Common Questions:
What destinations can we choose from during our sailing class?
Students work with their captain to decide what destinations to visit during class. This decision depends on the length of the class, the desires of those on board, the students’ skill level, and the forecasted wind and sea conditions. Although the weather could change the itinerary for your specific class, the destinations listed below are typically based on past class itineraries:
ASA101 (Two-day class): We work on basic sailing skills until students have learned to sail well enough to reach other destinations. We travel to different destinations in ASA103, ASA104, ASA106, and ASA108 sailing classes. Our ASA101 class typically includes sailing in the water between the Annapolis Bay Bridge and Rock Hall. We return to our slip-in Rock Hall on both days, where students can enjoy dining in Rock Hall and visit the pool or beach at Haven Harbor South, or use the BBQ grill.
ASA101/103 (4-day class): The first two days of an ASA101/103 class are spent sailing in the water between Rock Hall and the Annapolis Bay Bridge. We work on sailing skills until students have gained enough experience to sail to other destinations. On day three, we typically sail either to Annapolis or Galesville, MD, and return to Rock Hall on day four.
ASA103 (Two-day class): A typical ASA103 class will sail from Rock Hall to Annapolis or Galesville, MD, and return.
ASA103/104 (Five-Day Class): Since combination ASA103/104 students have already learned the basics in a previous ASA101 class, and since we have more days on the water, we can venture further in a combination ASA103/104 class. A typical itinerary would be sailing to Annapolis on day one, Saint Michael’s on Day two, Galesville, MD on day three, the Magothy River on Day four, and returning to Rock Hall on day five. Occasionally, with excellent wind, ASA103/104 classes have gone to Herrington Harbour South as an alternative to Saint Michael’s.
ASA104 (Three-day class): Most ASA104 classes go to two destinations, including Annapolis, Galesville, Bodkin Creek, Worton Creek, Herrington Harbor South, or St. Michael’s.
ASA106 (Seven Day): Our ASA106 classes on the Chesapeake Bay perform a circumnavigation of the entire Delmarva Peninsula. We typically take a clockwise approach. Once we depart Rock Hall, we head north to the C & D Canal and spend the first night at Summit North Marina in Bear, DE. Days two and three sail through the remainder of the C & D Canal, go south on the Delaware River, through the Delaware Bay, and into the Atlantic Ocean. On the ocean portion, we sail through the night and do not stop until we reenter the Chesapeake Bay. Once we reenter the Chesapeake Bay, we typically go to Cape Charles or Norfolk. We then use days 4-7 to sail back up the Chesapeake Bay to Rock Hall. Destinations depend on our location at sundown. Typical stopping points include Solomon’s Island, Herrington Harbor, Reedville, or other places.
What should I bring with me to class?
Having the right things with you on a sailboat improves your comfort and safety. We have created a list of items our students may want to consider bringing to class. You can click here to get a List of what to bring.
How many students will be in my class?
Typically, 2-4 students are in each class. We allow up to 5 as the maximum. 2 students are required to proceed with a class. Almost all our classes go forward.
Where will I sleep on board?
Gallivant has four sleeping areas. There are two private double berths with a door located fore and aft, and two settees in the salon area that both convert into single berths. You can see them on the Our Fleet page.
The captain will sleep in one of the two settees in the salon area so he can get up to check the boat at night without disturbing anyone. Students are assigned to the other three sleeping areas. Couples are given priority in berth assignments. If one student is a woman, then she would typically be assigned a private berth unless there are already couples assigned to the double berths. In this case, we have a curtain that can be put up between the two settees to ensure privacy.
Since there are four places to sleep on board, three single students and a captain make up a full boat. Note also that if there are couples, there could be more students, since a couple would share a double berth, leaving room for two singles and a captain. If we have a full boat, then one student has to sleep in the starboard settee. Note that there is a table dividing the port and starboard settees, so it is not like having students double up in a berth.
So that you know, Delmarva Sailing School does not double up single students into one double berth. Many other sailing schools sometimes double single students into a double berth and put up a lee cloth down the middle. Our policy of not doubling single students into a double berth aligns with our commitment to maintaining the highest possible standards in our classes. We believe our sailing classes should maximize sailing education while remaining fun.
What will be included in terms of meals and beverages on board?
Sometimes the instructor will contact you before class to discuss food preferences. Still, in most cases, students sit down with their instructor shortly after arrival and decide what food and beverages to purchase. Learning what foods and drinks work out well on a boat is part of the class and an essential part of learning to cruise.
In most cases, students eat breakfast and lunch on board. Dinners are eaten off the boat in local restaurants unless there is no restaurant available. If a boat stays overnight at anchor or on a mooring ball where local shore-based dining is unavailable, the school will plan, provision, and provide dinner. Students are responsible for purchasing any meals in local restaurants.
Lunches, in many cases, consist of sandwiches or wraps with lunch meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Breakfasts often consist of hot or cold cereal, juice, eggs, and coffee or tea. Most classes also want snacks like fruit and cookies, and all of this is included. Beverages include bottled water, soft drinks, juice, etc.
All on-board food and beverages for lunches and breakfasts are included with the following exceptions:
Per local laws, no alcohol will be purchased for students. Alcoholic beverages may be consumed on board when we are not underway, at the captain’s discretion, but their purchase is not included in the beverage allowance. Students who wish to drink alcoholic beverages should bring their own or plan to purchase them locally. No alcoholic drinks are allowed while we are underway.
Our food and beverage budget is very generous and meets the needs of most students. However, if you have a special diet or prefer more expensive items, an additional charge for food and beverages may apply, or you can bring your own.
Do I get my money back if I must cancel a class? Do students get their money back if the school must cancel a class?
It is doubtful that we will cancel a class, but if we do, students can reschedule or receive a full refund minus the cost of the course materials.
