Maryland School of Sailing
Rock Hall, Maryland
| (410) 639-7030 | mdschool.com

At the Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship, helping people become exceptional sailors is our passion. That’s why our reputation as a serious school for serious sailors follows our students wherever they go.

We don’t cut corners or compromise safety to sell certifications. We simply offer the best sailing instruction and turn out the finest sailors found anywhere.

Since 1991, we’ve completed more than 240 long distance ocean training cruises and are known worldwide for our advanced program. However, like all pursuits, achieving a standard of excellence requires a thorough mastery of basic skills, and this is what we do best.

Contrary to what you may hear from other schools, there are no shortcuts to true success or safety when sailing. We don’t believe in the fast track mindset, nor do we teach on small boats designed for daysailing or racing.

Our beginning level ASA101 live-aboard course is a full four days in length. And, like all of our courses, it is taught aboard rugged Island Packet cruising yachts by only the most skilled Coast Guard Licensed Captains in the industry.

At the Maryland School we know what it takes to make a cruising sailor and we adhere to this philosophy from the beginning through the advanced levels.

Compare our program to schools offering abbreviated courses. We think you’ll find that the Maryland School is an excellent educational choice, with a good return on your investment and a lifetime of benefits.

The Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship offers full length on-line Coastal Navigation (ASA 105) and Celestial Navigation (ASA 107) courses over the winter months. These courses are full length courses with Captain Tom Tursi, the author of the ASA Coastal Navigation Textbooks. The course includes 24 hours of live on-line instructions and students from around the world participate.

The Maryland School of Sailing has always been known as the place to learn ‘to put that big boat in a small slip’ and is the originator of the ASA 118 docking curriculum. The school continues to offer a full length two day docking classes, not abbreviated courses, and students participate in our docking courses from around the world.

We use Island Packet cruising yachts for all of our courses ASA 101 through ASA 108. For all courses from beginning through ocean sailing, students are welcome to stay onboard the yachts for the duration of their course so no hotels are needed.

Our YouTube channel at ‘mdschoolofsailing’ offers free educational videos for both novice and advanced sailors and each winter we offer live webinars on various cruising topics.

American Sailing Certifications Offered

ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1
ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1
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.
ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising
ASA 103, Basic Coastal Cruising
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.
ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
ASA 104, Bareboat Cruising
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.
ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising
ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising
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.
ASA 108, Offshore Passagemaking
ASA 108, Offshore Passagemaking
Learn to skipper a sailing vessel on extended offshore passages requiring celestial navigation. Knowledge of long-term passage planning, offshore vessel selection, sail repair, offshore first aid, watch-keeping, emergency procedures, abandon ship protocols, safety and seamanship.
ASA 118, Docking Endorsement
ASA 118, Docking Endorsement
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

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. Maryland School of Sailing is offering a minimum of $50.00 or 10% off their ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course.

Sailing School Reviews / Testimonials

  • Best money ever spent. I just finished practicing the skills I learned in the 2-day docking course on my own boat in my slip. I can't believe the difference from a few weeks ago! "..."[read more]

    Erika McEntarfer - ASA 118, Docking Endorsement

  • Erik and I had an amazing four days learning how to sail with Captain Andy. We are by no means experts, but we have solid information and skills to build upon now. "..."[read more]

    Sara Collins - ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1

  • I just wanted to tell you and all the folks at the School that I have just had one of the best times of my life sailing with Captain Jochen Hoffmann and First Mate Steve Runals. "..."[read more]

    Joe Pazoureck - ASA 108, Offshore Passagemaking

  • Capt Roger was fantastic as an instructor!! He was very thorough and from his instruction I feel confident in taking a boat out for a sail on my own. This was my very first time on a boat or the water, and I learned more than I expected. "..."[read more]

    Richard Skrzyniarz - ASA 101, Keelboat Sailing 1

  • I've just sent you a review of the ASA 105 Advanced Coastal Navigation course. As with that one, you are free to use the below in any way helpful to you.The ASA 106 DelMarVa Circumnavigation course was wonderful, better than my hopes for it. "..."[read more]

    John Fox - ASA 106, Advanced Coastal Cruising

Contact Information

Maryland School of Sailing

Address Lankford Bay MarinaMcKinleyville RoadRock HallMD21661United States
Phone (410) 639-7030
Website mdschool.com
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