Bay Area Sailing School, Kemah TX

The courses are set up well and you really get a lot for your money. Vernon was my instructor for ASA 101, I recommend taking the course with someone else because he was very slow to teach during class time and generally not great and helping students while on the water.

I'm a retiree and for the most part new sailor. This review is from taking the 2-day ASA 101 class. I am now signed up to take the 3-day 103/104 class.

For years I'd been reading tons of sailing books and websites, and watching a bunch of how-to-sail videos. But before the first break in the classroom session, I was hearing all kinds of great information I'd never heard before. And with an emphasis on the details of our local area, which is where I'll be practicing. Very encouraging.

Tip: ask questions not just in the class but before and after and during breaks. There is so much sailing and local knowledge that you can get nowhere else other than from experienced local experts. The instructors were happy to tell what they know and it's no extra charge. Also, I was looking into buying a boat and got some great advice there as well (btw I have the boat now).

Good training reinforced by practicing what you've been taught is the best way to learn. Bay Area Sailing does this great by including 1) a separate mentor session sail where they impart crucial local knowledge of Clear Lake and Galveston Bay, plus instruct the students in practicing docking and close maneuvers; and 2) a half-day charter sail where you take a boat out with up to five of your friends or family.

So you get four sailing sessions with the 101 class! Superb deal for the price, especially considering both the excellent ASA Sailing Made Easy textbook and the $39 ASA certification fee are included in the cost of the course.

I looked at Bay Area Sailing first because they were the closest highly rated school to where our newly-acquired boat slip was. I noticed that on their website they state: "We want to teach you how to sail, and keep you sailing. " That second part caught my eye! This school is committed to its students' long-term safety and enjoyment. Bravo and thank you to Glen and all the instructors!

Knowledge is key and learning will unlock the door!
Great place to learn how to sail!

Leading up to my training, the owner, Glen, was one of the kindest businessmen I've ever spoken to on the phone. I was buying a used 26' boat, and I put deposits down on ASA 101,103, and 104. Glen answered many questions about my potential purchase even though he didn't have to. Everything went well until I showed up for the training.

There's no kind way to say this: The instructor was senile. While he could safely command the boat, he couldn't respond to your questions or give you direct commands without a 3 to 5-second delay—on and off the water. At one point, he yelled at me, telling me he thought I knew more about sailing than I did. I said I wasn't taking an introductory sailing course because I was experienced.

The boat was cramped, and I had to repeatedly cleat the jib that faced my back. At one point, I had to lean back for a while as the main sheet was touching my forehead. The boat needed to be bigger and more modern for five people to spend hours on it. It became embarrassing when the instructor verbally tried to coax the outboard to start for many pulls.

My heart pounded for hours during and after the training, and if there weren't other paying customers, I would have had the instructor take me back to the dock early. There was no day two for me, and I forfeited the $440 I paid for the training. I bought a trailerable sailboat two weeks later instead of the 26-footer.

Your experience could be 4 or 5 stars —but don't go off all the super high ratings and put down deposits for multiple classes before you see what you're getting. Lastly, the instructor dogged the other schools in the area and said they graduated lousy sailors. Ironically, he was so lousy I quit after one day.

Glen was very accommodating to fit our schedule.
The 3-day ASA 103 & 104 course was a combination of hands-on training and classroom: Joe taught us everything we needed for the tests and much more!

Glen has a great sailing school, he's ASA and when you finish your class (es) you receive the certification form ASA. Lots of good sailing on Galveston Bay

Had my ASA 101 here this past weekend with Vernon. It was a fantastic, well-paced experience. Vernon's a great instructor. Will be back for 103&104.