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Happy at the helm: On your NOLS sailing course you'll follow nature's rhythms.
Photo: Brian Weiderman |
A NOLS sailing course will get you well on your way to sailing on your own and being a competent crew member.
You’ll be aboard a unique yawl-rigged open boat, the Drascombe Longboat, which is a light, maneuverable craft perfect for learning sail basics, exploring shallow coves, or hauling onto desert beaches.
On this boat you’ll learn coastal navigation on waters rich with marine life, from intricate sea fans and colorful reef fishes to raucous sea lions and blowing whales. This course follows nature’s rhythms, so you may find yourself up before dawn or sailing until dusk to take advantage of a favorable breeze.
There are bound to be some long, challenging days on the water, but there should also be time to wonder at the night sky or at the sea stars in a tidal pool. You’ll learn to read winds and waves with confidence, work as a crew with your coursemates, and on windless days, practice rowing and towing.
The boat will be your home on the water, but you’ll also practice Leave No Trace camping on shore in this unique desert that greets the sea.
Fundamental Sailing Skills
- Sail and line handling
- Anchoring techniques and strategies
- Wind awareness and points of sail
- Sail theory and helming
- Elements of sail and vessel trim
- Capsize recovery
Ocean Travel Skills
Seamanship, including all of the following:
- Interpretation of tides and currents
- Ocean hazard assessment
- Weather assessment
- An understanding of wind and wave dynamics
- Coastal Navigation techniques, chart reading and compass use
General Expeditioning Skills
- Vessel outfitting, care and packing
- Route selection and expedition planning
- Vessel design and repair
- Use of signal devices, including flares and VHF radio
Next Steps
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