ADULT SAILING PROGRAM OVERVIEW and PACKAGE PRICING

Adults who learn to sail at PPM come from many walks of life and in various groupings: families, couples, singles, parent-child, stay-at-home Mom’s, working people, retired people, newcomers, old timers; their reasons for wanting to experience the peace, joy and exhilaration of sailing are endless. Some bring their friends and family members and some take sailing lessons on their own. We can take up to four students at a time on our teaching boat. We can also teach on your own boat, giving instruction in any areas that might be challenging for you such as proper sail trim, docking, using the spinnaker or even learning more about your boat’s systems.

People take sailing lessons at PPM for many different reasons. Some learned to sail years ago and just want a “check-up” so they can make sure they have “covered all the bases” to feel more comfortable sailing or racing with their friends. Others want to feel more confident so they can get back into sailing and/or introduce their families and friends to the joys of sailing. Others have never sailed before but love the water and wondered what it would be like to use just wind and sails to take you where you want to go. Some are power boaters who are curious about sailing. It’s easy to teach power boaters how to sail because they already know the hard part of boating is leaving the dock and then returning to the dock!

Some people might want a refreshing new activity for themselves and their spouse or significant other; some want to try it as a family, some want to “stretch themselves” and try something different. Some are thinking about purchasing or have just purchased a sailboat and want to make sure they know what they are doing. Our instructors are all trained professionals who are specially qualified to meet and teach people from different walks of life who have many different reasons for wanting to take sailing lessons at Pilots Point!

Our adult sailing instructors are very experienced sailors and instructors; either US Sailing Certified or the equivalent, some with their captain’s license, under the direction of Hilary Loftus. Hilary has run the program here since 2000 and received her US Sailing Keelboat Certification in 1998 as an experienced instructor and sailing program manager. Our teaching boat at PPM is a Colgate 26; designed specifically to teach families and adults how to sail by Steve Colgate and Jim Taylor of America’s Cup fame. The C-26 is very fun and easy to sail; as responsive as a dinghy, but it won’t capsize and has some “big boat” features as well. Any level of sailor from novice to intermediate to advanced will have fun and learn a lot on this boat. It is also a very fun boat to race. If you are thinking about purchasing a perfect family boat to daysail and race, speak to Hilary.

Come on and get back into the swing or give sailing a try if you’ve always been curious. Pilots Point Marina has tremendous sailing resources, as you will see! Sailing in our playground here; beautiful, protected Duck Island Sound is a little slice of heaven, as is the whole eastern CT shoreline surrounding us. Read our testimonials to see what people are saying about The Sailing School at Pilots Point Marina. Summer in New England is too short to let it go by without having fun sailing!

Special Package Pricing:

1) Sailing Immersion Classes for Adults & Families on the Colgate 26:
6 hours/week, split into two 3-hour sessions, $230 for Brewer Customers; $265 for others.
Generally, these classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, but days and times can be flexible according to your schedule.

On & off-the-water lessons will teach you how to safely and efficiently leave a dock or mooring and return in varying conditions, maneuver through the points of sail, and properly change course. You will learn sailing terms, seamanship, and basic rules of the road. 80% of the time is on-the-water instruction. If the weather is inappropriate for sailing, class will not be cancelled, and we will spend more time on learning knots, sailing theory, navigation and discussing any particular class goals.

2) Women’s Sailing Group – weekdays only:. Normally, Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 or afternoons, 2:30 to 4:30. $40 for Brewer Customers or Sailing Student Mom’s, $50 for others. Minimum of 3 in a group for class to be held. Drop the kids off at sailing school and experience the joys of sailing for yourself or take some “me time’ and go sailing! Tell all your friends about this great way to get some quick R&R!

What To Bring: Your life jacket (we may have some loaners available if you don’t have one), water, sunscreen, sunglasses (UV protection is best), boat shoes or boat sneakers (no black soles please), appropriate clothing for the weather. It’s best to dress in layers and remember it’s usually a bit cooler on the water, especially if it’s windy. Bring a boat bag with extra clothes if you like; the Colgate 26 has a cabin with plenty of room for storage.