Common Questions

Students who take ASA101 Basic Keelboat from Nockamixon Sailing School are taught all the skills they need to sail on a basic level. More advanced training is provided as students progress from one class to the next. Many students progress from one class to the next without practice in between classes. ASA recommends however that "each certification level should be augmented by 25-40 hours of practice". No matter what any sailing school says, education alone will not create proficient sailing skills. We recommend that students gain practice sailing in between classes. In order to practice what they have learned, students are encouraged to participate in our "Practice Sailing Program", where students can utilize our teaching vessel to practice sailing, with a sailing instructor on board. Basically our Practice Sailing Program allows students to sail the boat, with an instructor on board who is there to help on an as needed basis. The NSS Practice Sailing Program is also perfect for alumni who want a little more practice before chartering for the first time, or for those who have not sailed for a while. Although not required, the Practice Sailing Program can help students get this recommended practice, and gain confidence even if they do not own their own sailboat. The NSS Practice Sailing Program is a unique offering from Nockamixon Sailing School, and is probably reason enough, all by itself, for students to choose Nockamixon Sailing School for their sailing education. Please learn more about the NSS Practice Sailing Program by visiting the Practice Sailing page on our website.

Lake Nockamixon is an ideal place to learn to sail. The 1450 acre lake is approximately 6.5 miles long and has a marina with 648 slips. The water is clean and safe. Since engines above 20 HP are not allowed on Lake Nockamixon, sailors can focus on learning to sail without having to worry about jet skis or large power boats. There is a large community of both cruising and racing sailors who enjoy Lake Nockamixon. Winds average around 10 MPH throughout the year, providing sailors with some of the best sailing conditions available anywhere. Winds on the Lake can be shifty and gusty at times so students learn quickly how to adjust to challenging and changing conditions. Waves on Lake Nockamixon are seldom above one foot so motion sickenss is nearly nonexistent. The lessons learned on Lake Nockamixon transfer well to other bodies of water. Sailors who learned to sail on Lake Nockamixon have gone on to sail in other bodies of water all over the world.

Nockamixon Sailing School, Inc.

Common Questions