Introduction to Sailing at Smithville Lake 2025 Updates

Introduction to Sailing week 3 Tack

Introduction to Sailing Week 3 Lazy D on Port Tack

Pictures of our most recent class! Getting the Boats Ready to Go. What a great way to get a new experience on the water!

Introduction to Sailing Enrollment Information

The course consists of three Thursday nights in classroom format 6:30-8:30PM and three on-the-water instruction sessions at Smithville Lake on Saturdays.

Instruction is tailored for adult students. All instructors are members of Paradise Point Yacht Club and have years of combined sailing experience.

The On-the-water instruction sessions Students register for either the Saturday morning (9am to 1pm) session or the Saturday afternoon (1pm to 5pm) session. Both groups attend the combined Thursday evening (6:30pm to 8:30pm) classroom sessions at iWerx in Gladstone 7001 North Locust Street Gladstone, MO 64118
Phone: 816-780-1833.

Successful completion includes passing a final written exam, and a skills assessment by a PPYC Skipper while sailing a boat over a predetermined course. Upon sucessful completion, students will receive a “Certificate of Completion,” as well as membership in PPYC for 2025.

Our popular “Introduction to Sailing” classes will take place this June. Enrollment will be through Parkhill H.S. adult education, You can register online by visiting https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ParkHillCommunityEducation or calling 816-359-4060. Cost $273 paid to Park Hill when registering online in addition to $25 paid to PPYC for the handbook on the first night of the classroom sessions.

6-5-25 Intro to Sail Classroom, Session I
6-7-25 On the Water (I)
6-12-25 Intro to Sail Classroom, Session II
6-14-25 On the Water (II)
6-19-25 Intro to Sail Classroom, Session III
6-21-25 On the Water (III)

Who should take this course? It is designed for adults (18 years & older) with no sailing experience as well as returning “rusty” sailors. You will learn about safety, basic sailing terminology, principles of sailing, right-of-way rules, weather issues and boat handling.

Class consists of six (6) hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours on-the-water instruction. On the water sessions requires moderate physical agility and the ability to move about safely on a moving boat while under sail.

Students will learn how to sail and how to operate safely. With this comes knowledge of sailing terminology, keelboat sailboat handling, the physical principles of sailing, right of way rules, impact of weather, and a smile that possible can never be removed. A textbook is required. Instruction will utilize cruisers – 22′ to 30′ – and is intended to ensure students will have the confidence to continue the sport of sailing as a lifelong hobby and be comfortable buying their first sailboat.

You will learn the language of sailing, anatomy of a sailboat, cockpit and boat controls, principles of sailing, preparing the boat for sailing, points of sail, maneuvering a boat under sail, safety best practices, boating right-of-way rules, and weather awareness.

Each student is required to provide their own PFD (lifejacket). Appropriate attire for the weekend sessions will be discussed at the first classroom meeting. Expect to get wet!