 420’s; when (J24) appears this is a drill only for J24’s

Lesson 1:

On Land or boat:

·         Theory of a race

·         Starts – favoured end – timing – distance – speed

On the Water:

·         Starts – picking and end to start – timing – distance – speed

·         Windward leeward course sailing as racing

Lesson 2:

On Land or boat:

·         Wind shifts and how they affect the up and down wind

·         Strategy and tactics

·         Basic rules

On the Water:

·         Designing the strategy based on course  and wind checks

·         Starts

·         Windward leeward course identifying the wind shifts

Lesson 3:

On Land or boat:

·         Rules – mark rounding and luffing rights

·         Importance of fast and well done manoeuvres – tricks to do them well

On the Water:

·         Racing manoeuvres

·         Mark rounding

Lesson 4:

On Land or boat:

·         Rules review

On the Water:

·         Race against other boats

·         Either Saturdays or Wednesday or among club boats