Beginner sailors should start at the top of our Class Flow Chart, and can progress through classes as they achieve proficiency ratings. Experienced sailors should speak to the dock-master about fast-tracking, and can join the chart in the appropriate location.
Start with…
- Orientation (membership not required — even for experienced sailors — available in-person or online)
- Rigging (available in-person or online)
- Shore School (available in-person or online)
- after completing these, please ask at the dockhouse to take the rigging and verbal checks. Completion of these checks results in a Mercury Green Rating
- Windsurf classes (optional, requires completion of verbal test)
Green-Rated sailors may…
- sign up for Guided Sail, a scheduled on-water sail with an instructor in the boat. Sign up on your member portal, Green and Yellow Rated Sailors are eligible
- sail during green-flag conditions (on your own or with another green-rated member) and sometimes during yellow-flag conditions in a Keel Mercury at the dock-master’s discretion
- take Beginner-Intermediate classes, though we request you sail three times before taking Mainsail (inclusive of First Sail and Informal Instruction)
- take Informal Instruction (like first sail, but not scheduled)
- take the yellow test — involves sailing a set course on a yellow-flag day. Many members will take the test more than once, and successful completion earns a Mercury Yellow Rating.
Yellow Rated sailors may…
- sail during yellow-flag conditions (and sometimes during red-flag conditions in a Keel Mercury at the dock-master’s discretion)
- take guests sailing (requires a one-time fee)
- take Advanced-Intermediate classes
- after completing Jib classes, may sail with a jib at the dock-masters’ discretion (usually in green-flag conditions)
- take Learn to Race
- join our Volunteer Faculty and teach Rigging and Shore School!
- give Informal Instruction
- take the red test (similar to yellow test but on a red-flag day, and with a jib and crew-member)
Red Rated Sailors may…
- sail during most red-flag conditions
- sail with a jib
- take High Performance classes (requires a nominal fee to ensure attendance)
- attend Intermediate Racing Practices
- teach Mainsail and Jib classes
