SailTime Base Locations

Learn sailing and boating skills in Racine

SailTime Racine is an ASA Certified training facility

SailTime Milwaukee is a ASA Outstanding School for 2009
List of ASA Outstanding School for 2009
Our lead instructor was also named a ASA Outstanding Instructors for 2009

SailTime Milwaukee is committed to provide quality sailing courses in Milwaukee and Racine to our members and the public. We use a Hunter 38 and a Hunter 33 in our Training.

At our sailing school offers the following sailing courses:

With a class size of 2-3 students on Hunter 33 and larger boats.

Sailtime members receive a discount of $50 per person per course.

ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
Single person $450, Two People $800

ASA 103 Coastal Cruising
Single person $625, Two People $1150

ASA 104 Barebaot Charter
Single person $725, Two People $1350

ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising
Single person $1000, Two People $1900

ASA 118 Docking Endorsement
Single person $300, Two People $500

ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
Single person $400, Two People $700

ASA 120 RADAR Endorsement
Single person $350, Two People $600

All sailing instruction is done on Lake Michigan out of Racine or Milwaukee Wisconsin.

All the courses are American Sailing Association courses and include certification and materials. There is a $39 one time ASA fee for new students that have not takes an American Sailing Association course before.

Our Manager of Training, Captain Jim Stewart, has been sailing for more than 25 years; has chartered boats throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean; and has been training others to sail for more than five years. Captain Stewart has a 50-ton master’s license and is certified to teach ASA 101 through ASA 105 (Basic Keelboat through Coastal Navigation). He is currently handling SailTime's Regional Training Center in Milwaukee and Racine, WI.

Captain Steadman first sailed in Chicago in 1980, has sailed and chartered throughout Lake Michigan, and the Caribbean. He manages the day-to-day operations of our Chicago fleet as well as providing instruction. He is certified to instruct ASA 101 through 104 (Basic Keelboat through Bareboat Chartering).

The SailTime Training Difference

Our approach to sail training is different than most. We restrict our sailing class size to two to four on a boat, and we train on cruising class boats, not on small, open-deck day sailors. Our students tell us they enjoy the comfort of knowing they won’t get wet by capsizing, or run the risk of meeting the boom while tacking. Since all our boats are equipped with roller-furling jibs AND mainsails students will be trained on the modern rigs that are becoming common in the larger charter fleets around the world.

Having fewer students on a boat makes sure everyone gets plenty of practice time, both at the wheel, and developing crew skills. Our typical training day starts at 10:00 am and goes until 6:00 pm. We train during relatively quiet weekday periods, so you can learn without encountering the weekend harbor traffic. Concentrated effort is put into learning how to handle the boat under power in and around the harbor and slips. These skills then translate into confidence at the helm even on the busy weekends.

For SailTime members, “First-mate” training can also be provided. First-mate instruction will not result in any certification. No exam is required. It is intended for a spouse or friend that will be a frequent sailing companion and it focuses on crew skills for these individuals.

Since our first year in Chicago (2004), we have instructed more than 60 captains/“first-mates” on our new Hunter sailboats.

SAILTIME UNIVERSITY

Located between Chicago and Milwaukee, the SailTime University Regional Training Center provides cruising class instructions in Racine, WI and Winthrop Harbor, IL. Both locations are an easy drive for the seafaring residents of the area that want to expand their boating knowledge and skills.

Racine’s revitalized downtown and its seaside ambiance provide a great getaway that will allow combining your training experience with a mini-vacation for the entire family.
Access to convenient hotels and B&Bs enable us to set sail on Lake Michigan in minutes while other members of your party experience a coastal getaway.

TRAINING CONTENT


ASA 101 BASIC KEELBOAT

A typical ASA 101 Certification program consists of two days of on-board training, self-directed reading and completion of the written test.

Course Content: Getting underway, boat balance, docking, securing the boat, points of sail, tacking & jibing, sail trim, controlling angle of heel, heaving to, reefing, crew overboard drill, and a written exam.

ASA 103 COASTAL CRUISING

A typical ASA 103 Certification course requires two full days on the water and completion of self-directed reading. Students will learn the fundamentals of large boat cruising in preparation for extended travel on larger bodies of water.

Course Content: More hands on experience with Course 101 content. Additional content includes the areas of boat systems, rules of the road, sound signals, buoys, lights, use of VHF radio, cruising tips, navigation, safety systems, heavy weather sailing, and a written exam.

Prerequisite: Basic Keelboat ASA 101 (Qualified sailors may test out of 101 by passing the Basic Keelboat written test, and demonstrating on-the-water proficiency. The cost for this is one half of the ASA 101 training fee.)

ASA 104 BAREBOAT CHARTERING

This is typically a three day, two night live-aboard course - boarding the first day at 6:00 p.m., staying on the boat two nights, and going to 5:00 p.m. on the last day.

Course Content: The course is structured along the lines of an actual charter. It leverages everything learned in Course 101 and 103. Additional content includes the areas of provisioning, meal preparation, working with charter companies, boat systems, emergency procedures, safety, anchoring, navigation, cruising tips, and a written exam.

Prerequisite: Basic Cruising ASA 103 and Basic Keelboat ASA 101 certifications

ASA 105 COASTAL NAVAGATION

This course is taught in a classroom setting with plenty of chart work to exercise various learning segments. As such it does not provide any time on the water. It is typically structured as a correspondence class with SailTime staff availability for ongoing question/answer resources via e-mail. Two full-day Saturday sessions are used for hands-on plotting instruction and the written test.

Course Content: Students learn the navigational theory and practical skills required to safely pilot a vessel in coastal or inland waters with a focus on real world, practical navigation. Students progress from dead reckoning to more complicated piloting incorporating current, leeway, and the integration of electronic navigation. Students learn to use tide and current tables, light lists, Chart No. 1, Notice to Mariners, and other tools.

Prerequisite: None