WHY CHOOSE Ondeck Charleston? Students who have taken classes elsewhere consistently tell us that we have the best program of instruction they have experienced. We can't say for sure, and we know there are several good programs available, but we do receive ample feedback that we provide consistently high quality programming that meets and exceeds the exacting expectations of students.
At Ondeck Charleston, students spend more time on the water learning and practicing than at any other school we know of. We don't rush our students through a class: what many schools offer in 3 days, we offer in 6, for example. And we offer additional practice time in the form of Focus Classes and Refresher Courses.
Sailing is more than just learning the skills or reading: it is quality time spent on the water under all kinds of conditions. We help our students gain that experience under the watchful eye of first rate instructors.
OSA instructors are excellent sailors and highly qualified teachers. As an example, we are one of only 3 schools in the country that offers transatlantic passage to fulfill the final U.S. Sailing course, Ocean Passage Making.
Ours isn't the cheapest school you can find. Consistently, however, you'll find that reviewers rate OSA top notch for quality and value. Honestly, that's because we take teaching seriously, and because we care.
HOW DO I KNOW IF SAILING IS FOR ME? If you're thinking about learning to sail but you're not sure whether to take the plunge into your first 3-day course, try our 1/2 day Introduction to Sailing class. This 3-hour class is packed with fun and information, and gives you the chance to get onto the water inexpensively and easily with one of our instructors. This is a great way to try it to see whether you'd like more.
WHAT IS A KEELBOAT? It's a boat with a fixed, weighted keel as opposed to a centerboard. Fixed weighted keels are found on all larger boats, while centerboards are common in very small sailboats such as the Sunfish. A keel is a projection or a ridge that extends straight down from the bottom of the hull. A keel provides lateral stability, which keeps the boat from blowing sideways, as well as vertical stability, which keeps the boat from tipping over. A keelboat cannot tip over because more than half of a keel boat's weight is below the water line.
WHAT KIND OF BOATS WILL WE BE SAILING? It depends on the class. In the Basic Keelboat course, the first in the series of U.S. Sailing Certified Courses, we use 26 foot Colgates, which are tiller-steered. We start students on these boats because tiller-steering on a medium-sized boat such as the Colgate gives students a very direct connection with the water. All subsequent courses are taught on larger wheel-steered boats, classified as yachts. These are the coastal and offshore vessels that suit our higher level courses.
WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASSES DOES Ondeck Charleston OFFER? We teach people how to sail via a variety of different classes. To become a good sailor, you might consider approaching your classes from all of the following directions: 1) U.S. Sailing Certifications Courses 2) Specific skills 3) Refresher classes 4) Racing clinics
SO THAT MY FAMILY CAN ENJOY SAILING TOGETHER, DO YOU OFFER SPECIAL TRAINING FOR CREW? Yes, we offer a 2-day Learn To Crew class aimed at providing crew members with a really good foundation in basic sailing support skills.
HOW LONG ARE YOUR CLASSES? Except for our 1/2 day Introduction to Sailing and our 1/2 day Specific Skills focus classes, classes are multi-day. They generally range from 3 days in duration for our Basic Keelboat and Cruising courses, to 5-10 days for our Coastal Navigation, Coastal Passage & Ocean Passage courses.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH CLASS IS FOR ME? Our courses are set up to be followed in progression; one class provides the skills foundation for the next. Unless you opt out taking a course due to sufficient personal sailing experience, you'll start with Basic Keelboat and progress from there. You may chose to move quickly ahead, or take your time, practice, repeat, practice. People learn at different rates and have different time frames available for learning to sail. Discuss it with us: we'll offer feedback based on extensive experience.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A TYPICAL CLASS? Four people are maximum in all our certification courses. Even on the larger boats that can sleep more, we limit our class size to 4 to provide the highest quality of personalized instruction. Our minimum class size is 2 people.
WHAT IF IT RAINS OR IS TOO WINDY? OSA makes the weather call on the day of the class, since we have found the weather service forecast not to pertain specifically to the harbor and immediate offshore waters. If conditions are not favorable for teaching the skills required of the course, we will cancel and reschedule. Appropriate rain gear, on the other hand, is always recommended, since conditions change and an essential part of sailing is to be prepared to handle variable weather conditions.
