The rating ladder.

Nobody skips the skills check before taking a sailboat out as skipper. That's what lets us hand people the keys to the fleet without a chaperone, and it keeps the boats in the water instead of the shop. Paddle craft and bikes need no rating, just a first-time orientation. Sailboats are gated by the ladder below. Each rung requires demonstrating the listed skills to an instructor; most dinghy checkouts take under an hour, while keelboat checkouts take longer.

  1. 01

    Crew

    You can be useful aboard: trim a jib, shift your weight, follow a helm's instructions, and stay out of the boom's way.

    Earn it
    Complete Learn to Sail I, or take a 20-minute dockside orientation with an instructor.
    Unlocks
    Crewing on any club boat, including Wednesday races in the teaching and scow fleets.
    Take Learn to Sail I →
  2. 02

    Dinghy Skipper

    You can rig, launch, sail, capsize-recover, and land a centerboard boat by yourself, and you know when the weather says don't.

    Earn it
    Complete Learn to Sail II, or pass the dinghy checkout.
    Unlocks
    Club 420s and Flying Scots, plus taking guests aboard.
    Take Learn to Sail II →
  3. 03

    Keelboat Crew

    You know your way around winches, jib cars, and a boat that heels instead of capsizes.

    Earn it
    Complete the first weekend of Keelboat I, or a one-hour on-water checkout.
    Unlocks
    Crewing keelboats; skippering the Capri 22 with a Keelboat Skipper aboard.
  4. 04

    Keelboat Skipper

    Departures and landings under power of persuasion alone (we have no engines), reefing, anchoring, and man-overboard recovery under sail.

    Earn it
    Complete Keelboat I & II, or pass the two-part keelboat checkout.
    Unlocks
    Capri 22s solo with guests; Hobie 16s after the catamaran-specific sign-off.
    Take Keelboat I & II →
  5. 05

    Instructor

    You teach the classes and run the checkouts.

    Earn it
    Keelboat Skipper + US Sailing Level 1 (we host a course each June) + a season of assistant teaching.
    Unlocks
    Teaching pay, eternal glory, first pick of the Flying Scots.

Already know how to sail?

Book a checkout.

Checkouts are free for members and run on demand — book one like any other reservation and an instructor meets you at the dock. If you don't pass, you leave with a specific list of what to practice and priority rebooking. Most people pass the second try; the lake keeps the score, not us.

Browse classesContact the office