Keelboat Training
SEAS Bergen offers Keelboat Courses to teach the basics of sailing larger boats. We use our 27 foot Catalina, called the Zephyr.
All keelboat instruction is taught on the Haverstraw Bay. The boat is based in Safe Harbor Haverstraw Marina, North Basin.
We currently offer several courses; on-water instruction and classroom classes.
Keelboat 2-Day Course
Students get a hands-on experience sailing on the Hudson River.
Class size is limited to a max of 3 students; typically there are 2 students. Course is conducted by a US Coast Guard Certified Captain with an experienced assistant instructor.
The cost of the 2-Day course is $395. The keelboat instruction is taught on the Haverstraw Bay from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Request a seat.
| Item | Topic | Activities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-sail Checks | Engine check-out, Radio check, discuss Nav Lights, Sound Signals, Nav Rules. |
| 2 | Dock Side | Fuel dock, Fueling procedures, Head Pump-out practice. |
| 3 | Sailing Skills | Points of Sail, perform Tacks and Jibes, Heave-to, Reefing. |
| 4 | Anchoring | Perform Anchoring in the river, practice mooring ball approach and pickup. |
| 5 | Man Overboard Drills | Practice man overboard recovery methods. |
Practice Sailing Class
The Zephyr offers several one day, 4- to 6-hour practical sailing classes to provide practical hands on experience aboard the keelboat on the Hudson River. These individual classes cover:
| Class | Topic | Activities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Practice Sailing |
Hands on practice sailing techniques on the boat, basic Hudson
River orientation, Rigging, Points of Sail, Tacking and Jibing. Terminology, Safety fundamentals.
(prerequisite- basic boat knowledge and terminology is required) Practice Sail cost is $200, Class time 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Request a seat |
| 2 | Docking and Maneuvers Class |
Hands on practice Docking and Manuevers
To learn and practice basic techniques of docking, undocking, boat handling, judging headway momentum, maintaining reverse course, overcoming prop-walk. Become aware of the vessel's handling characteristics. Observe and participate in the process to maneuver the Zephyr under power (prerequisite- basic boat knowledge and experience is required) Docking Class cost is $95, Class time 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Request a seat |
| 3 | Man Overboard Recovery Class |
Hands on practice Man-Overboard drills aboard the Zephyr.
To learn and practice basic sailing techniques for Man Overboard (MOB) Observe and participate in the MOB recovery with the Zephyr. (prerequisite- basic boat knowledge and terminology is required) MOB Class cost is $95, Class time 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Request a seat |
Night Sailing Class
Students get a hands-on course on navigation and boating at night, conducted by a US Coast Guard Certified Skipper.
The class will cover operation of a boat at night and how to interpret charts, aids to navigation (ATON) and shipboard navigation lights. Request a seat.
| Day | Topic | Activities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Night Sailing Experience |
Hands On night sailing to experience the orientation of sailing the river at night; observing lighted ATONs, watching for comercial traffic, finding your home port as shoreline landmarks become obsured in the dark.
The Night Sailing class can accommodate up to 5 students. Night Sailing Class is $95. The class runs from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. |
Navigation Classes
This is a series of classes for those who wish to learn how to read a chart, learn how to plot their course on a chart, and to practice navigation on the river plotting their progress on a chart.
Basic Chart Reading - Become familiar with a chart and understand how to read and use a navigation chart. This covers the basics. 1 evening, 2 hours. Purchase a seat.
Chart Plotting - Learn plotting and navigation in a classroom setting. For students who have a basic chart understanding: learn how to plot your course on a Navigation chart. This consists of 2 classroom nights, 2 hour sessions. Request a seat.
Practical Chart Navigation - Onboard the Zephyr, plot the ship’s course using Hudson River chart, executing the skills learned in chart plotting. 1 day on the water. Request a seat.
| Class | Topic | Activities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
BASIC CHART READING
Student to provide Notebook, pencil |
Learn how to read and understand a chart, chart information blocks, depths, bottom features, aids to navigation (ATONs)
2 to 3 students per chart Prerequisite: No experience necessary Chart Reading is $35. one night, 2 hour classroom. |
| 2 |
CHART PLOTTING
Student to provide Notebook, Plotting Tools (See below) |
In a classroom setting, learn basics, Lat/Long, Compass Rose
Using NauticEd and USCG nav questions, plot courses, label Lines of Position, Estimated Position, Running Fix, Set and Drift It is recommended the student take the NauticEd Coastal Navigation online course. Chart Plotting is $135 two nights, 2 hour classroom. |
| 3 |
PRACTICAL CHART NAVIGATION
Conducted aboard the Zephyr, track your course from R"26" to Nyack. |
Students to take sighting and plot EPs on chart; to record calculations, times, and bearings into class logbook, chart work to label LOP, Plot Est. Position, and Running Fix.
Practice Chart Navigation underway.
Prerequisite: Chart Plotting Navigation Class Practical Class is $200. Class is 9:30 to 3:30 pm. |
Recommended Navigation Tools for chart plotting class
Charts will be available for use in the classroom. Students should purchase the following and bring to the Chart Plotting classes:
Compass/Divider - (Weems & Plath Dividers 7inch)
Plotter - (1 of either a Breton or Portland, or Parallel Rolling Plotter or search for parallel rules)
Mechanical pencils and soft rubber erasers
Calculator
Keelboat Sailing Class Schedule
The Keelboat courses are usually run on demand with up to 3 students.
Contact the Keelboat Committee Chair for more information. When classes are scheduled, they will be posted on the Zephyr calendar.
Click here to request a seat in one of the classes this season. Payment will be collected later.
Click here to access the payment page (password required - will be provided when your class date is set with the course instructor).
Forms
The Keelboat instructors are USCG certified Captains with Master License,
They are NauticEd qualified instructors that are recognized as U.S. Coast Guard EDU-4 / American National Standards instructors.
In 2017, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) developed the American National Standards (EDU-3) for sailing training and assessment in an effort to increase the competence of new sailors. SEAS Bergen exceeds these high standards by ensuring across-the-board competence with comprehensive theory knowledge, on-the-water skills training, and appropriate on-the-water experience prior to certification.