HOW CAN YOU MODIFY CLASSES FOR ME? We recognize that people come to sailing from different backgrounds, so we offer various ways to learn. 1) If you're in a course with others, you'll find we use a variety of teaching styles concurrently to cater to those who learn auditorially, visually, or kinesthetically (hands on). 2) If you'd like to learn on your own boat, we conduct private lessons. 3) Perhaps you already know how to sail and you'd like to practice a certain skill: you may join a skills class or arrange private instruction. 4) Our goal is to teach you how to sail. Let us know what your needs are and we'll figure out how to meet them.
WHAT IF I FEEL SEASICK? It is rare, though not impossible, to feel seasick in the harbor, so this issue comes up very infrequently for beginning sailors. It is generally not the small waves that make one ill, but the larger and less frequent offshore swells.
If you are feeling seasick, we will return you to shore.
Prior to heading offshore, we provide you with information that will reduce or circumvent the problem. However, if you find yourself offshore and seasick, we do our best to make you comfortable.
WILL I BE SAFE? Safety is our number one priority.
Wherever you go to take classes, check into your instructors' qualifications and sailing experience. Take into account personal recommendations of past students and online reviews.
Our instructors have a great deal of experience sailing, and have passed a rigorous program of instructional preparation. As a U.S. Sailing certified school, we follow very specific safety guidelines.
WHERE DO I STAY DURING CLASS? For day sailing classes, you may chose from a variety of nearby hotels.
The closest hotel is at our doorstep: Charleston Harbor Resort. Call Corporate Sales at 843-856-0028 and ask for special OSA/ondeck student rates. A mile from here is the new Best Western at Patriots Point. Call 843-408-7311 for their OSA/ondeck student rates. Other nearby Mt. Pleasant hotels include the Red Roof Inn and Extended Stay. Downtown Charleston's many hotels and Bed & Breakfasts may be accessed via a three-season ferry which leaves from our docks hourly.
For upper level cruising courses, you'll spend most nights onboard.
HOW OLD DO MY CHILDREN NEED TO BE TO PARTICIPATE? That depends on what they want to get out of it. Young children of any age may learn to sail from us as long as parents accompany them; we teach families the art of sailing together as a well-coordinated unit. Without parents in attendance, children must be 14 years of age to take our classes, and 16 years old to qualify for U.S. Sailing Course Certifications.
WHAT IS THE U.S. SAILING CERTIFICATION? It is proof of your achievement at various levels of sailing proficiency. This form of proof is recognized at sailing schools and charter companies all over the world.
WHAT IS U.S. SAILING? It is a non-profit organization begun in 1897 to create a national training program for sailors and sailing instructors. The U.S. Sailing Foundation is recognized by the U.S. Congress as being the official National Governing Body of Sailing.
WHY GAIN SAILING CERTIFICATION? Some people want certification so they can charter boats all over the world to locations that want to make sure renters have a thorough background in the basics of sailing. Other people want simply to learn sailing via a logical, time-tested progression that reduces their chance of errors en route to happy sailing experiences.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN U.S. SAILING AND A.S.A. SAILING CERTIFICATIONS? Both are organizations that provide guidelines for learning to sail. US Sailing, est. in 1897, is the official governing body of the US Olympics and Junior Olympics: an organization specializing in providing standards and programs for racing and training at all levels. Each course has its own text book. ASA Sailing, est. in 1983, is younger. Its courses are shorter. It certifies more sailors.
OSA teaches U.S. Sailing courses. We appreciate its in-depth approach.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? We're on Charleston Harbor in Mt. Pleasant; our office and docks have a direct view of downtown Charleston. Three miles from downtown, we are a 10 minute drive over the Cooper River's Ravenel Bridge. We are located on the docks at the end of Patriots Point Road, a mile past the aircraft carrier Yorktown. Our offices are in the freestanding building on the docks of the Charleston Harbor Resort Marina.
We are 4 miles from the mouth of Charleston Harbor enjoying a great location for harbor-based day sails and instruction, and easy access to coastal and offshore sailing.
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