Gratitude Sailing Institute
Essex, Maryland
| +1 410-726-4403 | GratitudeSailing.com

Choosing a sailing school is the most important step in a new sailor’s exciting journey leading to a superior level of seamanship.

At The Gratitude Sailing Institute, we recognize this and have infused decades of experience into a curriculum led by a team of the finest sailing professionals. The result is a program embodying key elements of sailing success – your personal safety, education, and enjoyment. These values and our commitment to our students are never compromised.

Gratitude is not a diploma mill. We build seamen and seawomen who are capable and confident on the water. From the moment they step aboard, Gratitude’s students learn seamanship skills needed to sail both safely and skillfully.

Our Instructors are the backbone of our organization. They are all U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captains and committed professionals governed by and practicing a code of excellence that is in their DNA and permeates our curriculum. They teach candidates patiently and thoroughly. As recognized leaders in their field, our Instructors have amassed thousands of miles of sea time on bodies of water worldwide. They enjoy teaching sailing, and that enthusiasm is contagious; it permeates our Captains’ interactions and relationships with our students. Further, they must consistently achieve outstanding student reviews to maintain their status as an esteemed Gratitude Sailing Institute Instructor.

A key element of sailing is teamwork. We specialize in offering visionary organizations the opportunity to utilize sailing to experience the enhanced and effective team-building metamorphosis that naturally occurs among sailors. With an emphasis on personal safety, education, and enjoyment, our executive leadership and teambuilding program, in conjunction with our Captains, creates a total team environment among participants. In this venue, team members can pursue an “Introduction to Sailing” diploma or a “Basic Keelboat Certification” from American Sailing. Both are springboards into organizational dynamics and a lifetime of learning unlike any other.

Gratitude is located on the tranquil shores of the Chesapeake Bay at Markley’s Marina, north of Baltimore, Maryland. Sailing conditions vary depending on the season, but we are greeted by wind anxious to move us along, and oftentimes rather briskly. Our classes traverse the middle and upper reaches of the Bay, offering many student-determined “port of call” experiences.

Our boats are sound, ocean-ready seacraft maintained to the highest maritime standards. Our advanced classes are conducted in a “liveaboard” environment where our students experience life at sea.

Careful evaluation will reveal that The Gratitude Sailing Institute has the highest commitment to your personal safety, education and enjoyment offered by none other. This is our promise to you from the moment you step aboard, and it will accompany you throughout your exciting sailing journey with us.

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 102, Keelboat Sailing 2
ASA 102, Keelboat Sailing 2
Learn to skipper and crew aboard a sloop-rigged keelboat of approximately 20 to 30 feet in length by day in winds up to 20 knots. Depart, sail, and return with control demonstrating teamwork.
ASA 103, Coastal Cruising
ASA 103, 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 114, Cruising Catamaran
ASA 114, Cruising Catamaran
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.
ASA 116, Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement
ASA 116, Dinghy and Outboard Endorsement
Learn to safely and efficiently operate a dinghy with an outboard motor, in a variety of environments, including operating from a dock, a beach, and a cruising yacht. Understand the types of dinghies and outboards, characteristics of each, safe operation, security, towing, hoisting, storage, transit, employment, care and maintenance
ASA 118, Docking Endorsement
ASA 118, Docking Endorsement
The successful sailor will have the knowledge and skills to safely and competently dock and maneuver a sailboat under auxiliary power in a variety of conditions. Includes knowledge of steering and propulsion theory, wind and current, single and double-rudder monohulls, catamarans, safety precautions, knots and line handling, fixed and floating docks.

Other Services Available

  • Women Only Courses
  • Couples Courses
  • Private Courses
  • Weekday Courses
  • Weekend Courses
  • Corporate Team Building Courses
  • ASA 'Challenges'
  • Day Sail Charters (public)
  • Day Sail Charters (member-only)
  • Vacation Charters
  • Sunset Cruises
  • 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. Gratitude Sailing Institute is offering a minimum of $50.00 or 10% off their ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing course.

Contact Information

Gratitude Sailing Institute

Address 233 Nanticoke RdEssexMD21221
Phone +1 410-726-4403
Website GratitudeSailing.com
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