Classes
Whether you are new to the water or an experienced sailor or rower, UCSC Boating has classes for every skill level. No membership is required to take classes!
Adult Community Classes
Junior Camps
UCSC Student PE Boating
Classes are primarily offered during the summer for anyone 17 years or older. During the academic year, select classes may be available. Contact us for the current course offerings and schedule.
These classes cover both sailing and rowing skills and provide opportunities to build confidence, learn safe boating practices, and enjoy time on the water.
Offered summer only for children ages 8–16, UCSC Boating Junior Camps group sailors by age and skill level to maximize both safety and fun.
Camps are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dinghy classes, and run in two-week increments.
Please read class descriptions carefully to ensure your child signs up for the correct level. Contact us with any questions!
UC Santa Cruz offers free, hands-on boating PE classes in the fall, winter, and spring. Classes meet once a week for eight sessions per quarter (weather permitting). Students learn boating skills in the Santa Cruz Harbor and progress to sailing in the Monterey Bay.
Successful completion allows students to advance within the Community Boating Center Sailing Club. Enroll through your student portal like any other academic class.
UCSC Boating Classes Overview
Dinghy Classes
Beginning Dinghy
Intermediate Dinghy
Advanced Dinghy
No prior experience required. Students sail RS Quest boats (2–3 students per boat).
Students 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
Beginning Dinghy experience required.
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 for: Beginning Keelboat or Advanced Dinghy classes
Focus on high-performance racing dinghies. Wetsuits required.
Students 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
Keelboat Classes
Beginning Keelboat
Intermediate Keelboat
Advanced Keelboat
Students 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
Beginning Keelboat 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
Introduction to cruising.
Students learn:
Boat systems
Advanced docking techniques
Anchoring
Back and fill maneuvers
Basic charts and navigation
Rowing Classes
Beginning Rowing
Intermediate Rowing
Students learn:
Basic rowing stroke technique
Launching and docking
On-the-water safety
Classes start in the harbor and progress to Monterey Bay. Students use Edon training shells with pontoons, in singles and doubles.
Prerequisite: Basic swimming ability
Students learn:
Improved rowing technique
Conditioning for endurance and intervals
Open-water rowing skills
Classes are taught in singles and doubles on Monterey Bay. Vessels may include MAAS Aeros 20', MAAS 24s, Bay 21, Pegasus, WinTech 30' Double, and custom wooden doubles.
Prerequisite: Beginning Rowing or equivalent skill
Cancellation Policy
Full refund: 31 or more days prior to the start of class
50% refund: 14–30 days prior to the start of class
No refund: Within 14 days of the class start
