Get Adobe Flash player

Adult Sailing Schools Around Lake Michigan
You can learn to sail and at no, low, or reasonable cost!  Whatever your goal, through sailing schools and programs around Lake Michigan, you can build enough skill to sail or race any sailboat anywhere. Our list includes a wide variety of programs. Some learn to sail programs are organized through yacht clubs, some through municipalities, some are private.  Some just teach classes, some offer a sailboat timeshare, membership, charters, rentals or other programs to keep you sailing.

Adult Learn to Crew on Sailboats Schools Around Lake Michigan
Amazingly there are lots of sailboats all around Lake Michigan looking for crew.   There are programs to teach the basics and sailing language in a classroom and then match you up with a volunteer who will take you out on their boat and let you practice what you learned in class.  They call these Crew Schools.  These programs typically are held annually in the Spring season.  At the conclusion of the programs, graduation night offers the students an event to meet sailboat owners looking for regular crew.  Some owners may be day sailors, others cruisers going to harbors around the Lake, and others may be racing sailboaters. Between taking the lessons and buying some sailing clothes (deck shoes, PFD, rain gear and gloves), you’ll be sailing for far less than $1,000.  By this, the first myth is destroyed: sailing is not overly expensive.  Sailing is open to everyone: the second myth is destroyed; sailing is not exclusive,   Where can you attend an Adult Crew School?  Explore as indicated below:


Kudos to Glenn McCarthy who created v.1 of Learn to Sail in his blog on Chicago Now in 2014:  Adult Sailing Schools.

Key:  ASA:  American Sailing Association; GLP:  Great Lakes Pilot; USCG:  United States Coast Guard;
USN:  United States Navy; USSA:  United States Sailing Association

Illinois         
City School (clickable link) firstsail Crew School adultlessons privatelessons certifiedby timeshare rentals charters adaptive
Arlington Heights Arlington Heights Park District  
Chicago Aegir Expeditions   USCG
Chicago Burnham Park Yacht Club Sailing School  
Chicago Corinthian University firstsail CCYC's
Crew School
USSA
Chicago Chicago Park District   √   USSA
Chicago Chicago Yacht Club firstsail Crew U
USSA
Chicago Columbia Yacht Club firstsail Skipjacks USSA
Chicago Fairwind Sail   ASA
Chicago Jackson Park Yacht Club Foundation firstsail Sailing
University
USSA
Chicago Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing   √ 
USSA x
Chicago Pinnacle Yachts   √  
USCG √    √
Chicago Sail Chicago   √   USSA
Chicago Sail Time     ASA
Chicago 3rd Coast Cruising   √   ASA
Chicago Two Brothers Sailing Adventures  
Evanston Northwestern University Sailing Center              
Highland Park North Shore Yacht Club                  
Johnsburg Community Sailing School @ Pistakee x   √    USSA        
Peoria Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club                  
Waukegan Waukegan Yacht Club x       USSA        
Weldon Clinton Lake Sailing Association x   √      USSA        
Indiana                    
Culver Maxinkuckee Adventure Sailing    
          x
Hammond Hammond Port Authority                
Lafayette Lafayette Yacht Club    
           
Michigan City South Shore Sailing School       USSA         
Michigan  
Charlevoix Sail Charlevoix       USSA      
Crooked Lake Crooked Lake Yacht Club x              
Frankfort Crystal Lake Sailing School     USSA        
Grand Haven Grand River Sailing Club x              
Ludington Ludington Youth Sailing School         USSA         
Macatawa MBJA Sailing School         USSA         
Muskegon MYC Sailing School             x
Pentwater Pentwater Junior Sailing Program     ASA        
Pentwater West Michigan S.A.I.L.     USSA      
Petoskey Walloon Sailors     USSA        
Richland Gull Lake Country Club-Yacht Club              
Saint Joseph Saint Joseph Junior Foundation       USSA        
South Haven South Haven Yacht Club              
Spring Lake Spring Lake Yacht Club     USSA        
Traverse City Traverse Area Community Sailing x     USSA        USSailing AdaptivebuttonUntitled
Whitehall White Lake Yacht Club              
 Wisconsin                    
Green Bay Green Bay Sail and Paddle       USSA         
Kenosha Kenosha Community Sailing Center x     USSA        
Kenosha Kenosha Yacht Club Foundation x        USSA        
Madison Hoofer Sailing Club     ASA
Milwaukee Milwaukee Community Sailing Center         USSA     x
Racine Racine Yacht Club x        USSA         
Sheboygan Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan x   USSA   x
 Updated 3/12/2023                    

Copyright ©  Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation. All Rights Reserved.