Learn-to-Sail: Sundays All-in-one

Scheduled Classes

When

Sundays 9:00am to 2:00pm during the Summer

Who May Attend

This class is intended for members of the MIT Community who have no prior sailing experience and want to become active sailors at MIT.

Attendance is limited to 20 people per session! This number may change depending on conditions and boat availability.

Those with prior experience (including any prior graduates of the Learn-to-sail classes) who wish to have a "refresher" are encouraged to attend the Mid-Week Class 1 and/or 3 lessons.

Requirements

• Valid MIT ID or proof of MIT Community status.
• Current MIT athletic membership.
• Ability to swim. No exceptions. You should be able to meet the standard MITNA swimming requirement, but do not need to present proof.
• Appropriate attire. Come dressed for sailing: Wear sneakers and clothes that you do not mind getting soaked in the Muddy Charles water.
• Non-MIT guests are not allowed in classes at this time due to demand, but once you learn to sail you are encouraged to take your swimming friends out as guests on your own.

Registration

You must Register online before the class, typically on the prior Friday morning.

Before The Class

We recommend that you watch the videos and practice the Stunsail Tack Bend and Bowline knots (Animated Knots).

Description

Sunday sessions are run without any major breaks, so be ready for a full morning 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, cellphones, and any other valuables at home. 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.

8:30-9:00am	Registration Sign-In Check-in for boat assignments, learn some knots, start rigging the sail on your Tech Dinghy.
8:55am	Registration Cutoff Registrants for the 9:00 session must show up by 8:55am or forfeit their spots.
9:00am-Noon	Basics and First Sail Basic Pavilion info (general tour, front desk, sailing cards). Learn to rig your boat. Basic sailing concepts: Wind direction, balance, sail trim, steering, tacking. Go for your first sail: Launch, sail out to a buoy, tack, land at dock.
Noon-1:30pm	Additional Sailing Concepts and Practice Short lecture with more details on Tacking, Gybing, Sailing Upwind/Downwind. Additional sailing practice sailing around and between buoys on the water. Unrigging.
1:30pm-2:00pm	Wrap-up and Pavilion Details Review of sailing session - Q & A. Additional details about Pavilion use and rules.

Handouts

You can use these handouts both before and after the class:

• Sunday Class Notes
• Rigging Step-by-Step (New Techs)
• Welcome to Sailing at MIT: An introduction to the Sailing Pavilion
• Knots you need to know: Bowline, Stunsail Tack Bend, and Mooring Cleat

References

• Sailing and the Tech Dinghy Booklet
• http://www.sailnet.com/collections/learningtosail/