Sailing Rochester
Kristin Klodzinski
Group classes typically run from late June through July. Private and semi-private lessons can be scheduled during June, July, August and September. Use the links in the menu above to learn more about our organization and what we have to offer.
Review the sailing class descriptions to find the class that best suits your interest and skill level.
We look forward to helping you have fun on the water!
Rochester Yacht Club (RYC) offers United States Sailing Association (USSA) certified sailing instruction to adults (18+), both members and non-members. Sets of lessons on the water offer personalized instruction, giving novices a non-intimidating opportunity to learn the basic skills of sailboat handling and care. Even experienced sailing crew can benefit by learning responsible helmsman ship. Students build confidence and gain experience while learning. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Keelboat course provides US SAILING certification-of-competency to skipper a sailboat. This can help wherever one wants to rent or charter a sailboat or become a starter crew member on any racing sailboat. Private lessons are also available.
For your convenience, the courses are offered throughout the week in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Class lengths will vary from 3-hours to 6 hours depending on the session to better accommodate schedules of our participants. Whether you have all summer or one weekend, we will have a course and time frame to meet your needs. Unlike commercial schools, we try to separate lessons rather than holding them on consecutive days, to offer you time to review appropriate textbook sections between lessons and hopefully to expose you to variations in the weather. Classes will run from early May through September In-process classes must be completed by the end of September. After that, weather usually deteriorates, often making sailing instruction unpleasant.
The RYC Discover Sailing Experience Course is the perfect introduction into sailing. You can participate in a fun two hour sail with a partner, group of friends, work colleagues, or family for a minimal fee. Discover your love for the seas and sailing on this short cruise.
Discover Sailing is a great opportunity to find out just how fun, safe, accessible, and affordable sailing is and enjoy the great social club environment. A qualified certified Instructor will be out on the water with you, ensuring your safety. Discover Sailing Experiences are held on a Keelboat. Our Keelboats allow you to learn to sail without the fear of capsizing. The Discover Sailing Experience is ideal for people who have never been sailing and have no sailing knowledge.
Join us at RYC with a two hour sail combined with lunch on our deck overlooking the waterfront. You can participate in a fun two hour sail with a partner, group of friends, work colleagues, or family for a minimal fee. Discover your love for the seas and sailing on this short cruise followed by a delicious lunch near the water.
The Sailcation is a great opportunity to find out just how fun, safe, accessible, and affordable sailing is and enjoy the great social club environment. A qualified certified Instructor will be out on the water with you, ensuring your safety. The sailing portion is held on a Keelboat. Our Keelboats allow you to learn to sail without the fear of capsizing. This experience is ideal for people who have never been sailing and have no sailing knowledge. Price includes lunch, drink and two hour sail.
Note: If an experienced crew can demonstrate these skills in the first lesson, he/she may advance directly to the Basic Keel boat lessons without additional charge. Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
Are you unsure of how everything works, but you're dreading letting another summer go by without sailing? This is the course for you! We are aware that not everyone can get on a boat as often as they would like and that everyone can get a little rusty after the off-season... but there's no need to retake a whole sailing course. If you just need to brush up your boat handling skills, let us help you get back on board! We make it our goal to give you the knowledge and confidence to safely get on the water again.
Our Certified Instructors may also be booked to provide private lessons for more advanced lessons or you may opt for additional sailing time with an instructor if you feel the need before going for final Keelboat qualification. Private lessons are held on Ideal 18's or Sonars.
RYC members are welcome to our Club Sonars, Ideals and Catalina 25! Once Cleared by an adult sail instructor, you are welcome to reserve a boat for a half day or full day. Simply use our online registration system to reserve a boat by clicking HERE.
This sixteen hour, on-the-water course is for anyone who wants to learn how to safely operate a powerboat or improve their on-the-water boat handling skills. No experience necessary. The topics are covered using a variety of techniques in the classroom and dockside, emphasizing on-the-water practical application of all skills. needs at least two students in order for it to run.
