I am interested in potentially joining the club. Can I try a sailing lesson before joining to see if I like it? 

•  Unfortunately, due to insurance reasons lessons are restricted to WYC members only. However, you are more than welcome to join the club for a quarter, try out sailing, and decide if you would like to continue sailing!

Is WYC currently accepting non-student members?

• Memberships for non-students are available, but you are required to have an IMA membership. UW faculty, staff, and select other groups are eligible to purchase an IMA membership independently. For others, you are eligible to be sponsored by a student, faculty, or staff for a Plus One IMA membership. Fill out the membership form to be paired with one of our unmatched members.

I just joined WYC. Where do I start?

Welcome, we are excited to have you! A few great places to start learning to sail include:

• Join our Discord server
• Read the WYC Sailing Guide
• Sign up for a Sailing Lesson
• Attend a Supervised Sailing (to practice what you have learned) 
• •  

I’ve never been out sailing before. What should I bring?

•  Water, snacks, a rain jacket (weather-dependent), extra layers — warm, wind resistant clothing (especially for sailing during Winter/Spring or if you are sailing for longer periods of time), a bag (to store layers), sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat. Some sailors wear sailing or athletic gloves if they’re going to be handing lines. 

How do I tell which way the wind is coming from?

• Look at the water; the waves travel in the same direction as the wind.
• Try turning your head back and forth.
• If you’re truly stumped, dip your hand in the water and hold it up in the air with the boat stopped.

How do I tell if I am going upwind or downwind?

Going upwind:

• It ‘feels’ a lot windier and noisier than going downwind.
• Your boat will heel consistently to one side, or lean away from the wind.
• You’ll find yourself sitting much farther out from the center of the boat to counteract the heeling and keep it balanced and flat than you would going downwind.

Going downwind:

• It ‘feels’ a lot quieter.
• Your boat may tip from side to side in an oscillating manner but probably won’t heel consistently to one side.
• You’ll find yourself sitting closer to the center of the boat to keep it balanced and flat than you would going upwind.

What is the difference between a tack and gybe? How can I tell what I just did?

In a tack:

• If the sail switched sides after you pushed the tiller towards the sail (and away from yourself), then you have just performed a tack.
• The wind will be blowing against the front of the boat and it will ‘feel’ windier than a gybe.
• It will feel ‘slower’ than a gybe; the boat actually slows down momentarily while turning through the No Go Zone.
• The sail(s) will swing across slower than it would during a gybe.
• If there is enough wind, the boat will be heeling consistently to one side prior to the tack, and then after the tack, it will heel consistently towards the opposite side.

In a gybe:

• If the sail switched sides after you pulled the tiller away from the sail (and towards yourself), then you have just performed a gybe.
• The wind will be blowing against the back of the boat and it won’t ‘feel’ as windy as a tack.
• It will feel ‘quicker’ than a tack; the boat will not slow down much at all except for the moment in which the sail switches sides.
• The sail(s) will swing across much quicker than it would during a tack.

How do I sheet in/out and steer at the same time? I only have two hands. 

• You can sheet in easier if you pass the slack you pull in with your sheet hand to your tiller hand temporarily.
• Resist the urge to bite your mainsheet; it’s gross and it can hurt you.
• Avoid wrapping the sheet(s) around your hand or any other part of your body; a sudden gust of wind could pull your hand into a block (pulley) or tighten the sheet painfully around your hand or other body part.

I got stuck against the outer dock/ I ran aground / I got stuck in the lily pads. What now? 

• This is more common than you would expect and it happens to all of us at some point.
• If you are being blown into these obstacles, try sheeting your sails all the way out.
• If you continue to be blown into these obstacles, you are probably headed downwind into them. Try to rotate your boat upwind by paddling aggressively.
• Try rotating your rudder into the kicked-up position and pulling your centerboard or daggerboard up momentarily to clear the obstacle. Return them to their sailing position as soon as you are free, or you won’t be able to control your direction.
• If you cannot sail away from the obstacle, paddle aggressively. If the sails are preventing you from making progress via paddling, lower them into the boat. 

I want to learn how to sail but all the lessons are full, what should I do?

• You have a few options: You can email the instructor to get on the course waitlist (spots frequently open up the days before and day of the lessons). Additionally, you can participate in other sailings events such as Supervised Sailing and Friday Social Sailing where you may be able to receive some informal instruction.

Where can I learn more about Snooze & Cruise?

Please see the Snooze & Cruise webpage, it contains everything you need to know including the sign-up form, an approximate trip itinerary, and a packing list. 

Can I bring guests out sailing?

• Yes, as long as the following conditions are met: 1) Guests are 18 years or older, 2) Guests have a current quarterly IMA membership, and 3) Guests have signed the WYC Guest Waiver (available here). Club members bringing out guests are responsible for ensuring that all three steps get completed! 

When are WYC members required to wear wetsuits?

• Per the WYC Policies document, members using sailboards from September 15th to June 15th are required to wear wetsuits.