BCYC Fall 2011 Basic Adult Sail School Dates, Click here for details.

Boca Ciega Yacht Club Sailing School Basic Sailing School BCYC presents one of the best basic sail school program in the Tampa Bay area. This course is designed to be accessible to the complete novice. This program is offered twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Each is open to the public. We can accommodate 8 students per waterfront session and therefore 32 students in a class.

Courses are taught on a volunteer basis by some of BCYC's most knowledgeable skippers. BCYC Club members also serve as Table Captains, assist in the Classroom sessions and answer questions students may have. In addition to the five Wednesday night classroom sessions covering the essential sailing and safety skills, students participate in four weekends of "hands-on" sailing experiences on Boca Ciega Bay aboard a fleet of exciting new Catalina 16.5’ self righting, self bailing Club boats. These half-day sessions are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Table Captains may also provide additional sailing experience by hosting sail-outs each session on their own boats. The objectives of BCYC's Basic Sailing School are to produce graduates who can rig the sails of a small boat; assess the wind and sail away from the dock; perform the basic maneuvers of tacking, jibing, and trimming sails; and sail safely back to the dock. We also provide information supplied by the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary relative to federal equipment and procedure requirements related to safe sailing and much more. In addition students receive a complimentary three-month BCYC membership and are encouraged to participate in Club social activities and in the monthly Club cruise. Boca Ciega Yacht Club Basic Sailing School is the best value beginning sailing program in the area, offering ten hours of classroom time and sixteen hours of waterfront time, and a U.S. Sailing Association Certification Series textbook for an extremely reasonable $225 per person. Taking the Sailing School also provides a 50% financial incentives towards BCYC membership.

Next Sailing School September 22. Since these basic classes fill quickly you should register immediately for the class to reserve a space.

The general schedule for our school: Meet Wednesday nights, 7-9 pm (the first night we meet at 6:30 to get administrative things out of the way). Then meet for four weekend waterfront sessions. At our first class meeting we have all students consider which session fits their schedule for the four weekends and sign up for one of: 8:30 am to noon Saturday; 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Saturday; 8:30 am to noon Sunday; or 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Sunday. Class graduation will be on the fifth Wednesday meeting.

To fit busy schedules a student can miss one of the Wednesday night classroom sessions and one of the weekend waterfront sessions without being disqualified from graduation. If a student is unable to complete all requirements, we encourage them to finish the class. Make-up sessions are often possible and more sailing sessions are available during your free three month trial membership.

Again, the fee is $225 per person. Historically the class fills up a couple of weeks before the start date, so early registration is strongly encouraged.

To register, print out and fill in the two page application.

Enclose your personal check for $225, and mail the form with your check to the Boca Ciega Yacht Club address shown on the form. The registration coordinator will contact you to confirm receipt of the registration and check, and to give directions to reach the club.