BQYC Adult Learn
to Sail (ALTS) Sample In-Class Course Content (subject
to change without notice)
(Approx 6:00pm
to 9:30pm)
Day 1
6:00 - 6:15 Student sign-in and receive course material
6:15- 6:20 Welcome to BQYC (Commodore)
6:20- 7:00 Overview of ALTS Course: Objectives, Methodology, Content. The Sport
of Sailing, types of boats from dinghies to keel, cruises to racers. The BQYC
fleet and some of the boats the students will be sailing on
7:00-7:30 What to Wear
Break (Meet some of the skippers)
8:00 -9:00 Sailing, how a sail boat works (use model to demonstrate)
- about the wind
- points of sail
- brief overview of rules of the road
- maybe a short video or two
9:00-9:15 what that boat part is called
- sailing terms
9:15 Homework assignment, what to expect for Day 2, any Q&A
Day 2
6:00-6:10 Review of how a sail boat works while discussing homework assignment
6:15- 9:15 Three parallel sessions. Students are split into three smaller groups
and move from one session to the next as each session finishes.
A:Comprehensive Rules of the Road and Safety
- mandatory safety items required on a boat and why (Have samples available)
- calling/signaling for assistance
- channel markers
- man overboard
- boating license requirement
B: Knots. The four knots you need to know as a sailor. Instructor will ensure
you know how to tie these knots.
C: Rigging a Dinghy. Hands on experience with boat parts in getting a dinghy
ready to sail
Each session will be about 40 minutes and be repeated up to three times by the
instructor. Students can take a break between sessions.
9:15 What to expect for the first evening on the water. What to wear, PDF, check
list sheet, etc.
Weather permitting, the rest of the Monday evening courses will be on the water. You will do "hands-on" sailing and learn basic boat handling, sail trim, safety proceedures, etc. with experience skippers. If there are thunderstorms or very heavy winds, the evening will either be additional classroom instructions or sail later in the week at the descretion of the individual skippers.. Note that we do go out if it is only raining!