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Why You Should Take Sailing Lessons

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Planning to spend some time by the water for your next vacation? If the thought of spending hours on end sitting on the sand or getting knocked off your feet by huge waves doesn’t exactly thrill you, maybe you have something a little more adventurous in mind. That’s where we come in: at SunRise Sail, we know how to make your next trip to the water a fun experience for everybody. Whether you are a brand-new sailor or an experienced skipper, we offer a variety of lessons and memberships to get you started on your sailing journey. 

ASA-Certified 

Worrying about your safety and the accountability of a sailing instructor is an understandable concern—especially if sailing is a new activity you want to tackle head-on. At SunRise Sailing Academy, we are proud to be certified by the American Sailing Association. Since 1983, the ASA has set nation-wide standards for sailors and sailing schools. With this certification, you can easily measure your skills as a sailor. Our instructors can help you attain an ASA 101 Basic Keel Boat, ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising or an ASA 105 Basic Coastal Navigation certification. With this certification, you can ensure you have received the best (and safest) sailing education. 

Affordable Sailing Classes and Memberships atlanta sailing on lake lanier

Many would-be sailors assume that lessons are too expensive to invest in—but at our academy, we offer several class options to suit your needs. Private sailing lessons are the same price or even less expensive than the other sailing school prices for group lessons and you are one on one with your instructor. Furthermore, for our group lessons, discounts are available for two or more students. Simply put, our instructors are dedicated to their students and want to ensure you are comfortable out on the water. Feel free to contact us for more pricing information.

Once you receive your ASA certification, you can also become a member of the SunRise Sail sailing clubs. For access to sailing without the hassles and cost of ownership, you can join the FreeTime Sailing Fleet. With a simple monthly membership fee you have full access to sailing at any time—just book your sailing time online. If you are toying with the idea of owning a boat but aren’t ready to make a huge commitment, you can join the SunRise Sail fractional program. This program allows you to use a boat like it’s your own. Members can reserve their boat from a day or sail up to one week, usage like it’s yours without ownership! 

Adventure Awaits!  

Perhaps the most appealing—and obvious—reason to take sailing lessons is for the experience and adventure. How many people do you know who can sail? You’d have a unique skill to brag about, and even more reasons to take that island vacation you have always dreamed about. Once you learn how to sail, the possibilities are endless. Just look at our Adventure Gallery for proof!

Who knows? You could own your own boat one day…and maybe you could name it after us.

No matter what experience you’ve had sailing, we at SunRise Sail would love to hear from you. If you are ready to get on the water and have the time of your life, visit our website or give us a call at 770-271-7444.  SunRise Sail, we make sailing easy!

 

Learning to Sail on Lake Lanier

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Are you looking to start up a new hobby that your whole family can enjoy? Or have you just always wanted to be called “The Skipper?” Either way, sailing is one of the most adventurous and thrilling hobbies out there, so why not learn something that can get your adrenaline pumping? Like most people, you have probably never legitimately sailed on a boat. Fortunately, at SunRise Sail, we understand that not eSteady as she goesveryone knows what a boom is, and we make it our duty to make you the experienced skipper you’ve always wanted to become while also having a good, fun time. 

Isn’t It Expensive? No!

Now, you may be thinking how on earth can you afford to get into a hobby like sailing?

Well, we can answer that for you! The cost of sailing is really up to you since you can do it for no cost at all, or you can spend millions of dollars. If you want to get into sailing for free, then the best way is for you to crew for another sailor because sailing clubs all over the country are seeking new members and sailors for aiding the boats that are already sailing. Unfortunately, this method may not teach you all of the basic, important sailing techniques, and it requires a lot of time and determination.

One of the best approaches to sailing is to enroll in an accredited sailing course at a sailing school, such as SunRise Sail. SunRise Sail, located at Lake Lanier, offers several classes and payment options to suit you sailing and financial needs. We offer both private and group sailing classes. The prices for our private sailing classes are the same or cheaper than prices for group lessons at the other sailing schools. Furthermore, for our group lessons, discounts are available for two or more students. 

ASA-Certification

Since you are now excited about learning how to sail and being able to afford sailing classes, you may be wondering if our instructors are knowledgeable enough about sailing to be worth the price. Here at Sunrise Sail, we are proud to be an ASA Certified training facility with US Coast Guard licensed captains and ASA certified training instructors.

Since 1983, the American Sailing Association has continuously striven to accomplish its mission of teaching people to sail safely and confidently. When you join the ASA, you can be reassured that you are learning to how to sail and getting the best, safety-first sailing education available.

After taking our classes and becoming ASA certified, you can become a member of our Sunrise Sail Club, which allows you to enjoy a top quality sailing experience, while we take care of the boat. For full access to cruising on our vessels, you can join our FreeTime Sailing Fleet. To become a member, you just need to pay a monthly fee, which helps us maintain the boats, and you have access to most or all of our sailboats, depending on your payment plan. Once you become a member, you can easily reserve a boat of your choice through our online scheduling and reservations page.

Whether it is your first time sailing, or The Skipper learned sailing from you, we’d be honored to meet you and get sailing! So, if you are dying to sail, give us a call at 770-271-7444 today or you can visit the SunRise Sail website for more information.

