Advanced Course Outline

This course is offered in three different formats: Weekend, Vacation Week, and 4-Week. The outline is the same across all formats, but the ordering varies. There are four Online Classroom Sessions and four Sailing Sessions. Vacation Week and 4-Week alternate Online Classroom Sessions and Sailing Sessions throughout their format, while Weekend has two Online Classroom Sessions followed by two Sailing Sessions, two weeks in a row. 

Times for each format are below. Refer to your confirmation email for your start date and, if applicable, a sailing session assignment. 

Weekend Format Description

Held over two consecutive weeks with Online Classroom Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Sailing Sessions on Saturdays and Sundays.​

The course starts with Online Classroom Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00pm. Sailing Sessions will be on Saturday and Sunday. Morning 9:00AM-12:30PM or Afternoon 1:30-5:00PM Sailing Sessions are chosen upon checkout and noted in confirmation email. ​​The schedule then repeats the following week.​

Weekends are always consecutive unless there is a holiday (as noted in the start date at checkout) Holiday skips:
  • June 21, 2023 start date: Skips over the week of June 26 due to the 4th of July. (Course dates are June 21, 22, 24, 25 and July 5, 6, 8, 9)
  • August 23, 2023 start date: Skips over the week of August 28 due to Labor Day weekend. ​(Course dates are August 23, 24, 26, 27 and September 6, 7, 9, 10)

Vacation Week Format Description

Course meets for one week, Monday morning through Thursday afternoon. Format contains in-person classroom sessions.

Offered Monday through Thursday. In person classroom sessions are Monday through Thursday from 9:30-11:30am, followed by afternoon sailing sessions from 12:30-4pm.

4-Week Format Description

This format meets twice a week for four weeks, alternating evening Online Classroom Sessions and late afternoon Sailing Sessions.

​Online Classroom Sessions meet Monday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm. Sailing Sessions are on Tuesday or Wednesday from 4:30-8:00pm.​ Tuesday or Wednesday Sailing Sessions are chosen upon checkout and noted in confirmation email.

Due to earlier sunsets, Sailing Sessions for the September 11, 2023 start date are from 4:00-7:30.​​

Online Classroom Session 1

  • Introduction to J/27
  • Safety Equipment
  • Outboard Motor Operation
  • Rules of the Road
  • Docking under Power
  • Handling Emergencies
  • Knots

Online Classroom Session 2

  • VHF Radio Operation
  • Weather
  • Heaving To
  • Quick Stop Crew Overboard Manuever
  • Reefing
  • Anchoring

Online Classroom Session 3

  • Performance Basics
  • Wind Shifts
  • Apparent Wind
  • Balance
  • Weather Helm
  • Feathering
  • Sail Shape and Controls

Online Classroom Session 4

  • Compass 
  • Variation
  • Deviation
  • Latitude and Longitude
  • Plotting a Course
  • Lines of Postion
  • Fix
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Tide and Current

Sailing Session 1

  • Review Safety Equipment
  • Use of Outboard
  • Manuevering under Power
  • Docking 
  • Crew Overboard Drills Under Power
  • Winch Operation
  • Boat Handling under Sail

Sailing Session 2

  • Practice Anchoring
  • Heave To
  • Quick Stop Drills
  • Reefing Practice
  • Docking Practice

Sailing Session 3

  • Sail Controls
  • Changing Sail Shape
  • Controlling Twist
  • Steering using Sail Trim
  • Docking Under Sail

Sailing Session 4

  • Sail to the Outer Harbor
  • Practice Navigation

Advanced Course Outline