You will learn about:

Knot tying and seamanship and nautical terminology

Parts of our various boats

Care of boats and equipment

Rigging and De-rigging

Points of sail

Right of way skills when on the water

Personal and boating safety

Wind, weather,  and tide awareness

Basic sailing skills like steering, tacking, and jibing

Capsize and Overboard Recovery

Sailing team roles and tasks

See wildlife and learn about our fragile island ecosystems

Sail to other nearby islands

How to sail a racecourse and racing rules

Race in our regatta and against neighboring teams when ever possible.

Check out a newsletter from our 2024 season!

Sailing schedule and general information 

Isand Sail runs Tuesday thru Friday for the first five weeks and Monday thru Thursday on the last week. If your sailor is new to Island Sail they will have to do a quick swim test at the start of the program at 9am on Tuesday morning.

New sailors,  be sure to bring your life jacket (if you have one, if not we can loan you one), wear your bathing suit and bring dry, warm clothes to change into afterwards. Always have your water bottle, sunscreen and a beach towel. No food allowed.

All sailors, old and new, should arrive by 9:00 am for the morning session and 1:00 pm for the afternoon session. Check in with our Program Director at the boat house at Skoog Park to make sure we have all of your paperwork. Sailors will not be allowed to sail if payment has not been received and all forms completed on Tuesday mornings.

Tuesday through Friday - Sail and have a blast  - rain or shine!

Island Sail fees for 2023

$185 per week per sailor

$ 95 Vinalhaven School students per week

Two Programs

• Morning Program: Tuesday through Friday from 9AM to Noon

• Stepped/Racing Program: Tuesday through Friday from 1PM to 4PM

Want to know more about Island Sail?

In 1984, Thomas Godfrey founded ARC Sail — Vinalhaven’s non-profit youth sailing school. His mission was to build an instructional program for the vacationing and local community’s children, supported entirely by volunteer efforts.

The Island Sail curriculum helps young sailors develop safe sailing skills. Instructors deliver brief classroom sessions, perform demonstrations, and supervise on water practice sessions. Sailing is a team sport. Whether just for fun or serious racing, working well together is the key to success. We recognize and reward collaboration, camaraderie, and good sportsmanship in the classroom and on the water.

Our fleet, docks, and boathouse require regular maintenance. Sailors are responsible for keeping the facility in ship-shape condition. Vinalhaven is a working waterfront that welcomes a variety of recreational users in the summer.

As part of that community, we instill in our sailors a respect and appreciation for all users. We operate out of the historic Skoog Boat House at the Vinalhaven Land Trust - Skoog Park, on the Sands Cove Road.

Our Fleet consist of:

• 5 Optimists

• 7  420’s

• 2 Lasers

• 1 JY

• 3 Safety Launches

• 1 Walker Bay

Staff

 Our staff is made up of trained professionals, many of whom learned to sail right here at Island Sail. 

Instructors are US SAILING Level 1 certified and hold certificates in CPR and First Aid.

 Sailing exercises/ drills are supervised from our safety launches. 

Helmsman/ Skipper-level sailors accompany first-time sailors at all times.

We like to live by the motto of "Safety, Fun, Sailing" & in that order too! 

So come join in on the fun and sign up today!

Copyright by Island Sail 2023
Vinalhaven, Maine 04863