Full payment is due upon signing up for classes.
Terms for ASA101, ASA103, ASA104, ASA106, ASA108, and ASA118 classes: If you cancel 30 days or more before the class start date, we will refund 50% of your payment, minus the cost of the course materials. No refund will be given if you cancel the class less than 30 days from your class start date.
Terms for Home Studies: No refunds are given for ASA105 or 107 home studies.
By paying for classes, you agree to our terms.
Some sailing schools require students to take an introductory class before taking ASA101. Do I need to take an Introductory class before taking ASA101?
ASA created ASA101 Basic Keelboat Sailing as the introductory class for all new sailors. Taking an introductory class to qualify for ASA101 is not required by ASA, since ASA101 is its introductory class. We do not understand the rationale for some schools requiring students to take an introductory class to prepare them to take an introductory class.
How can I tell if Delmarva Sailing School is the best sailing school for me?
ASA requires that all ASA instructors at all ASA Sailing Schools complete the same Request for Certification Form for each student. This form includes a checklist of on-the-water sailing skills that must be mastered to satisfy each ASA certification level. The form is also where the written test results for each ASA certification level are recorded. Even though all ASA Sailing Schools must complete the same on-the-water skills and knowledge, sometimes other sailing schools try to convince potential students that they are the best sailing school because they stretch out their classes over more days or because they charge more for the duplicate learning content. These sailing schools try to convince students that learning to sail is really difficult. However, in reality, learning to sail is easy. Many people learn to sail on their own without taking classes, but learning to sail in our classes will speed up the learning process and make sure you learn how to do things correctly and safely. It is easy to learn to sail with a knowledgeable instructor and an excellent curriculum. Our sailing classes have just the right amount of time to let students learn to sail and have a great time.
In our opinion, sailing Schools should be evaluated by how much students learn and their sailing ability after taking a class or classes. The proof is in the results. Thanks to our internally developed curriculum and highly experienced sailing instructors, our students have averaged 99% on the ASA on-the-water skills and 96% on the written ASA knowledge test since 2008.
We have the best sailing instructors available. ASA has selected our instructors for their highest award, the designation of “Outstanding Instructor” in 2009, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2021. Most sailing schools have no instructors who have won the ASA Outstanding Instructor award and operate without a curriculum, and you go out with one of their captains, and at the end of the class, you take the test.
Some of our competitors list on their websites that they have Master Captains and/or Instructors, but no outside organization confirms that they are Master Captains and/or Instructors. Within the ASA system, a Master Captain is an Instructor Evaluator who can certify instructors. A Master captain within the US Coast Guard is a captain who has earned a US Coast Guard Master’s license. We currently have two Ocean Master Captains, who hold the highest US Coast Guard license. We also have an ASA-certified Master Instructor, who is certified by ASA to certify instructors. In our opinion, some of our competitors, so-called Master Captains and/or instructors, are only given those titles for marketing purposes.
What happens if there are problems on the boat that require repair and possibly result in lost time under sail?
Although we spend a lot on preventive maintenance for our sailboat, sailboats are very complex systems, and problems of one type or another can occur. Learning to deal with issues on the boat is normal and part of sailing. Our experience has been that, so long as the class moves forward, students welcome the challenges posed by problems on the boat. For example, if the dinghy starts leaking, the captain and students may need to stop and fix it using the dinghy repair kit on board our vessel. The class would then continue as usual after the repair is completed. Other examples could be given, but in general, if the class proceeds and we have time to complete all the skills required by the ASA standard, no refund would be given.
How do I get to Delmarva Sailing School, and where can I stay?
Students driving to Delmarva Sailing School in Rock Hall, MD, can visit the Location page to find maps and GPS coordinates. Students who are traveling by air should fly to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and rent a car to drive the 35 miles to Rock Hall, MD. There is plenty of free parking at the Haven Harbor South marina, where we are located. Students typically arrive in the evening before their class and spend the night on our training vessel, Gallivant. Students then also spend all nights during their classes on board the Gallivant.
Will I have a different instructor than the one I was assigned when I signed up?
Although most classes go forward with the instructor listed on the schedule page of our website, we reserve the right to change the instructor at any time. This is sometimes necessary due to illness, family deaths, scheduling conflicts, etc.
What hotels are in the area?
Please visit the Location page to see a list of hotels, motels, and B&Bs.\
Is tobacco allowed on our sailboat?
We do not permit smoking on our sailboat. We also do not allow chewing tobacco on our yacht.
Should I purchase travel insurance?
We realize that things happen, such as trip cancellation, illness, death in the family, missing your flight, or other problems, so we recommend students purchase travel insurance. If you choose not to buy travel insurance, you are assuming any financial loss associated with your travel arrangements. If you would like to obtain travel insurance, you can contact your insurance agent or another insurer to ask about available plans. I’ve included an insurer that offers travel insurance tailored to your needs below6
Do I have to wear a Personal Flotation Device in my sailing class?
We require all students and instructors to wear an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) during every sailing class. This requirement exists to ensure student safety and is also required by our insurance company. You can either use the Personal Flotation Devices we have on board for free or bring your own. PFDs are complex to understand, so we recommend that students use ours. After they complete the class, they will know what they should purchase.
How much should I tip the instructor?
Some students give more, but a gratuity of 15-20% of course fees is typical. Cash is appreciated.
Does Delmarva Sailing School meet all ASA Requirements?
Delmarva Sailing School teaches our students to both the American Sailing Association and the Delmarva Sailing School high standards. This includes all on-the-water sailing skills and knowledge requirements of ASA. Please visit the ASA certification description page to see a written description of the requirements for all ASA classes. Delmarva Sailing School meets or exceeds all of these requirements.