Learn to Sail

These volunteer-taught classes are for members of the MIT Community who have little or no prior sailing experience and are ready for a 5-hour “boot camp” style class. The Sunday All-in-One Learn-to-sail course provides you the basic knowledge & skills to sail on your own after taking the class. This class typically takes place between mid-April and mid-September. 

If you want to take a Learn to Sail class, please first add your name to the Priority Queue and review how to register here.

If you are on the Priority Queue, you can view and register for upcoming classes by clicking a scheduled class in the sidebar or on the calendar.

All-In-One Class Description

Sailing Bootcamp! Sundays 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Attendance is limited to 20 people per session! This number may change depending on conditions and boat availability.
An intense 5-hour class that introduces you to the basics of sailing and being part of the MIT Sailing community. The class will cover:

• Knot tying
• Intro to the Pavilion and its programs, policies & procedures
• Rigging demonstration and practice
• Sailing demonstrations
• Sailing theory & practice lectures
• Sailing practice with coaches in motorboats

Sunday sessions are run without major breaks, so be ready for a full day of intense sailing instruction! You must attend from the beginning and are expected to commit to the entire class. We fit as much training and experience sailing as possible into one long session.

During the class, two people will sail in each Tech Dinghy.

Please leave your wallet, cell phones, laptops and other valuables at home, in one of the few Pavilion lockers, or in the lock box at the front desk. We suggest you bring only your MIT ID and items that can get wet. Do not bring purses, backpacks, laptops, or anything else that will make you unhappy if it gets wet or lost.