As you progress as a sailor, you'll have the opportunity to take on-the-water tests to demonstrate your skill in different wind conditions and on different boats. Each rating is a prerequisite for the next, allowing you to move along in attainable individual steps. To help you, each of our ratings has a class designed to teach you the skills required for that rating.
CBI's goal is to get you on the water. If you are not rated to go out in particular conditions, check with the Program Director, and he or she will do what they can to get you sailing.
Orientation Class (20-30 minutes)
Orientation class is the official welcome to Community Boating. Here you will tour our facility and learn about CBI.s classes, programs, and activities.
Once you.ve taken the Orientation class, you are ready to go sailing. Put on your PFD (personal flotation device) and check in at the dock house to go out for informal sailing instruction. One of our experienced volunteers will take you out and start showing you the ropes (lines!). So now you.re hooked, and you want to sail on your own? You must first learn your Solo rating. This is accomplished by taking the Rigging class,
Rigging Class (1 -1 1/2 hours) + Shore I Class (1 hour and 45 minutes)
Rigging class provides a complete overview of the Cape Cod Mercury, and includes rigging, unrigging, furling and storing sails, and a review of the knots. This class will walk you through the procedures in a step-by-step method so that you can go sailing. If you are new to the Mercury or sailing, don't miss this class. Shore I is a classroom presentation that teaches the basics of sailing. It includes preparation before going sailing, sailing theory, basic boat handling and seamanship, safety rules, and emergency procedures.
Keep Sailing + The Solo Test
The best preparation for taking the Solo test is a combination of Rigging class, Shore I class, and several sessions of informal on-the-water sailing instruction. So keep sailing! We'll ask you some sailing, safety, and rules questions, and then we'll ask you to demonstrate rigging, unrigging, and tying a few knots. With your Solo rating you may sail a Cape Cod Mercury (under mainsail only) anytime we fly the green flag from the dock house.
The Helmsman Test
Want to bring guests? Then your next step is the Helmsman rating. After you have been sailing a number of times by yourself and with other members, you may feel ready to take a Helmsman test, an on-the-water assessment administered by the dock staff.
30 - 45 minutes
Orientation is the official welcome to Community Boating. Orientation is the best way to find out about everything CBI has to offer. Tour our facility and learn about Community Boating's programs, activities, and schedules. Open to both members and non-members.
45 minutes
Rigging class provides a complete overview of the Cape Cod Mercury sailboat which includes rigging and unrigging, furling and storing of sails, and a review of knots. This class will walk you through the procedures in a step by step method so that you can pass the Solo test and go sailing. The Rigging Class is recommended to both experienced sailors and novices as it gives a good overview of how the members of Community Boating are expected to use and care for the boats.
1 hour, 45 minutes
The Shore School classroom presentation is the best introduction for understanding sailing. It includes preparation before going sailing, sailing theory, basic boathandling and seamanship, safety rules, emergency procedures, and review of knots.
2 hours
Mainsail is an on-the-water class that allows you to practice basic sailing skills through organized drills. Some topics which may be covered: tacking, gybing, starting and stopping, dock departure and landing, sail trim, points of sail, and the safety position. Thisclass is good preparation for taking the helmsman test. This class can be taken several times as you will learn different things according to the conditions of the day.
Prerequisite: Solo Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
2 hours
Jib I is an on-the-water class that reviews skills introduced in the Mainsail class with the addition of the jib sail. Practice your fundamental sailing skills with coaching from a trained instructor. Jib I will have you sailing like an old salt in no time. Jib class is often attended more than once before students attempt to get their Jib test.
Prerequisite: Helmsman Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
2 hours
Jib II is an on-the-water class that explores the physics behind sailing and covers high-performance techniques you need to sail in more challenging conditions. In this class you will learn to sail without a rudder! Jib II provides excellent preparation for the most demanding sailing conditions. This class can be taken before or after Jib I.
Prerequisite: Helmsman Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
2 1/2 hours
The Rhodes 19 class is a hands-on lesson in boat-specific rigging, boat care, tight-quarters boat handling, crew-overboard recovery, mooring, and docking.
Prerequisite: Jib Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
1 1/2 hours
The Laser class demonstrates proper rigging, boat care, storage, boat-handling techniques, and capsize recovery for this single-handed high-performance boat.
Prerequisite: Helmsman Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
1 1/2 hours
The 420 class is a hands-on demonstration reviewing proper rigging, boat care and storage, boat-handling techniques,and capsize recovery for this double-handed high-performance boat.
Prerequisite: Jib Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
2 hours
Spinnaker is a hands-on shore class that covers rigging, setting, flying, dousing, and gybing a spinnaker from a boat on shore.
Prerequisite: Jib Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office
2 1/2 hours
Open to students with their Rhodes 19 Rating. The Sonar class is a hands-on lesson in boat-specific rigging, boat care, tight-quarters boat handling, crew-overboard recovery, mooring, and docking.
Prerequisite: Rhodes19 Rating
Reminder you must register for this class in the front office