Classes
Whether you’re brand new to the water or an experienced sailor or rower, UCSC Boating offers hands-on classes for every skill level. Our programs build confidence on the water, emphasize safe boating practices, and create opportunities to sail and row in the Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay.
Who are the classes are open to?
Adult community members (ages 17+)
Youth sailors through summer Junior Camps (ages 8–16)
UC Santa Cruz students through PE boating classes during the academic year
No membership is required to participate.
When Classes Are Offered?
For Adult community classes and Junior Camps
Select Community Classes and UCSC student PE boating classes
How to enroll in class?
Step 1: Log in or create an account by clicking here.
Step 2: Once logged in, click on Boating and select: Boating Programs
Step 3: Click on which class you would like to enroll in.
Step 4: Follow the prompts to complete your payment.
Please note: The Boating Center no longer accepts cash payments on-site.
Class Categories & Descriptions
Beginning Dinghy
No prior experience required. Students sail RS Quest boats (2–3 students per boat).
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Rigging and boat nomenclature
- Basic sailing theory
- Sail trim, tacking, and jibing
- Balance and docking
- Safe boating practices
- Self-rescue techniques
- Basic sailing knots
- Wind and ocean awareness
Intermediate Dinghy
Prerequisite: Beginning Dinghy or equivalent experience.
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Right-of-way rules and points of sail
- Sailing in stronger winds
- Improved boat handling and hiking techniques
- Sail trim, powering up vs. depowering, and reefing
- Heaving to
- Backward and blindfolded sailing
- Introduction to racing
Completion qualifies students for Beginning Keelboat or Advanced Dinghy classes.
Advanced Dinghy
Prerequisite: Intermediate Dinghy or equivalent experience.
Focus on high-performance racing dinghies. Wetsuits required.
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Rigging Lasers and RS Quest asymmetrical spinnakers
- Advanced boat handling techniques
- Sail trim and sail shape adjustments
- Upwind and downwind sailing techniques
- Effective hiking
- Self-rescue techniques and dry capsizes
Beginning Keelboat
Prerequisite: Advanced Dinghy or equivalent experience.
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Hands-on rigging and docking
- Sailing on Monterey Bay
- Sail trim and powering up vs. depowering
- Person-overboard recovery techniques
- Boating safety and VHF radio usage
- Rules of the road
- Weather and ocean awareness
Intermediate Keelboat
Prerequisite: Beginning Keelboat or experience required.
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Symmetrical spinnaker packing and rigging
- Setting, jibing, and dousing the spinnaker
- Crew positions and management
- Dockside practice of new skills
- On-the-water spinnaker use
Advanced Keelboat
Prerequisite: Intermediate Keelboat or experience required.
Students build on foundational skills and learn:
- Boat systems
- Advanced docking techniques
- Anchoring
- Back and fill maneuvers
- Basic charts and navigation
