While the ASA academic sailing instruction provides a great foundation, our philosophy is that you learn to sail on the water by sailing the boat. Fair Wind Sailing School’s emphasis is on developing and practicing proper boat handling, cruising, and safety techniques. Our goal is to assure that our students not only achieve their ASA certification, but also know what to do when our ASA instructor is no longer present. By spending the majoriy of our sailing lessons on the water sailing, we believe students retain their skills long after their sailing lessons have been completed. Therefore, at Fair Wind Sailing School the majority of our ASA sailing instruction is conducted on the water -- it is simply the best way to learn to sail..

We offer ailing lessons that allow you to learn to sail on the weekend, weekday or all week long.

Our pricing is inclusive of all on board expenses (except introductory courses), including: boat, instructor, provisions, meals, customs expenses, mooring fees, running expenses, text books, log books, certification fees and sales tax. The only exceptions would be alcoholic beverages and ASA Instructor's gratuity if you think one is deserved.

Basic Sailing Lessons -- $495

Not sure about sailing lessons? These are the sailing lessons for you. This is 2 day introductory sailing instruction for those interested in giving sailing a first try. Successful completion of this course prepares the student to sail a 20 foot boat in light to moderate winds in familiar territory. Students are also introduced to basic rules of the road and safety procedures. After completing this course students will be certified at ASA level 101, Basic Sailing. Meals are not included with this course.

Instant Cruiser Sailing Lesssons -- $795 (Lake Erie)
$895 (Chesapeake)

These are three day (Erie) or four day (Chesapeake) sailing lessons combining Basic Sailing Lessons (ASA 101) and Basic Cruising Sailing Lessons (ASA 103). These sailing lessons are for those who want to learn to sail, are preparing to day charter, or are thinking about buying a sail boat. The curriculum includes more detailed boat handling, safety procedures and rules of the road. Completion of this course enables the student to safely captain an auxiliary sailboat 20-30 feet in length in moderate seas and winds. No prior sailing experience is necessary for this course. Successful completion of this class enables students to charter are sail boats under 35 feel long. Meals are not included with this course

Instant Bareboater Sailing Lessons -- $1750

Fair Wind Sailing School’s most popular sailing lessons! These are week long, live-aboard sailing lessons designed to for students who want to learn to sail for extended cruising and bareboat charters. When you complete this sailing instruction, you are ready to bareboat charter on your own! The course covers ASA certification in Basic Sailing Instruction (ASA 101), Basic Cruising Sailing Instruction(ASA 103) and Bareboat Charter Sailing Instruction (ASA 104). This course prepares student to skipper boats as large as 50 feet. In addition it covers key boat systems required to live aboard a sail boat, like: engine maintenance, cooking and provisioning procedures and basic marine electrical and plumbing systems. The sailing instruction also introduces the student to basic coastal navigation techniques. No prior sailing experience is necessary for these sailing lessons. Successful completion of this class enables students to charter any of our monohull sail boats.

Cruising Catamaran Sailing Lessons -- $895

This class covers the ASA 114 curriculum. These 3 day sailing lessons are advanced lessons designed to teach students to cruise on a 30-50 foot multihull by day in coastal waters. It is the ideal sailing instruction for those with sailing experience who are ready to learn to sail cruising catamarans or chartering multihulls. Pre-requisities for this class include ASA 101, 103 and 104. The class may also be taken in combination with our Instant Bareboater sailing class. Successful completion of this class enables students to charter any of ourl sail boats. Meals are not included in these sailing lessons.

Instant Bareboater Sailing Lessons plus Catamaran Sailing Lessons -- $1895*

These sailing lessson combine Fair Wind Sailing School’s most popular sailing instruction -- the Instant Bareboater Instruction -- with the Catamaran Sailing Instruction certification and are taught on our Leopard cats. These aer week long, live-aboard sailing lessons designed to prepare students to learn to sail or bareboat charter cruising catamarans. When you complete this sailing instruction, you are ready to bareboat charter a cat on your own! The course covers ASA certification in Basic Sailing Instruction (ASA 101), Basic Cruising Sailing Instruction(ASA 103), Bareboat Charter Sailing Instruction (ASA 104), and Catamaran Sailing Instuction (ASA 114). This sailing instruction prepares student to skipper boats as large as 50 feet. In addition it covers key boat systems required to live aboard a sail boat, like: engine maintenance, cooking and provisioning procedures and basic marine electrical and plumbing systems. The course also introduces the student to basic coastal navigation techniques. No prior sailing experience is necessary for these sailing lessons. Successful completion of this class enables students to charter any of our sail boats.

* Pricing for this class is per person double-occupancy. There is an extra $400 charge for singles

Navigation and Advanced Sailing Lessons --
$1595 (Chesapeake) $1795 (Caribbean)

This is a weeklong course designed to train experienced sailors in coastal navigation techniques and boat handling in any condition, day or night, in coastal waters. This course teaches the student to learn to sail at nighttime, perform man over board and emergency procedures at night. Our curriculum covers ASA Coastal Navigation (ASA 105) and Advanced Coastal Cruising (ASA 106). Certification through ASA 104 is prerequisite for this course.

Our newest course! This class covering the marine weather in a detailed way. Class contents includes the basics of how weather and the Earth's atmosphere work, sources of weather information both on land and while at sea, and most importantly -- how to combine your own observations with the offiial forecast to really know what is about to happen. Our curriculum covers ASA Marine Weather (ASA 119). The class is taught as a 2-day classroom course or as a home study class similar to our navigation classes.

Ocean Passagemaking Experience

The highest level of sailing – Fair Wind Sailing School’s Ocean Passage experience. This is the trip for those wishing offshore experience and applications of true blue water sailing. While not an ASA certification course, crew members typically gain valuable experience in passage making, including: passage planning, voyage preparation, shipboard routines, emergency procedures, and international rules of the road. Certification through ASA 106 or equivalent experience (call for ocean passage resume form) is required.

Our ocean pasage trip is offered as a "cost share" trip, therefore p ricing vary based on the trips. Please see our Ocean Passage page for more details, pictures, and pricing. Price sharing includes boat fee, Captain, provisions, weather routing, running expenses, customs and immigration fees. Course fee does NOT include: alcoholic beverages, personal safety gear and any expenses incurred off the boat.

Coastal Navigation -- $275, Celestial Navigation $295

We offer navigation classes both as part of our sailing passages and also as take home study courses. The take home verion involves study at home, half-day review with the instructor and examination. When the course is taken as part of our passages, all information is taught, reviewed and tested as part of the voyage. This option is available for both Coastal Navigation, ASA 105 and Celestial Navigation, ASA 107.