This summer, Sail Orcas will offer adult sailing lessons. The 12-hour courses are offered during June and July. Volunteer instructors are all experienced, local sailors, providing personalized instruction to just two students per course. Participants can select weekend lessons (six hours on both Saturday and Sunday) or midweek lessons (typically three hours a day Monday through Thursday, organized with the instructor to meet personal schedules). The two-student course format allows the USA Sailing curriculum to be tailored to the student’s needs.

All courses are taught at the Orcas Island Yacht Club and are taught on West Sound in one of Sail Orcas’ two Cal 20 sloops, moored at the West Sound Marina.

Course registration includes a full season membership to Sail Orcas. Students that demonstrate appropriate mastery of basic sailing skills at the conclusion of their course will be eligible to use the Sail Orcas boats on their own, without additional charge throughout the remainder of the 2008 sailing season. Further training is available through Sail Orcas in accordance with students’ needs and interests.

The course fee is $340 per student or $600 per couple. Students who successfully complete the course can also continue their annual family membership in future years for less than $100, and maintain their season long access to the keel boats at no additional charge. Sail Orcas is a non-profit foundation, and the proceeds from the adult sailing lessons support Orcas’ teen and youth sailing teams. Call the Orcas Island Recreation Program to register or for more information (376-5339).