Summer is for sailing, and you can learn to sail here in Central Florida

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, many backpackers in Central Florida move from the trails of Central Florida to the waters they surround. There are few better ways to enjoy the historic lakes in Central Florida than by sailing. And while you can rent small craft like Sunfish and catamarans at many beaches and lakes, there are places here in Central Florida where you can learn to sail the bigger boys—larger sailboats that are big enough to carry several friends or family for the entire day. The best part is that you don’t have to buy an expensive boat to sail here in Central Florida.

Several local businesses offer ASA 101 courses, and before I rediscovered backpacking last year, my wife and I became ASA (American Sailing Association) 101 certified at Sanford’s Lake Monroe; other courses are also available at Lake Fairview near downtown Orlando. An ASA 101 course is not really a class, but a three-day vacation where you learn about knots, those confusing nautical terms, the parts of a sailboat and how to rig them, and the “rules of the road.”  Best of all, you spend at least half the time on the water, sailing on boats more than 20 feet long.  (Yes, there is a written test (all multiple choice or matching) and you will have to read a relatively short course guide.)

If you pass the ASA 101 course, you’ll be certified to sail boats up to 27 feet long during the day in winds up to 15 knots.  ASA 101 is also a steppingstone to higher level courses that certify sailing much larger boats in coastal and ocean waters in higher winds and at night.  So an ASA 101 course is the first step to earning certifications required to charter sailboats for days or weeks at a time in exotic locations.  Imagine chartering a 41-foot catamaran in the Virgin Islands or the Greek Isles—An ASA 101 course is the first step into that world!

My wife and I took our Friday-through-Sunday ASA 101 class at U-Sail on Lake Monroe in Sanford with Captain DJ.  U-Sail’s ASA 101 course costs $695.00 with a discount for groups of 3 or more.

Perhaps the best part is that you don’t have to buy a sailboat to sail.  Many sailing instructors like Captain DJ at U-Sall also operate private sailing clubs, through which you can charter the boats you train on if you are ASA 101 certified. (Captain DJ also requires you to demonstrate your safety and proficiency—she wants to make sure you can take care of her craft.)  Sailing clubs permit you to reserve a boat, and the clubs have a sailboat waiting for you at the dock, so that you need only rig the sails, take it out, and bring it back undamaged.  So not only do you not have to buy a boat—You also don’t have to clean it, fix it, or pay monthly fees for a slip at the pier.

Of course, not every new sailor who achieves ASA 101 certification is ready to sail independently (I wasn’t).  But sailing courses often have relationships with sailing associations where you can hone your skills with seasoned sailors. For example, U-Sail’s office is located across the pier from the Lake Monroe Sailing Association, which hosts sunset races on Wednesdays in the spring and summer, as well as monthly weekend races.  To get on a boat, you just show up at the dock at least a half-hour before a race begins and volunteer to serve as a crew member (although you’ll want to call ahead to make sure captains are available with room for you on their boats).  You then just hop on, learn from friendly experienced sailors, and race with other boaters, logging your progress in the ASA log you receive after passing the ASA 101 class.  I did so several times after passing my course, and it was as fun as it was free.

So Happy Sailing!