Training is a primary focus of PSA: contributing to the safety of skippers and crew, ensuring that our shared boats are maintained in the best possible condition and reminding members of their responsibility for keeping the Bay’s ecology as healthy as possible.
We provide training year-round on all aspects of sailing and boat maintenance. The Training Captain will send emails to the membership with the training sail schedule when the boats splash in the Spring. Training sails are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
New Members receive two training sessions free of charge. Other training sessions are considered Club events and cost $40.00 (or one maintenance coupon) . Payments for scheduled training sails (and other club events) can be made with a credit card, using Zelle or by Check. Members will find the Pay PSA page in the members only section of the site.
- Library of Training Notes is available to members in the members-only area of our website.
- Training starts as soon as the boats go in the water. Current members need to reacquaint themselves with the boats and shake out the cobwebs. New members may want to improve their skills. Some want to qualify as skippers. PSA’s training officer schedules training sessions on each boat in the Spring and throughout the season.
- At-the-dock sessions explore the boat and equipment, emphasizing what a crew needs to be able to find in a hurry.
- Training cruises emphasize boat and sail handling, docking, and navigating the West River area.
- An overnight trip to a nearby port or gunkhole introduces provisioning, anchoring etc.
- Maintenance days are training days–learn how it all works while helping our bosuns and more experienced hands do routine maintenance and repairs. (And earn a maintenance coupon that can help pay for future sailing.)
- Club Sails provide monthly opportunities to practice what members have learned and to experience actual conditions and events that one may encounter on the bay while operating a PSA vessel.
- Full Moon sails familiarize members with local night navigation and night sailing generally. Crews need to be able to safely return in the dark if delayed during a day sail.
- During the off season while boats are on the hard, we conduct Winter Pot Luck Socials and Training
- Skipper Qualification
- Prospective skippers are required to complete the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing Skills and Seamanship course or equivalent
- Syllabus
- Checklist for member personal use in tracking progress
- Each PSA skipper is required to take a club refresher once every 3 years.
- Race Training is a year-round activity.
On-the-water race training open to all emphasizes teamwork, crew communications, sail trim, and the complexities of flying a spinnaker. During the winter, we conduct an annual Racing Rules of Sailing Seminar to keep our racers sharp on tactics and rules. All members receive an invitation to this seminar. - The Training Officer can be contacted at trainingofficer@parklawnsailingassociation.org