Sail Away Sailing School, LLC takes pride in excellent customer service, conducting classes, cruises and coaching in Minnesota, the Great Lakes, and Caribbean.
Lead instructor is Captain Joan GiImore, who holds a master’s degree in adult learning styles. She has conducted research and presents seminars on how adults learn. She has been an Instructor Evaluator for ASA since 2000, training Small Boat through Advanced Coastal Cruising instructors in the U.S., Japan and Caribbean. The former ASA Education Coordinator now serves on three non-profit sailing boards and writes articles for Sailing and other national magazines.
Most of our instructors are USCG licensed captains with at least 10 years of sailing experience. All have sailed in both American and international waters, and have served as boat delivery captains.
We offer private groups and families many options for a tailor-made course on Minnesota lakes, Lake Pepin, Florida coast, the Great Lakes and Caribbean.
Our students are frequent, loyal, return customers.
Our Basic Keelboat course is taught in four sessions, with an emphasis on thorough understanding and confidence.
Our popular Docking Endorsement course is two full days of docking, including backing into a slip and single-handed techniques.
Our instructors get rave reviews from their students for the enjoyment students derive from the on-water courses, and for the delight of learning life-enhancing skills.
The majority of our students purchase a boat of their own after taking courses with us. Our instructors provide resources for more sailing experience after the course is finished by referring students to a number of local sailing clubs, often helping them locate the right boat to buy, or offering crew positions for local up to trans-Atlantic deliveries.
American Sailing Certifications Offered
Learn to skipper a 20' - 27' sloop-rigged keelboat by day, in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards.
Learn to skipper a sloop-rigged auxiliary powered 25'-35' keelboat by day in moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn cruising sailboat terminology, basic boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, docking procedures, intermediate sail trim, navigation rules, basic coastal navigation, anchoring, weather, safety and seamanship.
Learn how to sail a sloop-rigged, auxiliary powered 30'-45' sailboat during a multi-day cruise upon inland/coastal waters in moderate/heavy winds and sea conditions. Learn about provisioning, boat systems, auxiliary engines, advanced sail trim, coastal navigation, anchoring / mooring, docking, emergency operations, weather, and more.
Learn the the navigational theory and practices for safe navigation of a sailing vessel in coastal and inland waters. On-water coastal navigation skills elements are contained in the ASA103, Basic Coastal Cruising, ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising, and ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising, in progressively increasing levels of detail.
Learn to safely act as skipper and crew of a sailing vessel about 30 to 50 feet in length in coastal and inland waters, in any conditions.
Learn to sail a centerboard or multihull sailboat in light to moderate winds and sea conditions. Learn basic sailing terminology, sail trim, points of sail, crew responsibilities, seamanship and safety including capsize avoidance/recovery and navigation rules to avoid collisions.
Learn to skipper an auxiliary-powered sailing cruising catamaran of approximately 30-45' feet in length during a multi-day liveaboard cruise upon inland or coastal waters in moderate to heavy winds (up to 30 knots) and sea conditions.
Learn basic docking skills for boats with single inboard or outboard engines. Discover the basic theory and hands-on techniques needed to dock and undock boats in an efficient manner and without damage or injury.
Other Services Available
- Women Only Courses
- Couples Courses
- Private Courses
- Weekday Courses
- Weekend Courses
- Corporate Team Building Courses
- ASA 'Challenges'
- Summer Camps for Kids
- Day Sail Charters (public)
- Day Sail Charters (member-only)
- Vacation Charters
- Sailboat Cruises
- Racing Courses
- Sail Trim Courses
- Spinnaker Courses
Promotions
ASA Veterans Sailing Education Program - Sign Up Now >>
At ASA we recognize the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have served or are serving in our country's armed forces. As a token of our appreciation, and our way of saying thank you, we are inviting veterans and active military personnel to share our passion for sailing by offering a discount on our ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course. Sail Away Sailing School is offering a minimum of $50.00 or 10% off their ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course.
Sailing School Reviews / Testimonials
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Captain Joan Gilmore was terrific and knowledgeable about explaining sailing to us. I highly recommend checking out a sailing lesson led by Sail Away Sailing School. It’s very accessible, affordable, and is a great intro level to sailing.
David Freeburg - Sail Away Sailing School
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Thank you for a great sailing lesson experience. Both Matt and I were impressed by the breadth of your knowledge, diligence and teaching skills. I look forward to seeing you soon to take that test.
Lia Rivamonte - ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
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Joan Gilmore is an outstanding and patient sailing instructor. We were encouraged to actively participate in all aspects of sailing. She is a wonderful instructor and I highly recommend her to anyone interested in learning to sail.
Julie O'Brien - ASA 101, Keelboat 1
Contact Information
Sail Away Sailing School |
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| Address | 151 Glen Creek Road NEMinneapolisMN55432United States |
| Phone | (612) 871-8101 |
| Website | sailawaysailingschool.com |
| Social Media | |
