Sailing Program Sample: Syllabus for basic sailing beginner

This Sailing Program sample has been taken from various programs across the United States to provide a greater representation of methods, techniques, and styles.

SAMPLE: SYLLABUS
Basic Sailing Beginner

FORMAT: (8) three-hour lessons for youth or adults for one week or several weeks

TOPIC – CLASS 1
Introduction and Course Overview: 10 minutes
Team Building: 15 minutes
Tour of Facility: 15 minutes
Life Jackets – Inspection, Sizing, and Lecture: 10 minutes
Swim Test Lecture: 5 minutes
Swim Test Actual Practical Test: 30 minutes
Capsize Recovery: 15 minutes
Capsize Recovery Practice: 45 minutes
Basic Knots: 30 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 2
Introduction/Review: 15 minutes
Weather Lecture: 20 minutes
Safe Sailing Lecture: 15 minutes
Rigging Boats Demonstration: 5 minutes
Rigging Boats Practice: 25 minutes
First Sail Lecture: 15 minutes
First Sail on the Water Practice: 55 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 25 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 3
Wind Lecture and Land Drills: 5 minutes
Basic Sailing Maneuvers – Steering and Tacking: 15 minutes
Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
On the Water Practice: 90 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 25 minutes
Weather Review: 20 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 4
Introduction/Review: 5 minutes
How a Sailboat Sails Lecture: 10 minutes
Tacking Lecture and Land Drills: 15 minutes
Rigging Boats: 25 minutes
On the Water Practice: 90 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 20 minutes
Knot Relay Race: 10 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 5
Introduction/Review: 10 minutes
Jibing Lecture and Land Drills: 15 minutes
Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
Hand Signals: 10 minutes
On the Water Practice including Capsize Drill: 90 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
Right-of-Way Lecture: 20 minutes
Land Drill Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 6
Introduction/Review: 5 minutes
Steering Upwind and Use of Telltales: 20 minutes
Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
On the Water Practice: 90 minutes
Docking Practice: 30 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 7
Introduction/Review: 5 minutes
Overboard Recovery Lecture and Land Drills: 30 minutes
Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
On the Water Practice: 90 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
Relay Race: 20 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

TOPIC – CLASS 8
Introduction/Review: 5 minutes
Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
On the Water Practice: 90 minutes
De-Rigging Boats: 15 minutes
Review of Land Skills, Oral Review, and Written Test: 30 minutes
Debrief: 5 minutes

For more information and to purchase our “Teaching Fundamentals for Sailing Instruction,” including lesson plans, visit our website.