Learn to sail in the DC area?

Indysailor

Indysailor

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Oct 10, 2009
1,094
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
I have a friend who relocated to DC and is looking to get started in sailing. If you have experience with or are acquainted with a sailing school in the area that you think is particularly good, please let me know. I'm not sure exactly where he lives, except to say he's inside the beltway. He's completely new to sailing, so getting his basic certifications AND having a way to meet other sailors so he can start crewing or even have access to small keel boats to sail would be important. Thanks!
 
D

DAVA390

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Jul 13, 2010
1,100
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
Tell him to drive to Annapolis, 25 minutes, stand on City Dock. Throw a rock in any direction, will probably hit a sailing school front door. ( more or less). It
 
DRhoads

DRhoads

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Apr 12, 2007
211
Hunter 420 Herrington Harbor South
If your friend is on the VA side of the beltway they may want to try Mariner Sailing School Belle Haven Marina Alexandria, VA.
It is just south of the Wilson Bridge off of the Mt. Vernon parkway. There is also one in Old Town Alexandria on the North side of the docks. Don't know the name but have seen them on the river several times. And of course who isn't looking for crew. I sail out of Herrington Harbour South almost every weekend.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Annapolis, MD Sailing Capital of the US. 40 minutes east on the Chesapeake Bay. Sail Time will get you sailing in fast modern keelboats. Annapolis Sailing School (the grand dame of schools) has been rejuvenated. And the local sailing scene is full of sailors looking for crew.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,536
-na -NA Anywhere USA
A lot will depend on the type of sailing but if larger sailboats, see if the local folks can do that but if not, drive to Annapolis as there are several good ones there. I would suggest also looking into what Gunni has seen as well.
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I live very close to DC right near the Occoquan River. There are schools in DC and you aren't far from Annapolis. Either place would be fine to learn. If you want to do some Chesapeake Bay cruising the Annapolis Schools would be better.

I will tell you that the sailing up by DC isn't as good as further down river. My boat is kept at Colonial Beach which is about half way from DC to the mouth of the Potomac River. At that location the river is much wider and opens up. I am about a day's sail from the Bay and there is a lot of good cruising grounds in the area. I very rarely sail towards DC just because the river gets narrow and the wind usually blows up or down the river. It is also flukier. In fact, the last time I sailed towards DC I went up to Mattawoman Creek and that was over 10 years ago.

Marinas in the DC and Annapolis area are VERY expensive. Where I keep my boat it costs me $80 a month or $800 a year. It is much cheaper.
 
SailormanDan

SailormanDan

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Jan 24, 2009
451
1981 Cherubini Hunter 27 Shipwright Harbor Marina, MD
I Vote for the Mariner Sailing School in DC

I am biased because I slip my boat at Belle Haven Marina :D, but I second the suggestion of the Mariner's Sailing School (www.saildc.com/) :thumbup:. I took the course years ago and learned a lot. Good instructors, small crews in each boat and some freebies thrown in. That section of the river is a nice place to learn in relatively calm waters. They use Flying Scots for the classes and also rent them.

It's at the Belle Haven Marina, which is just below the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, very convenient to most of DC without having to drive an hour to Annapolis or Deale, MD.

I was in SCOW years ago, but found it very cliquey, but that may have changed.
Dan
 
arknoah

arknoah

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May 12, 2010
237
Macgregor 25 Southern Maryland
Bad Obsession said:
I live very close to DC right near the Occoquan River. There are schools in DC and you aren't far from Annapolis. Either place would be fine to learn. If you want to do some Chesapeake Bay cruising the Annapolis Schools would be better.

I will tell you that the sailing up by DC isn't as good as further down river. My boat is kept at Colonial Beach which is about half way from DC to the mouth of the Potomac River. At that location the river is much wider and opens up. I am about a day's sail from the Bay and there is a lot of good cruising grounds in the area. I very rarely sail towards DC just because the river gets narrow and the wind usually blows up or down the river. It is also flukier. In fact, the last time I sailed towards DC I went up to Mattawoman Creek and that was over 10 years ago.

Marinas in the DC and Annapolis area are VERY expensive. Where I keep my boat it costs me $80 a month or $800 a year. It is much cheaper.
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That does sound like a good rate. Are you in a slip or on a mooring? I thought I was doing well with a slip at the West Basin Marina at Pax River, but I'm paying over $1,400. Still, that's cheaper than the marinas across the Patuxent in Solomons by a long shot.
 
W

Whigman

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Oct 13, 2015
20
Seidelmann Seidelmann 25 Virginia
Bad Obsession said:
Marinas in the DC and Annapolis area are VERY expensive. Where I keep my boat it costs me $80 a month or $800 a year. It is much cheaper.
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Hey BO
I bought a seidelmann 25 recently and am trying to find a spot within an hour or so of Falls Church/McLean that doesn't cost me over 200... any spots by you? :D
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Colonial Beach can be cheap. Monroe Bay Marina is $100 a month or $1000 a year for a small slip. For economic purposes Winkee Doodle Point Marina, right beside Monroe Bay Marina, is $80 a month or $800 a year. I know the owners (my whole life) and they are great people. Not a bad bare bones marina.
 
W

Whigman

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Oct 13, 2015
20
Seidelmann Seidelmann 25 Virginia
Bad Obsession said:
Colonial Beach can be cheap. Monroe Bay Marina is $100 a month or $1000 a year for a small slip. For economic purposes Winkee Doodle Point Marina, right beside Monroe Bay Marina, is $80 a month or $800 a year. I know the owners (my whole life) and they are great people. Not a bad bare bones marina.
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Thanks for the info. :D the name is a winner if not the fee! I know my humanities/anthropology major girlfriend will love it even more!
 
25yearslater

25yearslater

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Aug 20, 2010
1,399
Oday 27 Oak Orchard
Here is a link to a few.http://www.meetup.com/find/?allMeetups=false&keywords=sailing&radius=25&userFreeform=Washington,+District+of+Columbia,+USA&mcId=c20001&change=yes&sort=default Best site I have found for finding crew in my area although I went to an adventure group after the sailing groups fell short. This is a sort of anti facebook where people actually get together and do things. Here is the link to the group I am part of, for other ideas, plenty of pictures of my voyages with group members. http://www.meetup.com/The-Rochester-Adventurers/
 
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