Quantum Sails Rochester (QSR) is the premier sail loft for all your sail, canvas, upholstery and repair needs, with service extending from the shores of eastern Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to the waterways of New York and the Hudson River Valley.
Quantum Sails Rochester is a partner of international sail maker Quantum Sails, providing the highest quality sails for racing and cruising boats. Along with our industry-leading sail design and production, we specialize in delivering a wide range of canvas and upholstery fabrication solutions and repair needs. Our large loft has the capacity to cover everything from small boats to major canvas installations.
Kris Werner grew up in Queens, NY, and spent his childhood on the water, sailing and fishing. He is a graduate of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, where he earned an unlimited tonnage/oceans USCG license and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and Business.
After four years of collegiate varsity and offshore sailing, Kris served as a collegiate sailing coach and waterfront director. His career took him all over the world as a ship's officer on ocean-going tankers. In 2004, Kris came to Rochester to earn his way to Chief Officer on the Rochester Fast Ferry. He then worked as a Broker with RCR Yachts and began collaborating with Steve Haarstick on sail designs for various boats, including J/70s, J/24s, and other offshore vessels. For three years, he worked at Haarstick Sailmakers before transitioning to becoming the owner of the loft which is now Quantum Sails Rochester. Kris has extensive experience in offshore and one-design racing campaigns, both as a helmsman and a crew member. In addition to being a familiar face on the racing circuit, Kris enjoys spending time cruising with his wife and three boys.
Doug Burtner has been making, selling, and servicing sails since 1998.
A true veteran of the sail making craft, Doug started making sails when he was 20 years old. After four years of making and repairing sails, he became the head salesman for Haarstick Sailmakers while still being involved with computer cutting, production, and inspection of all new sails.
Customers around Rochester know Doug for his positive approach to sailing, and they always enjoy having him on the boat with them. From small dinghies to large cruising yachts, he has knowledge of what the customer needs for maximum enjoyment. Part of his responsibilities also include managing our involvement with all Nonsuch and Collegiate FJ & 420 sails for all of Quantum Sails. Doug is also proud to be a big part of Quantum's Ensign class team, where he oversees production of all upwind sails.
In addition to his sail making skills, Doug is an expert in outfitting boats with cruising hardware. From sail tracks to custom furlers, Doug knows what works! A true customer advocate, Doug is always looking out for ways to make sailing more enjoyable and economical too.
When Doug is not making sails or sailing with customers, he's home working on his house and spending time with his three lovely ladies: wife, Erin, and two daughters, Charlotte and Caroline.
Growing up in Toronto, Sam started sailing at the age of nine and began racing at the age of 13. She spent much of her childhood racing competitively in Laser II's and Bytes at her home club, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
Sam went on to campaign the Yngling on the International Circuit for three years as part of the Canadian National Team. After her campaign, she got more involved in offshore sailing and racing. Sam's pursuit for offshore experience led her to complete a Sydney to Hobart race and Transatlantic race; she placed first in their division for the Transat. Sam currently spends the majority of her time racing in one-design fleets such as J/24, J/22, J/80, and J/70 and match-racing in Sonars.
In addition to her sailing accomplishments, Sam has 20 years of experience coaching and developing programs at different yacht clubs around the world, including Royal Canadian YC, Middle Harbour YC (AUS), US Sailing Center (Jensen Beach), San Diego YC, Royal Newfoundland YC, and Watch Hill YC (RI). She has coached all different levels, from beginners to provincial/state and national teams. Sam has also been on the other side of racing, running multiple regattas and acting as race manager and/or PRO to provincial and national championships.
Saturday presented difficult conditions for sailing. Shifty puffs and generally heavy air lead to a great many capsizes. By noon the wind was consistently blowing close to 20 knots, so racing paused for an hour. 12 W2 races were completed, 6 for A fleet and 6 for B fleet. It was decided that no further racing would take place on Sunday.
The following chart shows the relative rank of the teams as of the race indicated. Note that the races are ordered by number, then division, which may not represent the order in which the races were actually sailed.
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