Learning to Sail Can Be a Breeze

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Exciting SailingOne of the most beautiful sights you will ever see is a sailboat skimming gracefully across the water. It’s a sight that stirs the senses and brings to mind thoughts of freedom, peace and epic adventures. We often view the people involved in sailing with envy and wish we had the time, money and ability to learn to operate a yacht ourselves. Fortunately, learning to sail can be a breeze with the right instruction and equipment.

Time Requirements

Many sailing schools and clubs would have you think that it takes weeks of classes to learn the basics of sailing. This is often because they pack their classes with as many students as possible, and you therefore get little to no individual attention. SunRise Sail encourages students to take private lessons (at prices that are comparable to other schools’ group lessons) so that you can progress at your own speed and comfort level.  Small group classes are available that typically are limited to only two students per boat and are offered at a discounted rate.  If you can find the time to invest in a weekend class and a couple of practice sessions, you will be ready to sail Lake Lanier on your own!

Classes and Certifications

Classes are available in ASA Basic Keelboat, ASA Basic Coastal Cruising, and ASA Basic Coastal Navigation. The ASA Basic Keelboat course guarantees certification with extra instruction and re-testing available in the event that the certification test is not passed the first time.

Financial Requirements

Sailing has a reputation for being an activity that is reserved for the very wealthy, but that reputation is changing thanks to SunRise Sailing Club. SunRise Sail maintains a fleet of boats that are available to students and club members. This takes care of the need to rent a slip, buy a boat and keep up to date on maintenance and safety equipment. SunRise Sail takes care of these expenses for you, and you only need to reserve a boat when you want to go for a sail.  SunRise Sail Academy boats are older model Hunter yachts that are well appointed and beautifully maintained. Once you have progressed beyond the student level and are a member of the sailing club, you will be able to use a yacht from the Freetime Fleet. These boats are older model Hunter and Catalina yachts that are equipped with all the amenities you will need to enjoy a worry free day on the lake.

Skill Requirements

Sailing terminology and the ability to handle the sails, lines, and rigging can seem mysterious and complex. Finding the right instruction is important. SunRise Sailing Academy is a certified American Sailing Association (ASA) school, and its instructors are all ASA certified. Their attention to detail and safety will ensure that you develop the skills needed to take a relaxing sail around the lake or an exhilarating turn in a sailboat race.

If learning to sail has been an unrealized dream, it is time to take on the challenge! SunRise Sail will give you all the tools you need to turn your dream of sailing the open waters into a reality!

Learning The Ropes

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A First-Time Sailing Experience

Sailing LanierTaking your first step into sailing might be a hesitant one. Like thousands of other could-be sailors, there are probably dozens of questions racing through your mind. Will I be able to do it? Do I even have the money to pay for a boat?

For Mark, a 43 year-old Atlanta native, sailing was always one of those things he wanted learn, but never had time for. Mark admits, “I didn’t grow up around sailboats and yachts, so I already felt like I was at a huge disadvantage.” And for years, Mark’s unrealized passion for sailing passed him by.

It wasn’t until a casual afternoon conversation that a coworker brought up the idea of sailing. According to his friend, the boat could be used by the day, lessons were cheap, and the time spent on the lake was second to none. This wasn’t the idea of sailing that Mark had conjured for years; it seemed too convenient, too hassle-free to be a real sailing club.

Thinking it too good to be true, Mark called SunRise Sail based on the suggestion of his coworker. One year later, “it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

From sailing terminology to navigation skills, learning how to operate a yacht takes no more than a weekend to get started. And after a couple of days of practice, nothing stands between you and the open waters of Lake Lanier.

Without having to purchase and maintain a boat of their own, sailors are finding solace in a fleet of ready-to-use boats that are available for reservations. Being a member of a casual sailing club isn’t the same as the wine-and-cheese extravaganza you see in movies – it’s simply a practical and economical way to chase your passion for sailing.

According to Mark, “sailing was never something I thought I had the patience or skill to do.” Within the first few hours of training, wrapping your head around the difference between port and starboard or jibing and tacking was surprisingly easy. As soon as you hit the water, “something just clicks. It’s a totally different experience than I ever imagined it to be.”

The hardest part of sailing, like many other things, is starting. The experiences aboard a sailboat are unforgettable and it requires a skill that never goes out of style nor ceases to impress.

Learning the ropes of a sailboat is as easy as picking up the phone and scheduling a training session with SunRise Sailing Academy. Our experienced team has spent decades on Lake Lanier and we take an individualized approach to show you the basics of boat safety and operation.

Becoming a SunRise Sail member is an exciting and economical way to live your dream without having to shell out the financial cost of an entire boat. Maintaining a yacht, paying for marina or docking fees, and the other inconveniences of owning a boat are totally taken care of by the SunRise team, ensuring that your experience on Lake Lanier is consistently fun and relaxing.

“I can’t spend more than a few weeks without going back to the lake,” concludes Mark. “I’m still amazed that I was able to pick up this skill at my age and even happier that I’ll know how to do this for the rest of my life.”

Girls as young as 16 have sailed around the world alone!

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Ella - sailing around the world
Girls as young as 16 have sailed around the world alone! Jessica Watson of Australia and Laura Dekker of Holland, both 16 at the completion of their voyages, each sailed a boat singlehandedly around the globe. Watson sailed her boat nonstop and unassisted, while Dekker made stops along the way.

This weekend at SunRise Sail

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sailingboat

Sailing holds the longest winning streak in sports history! The New York Yacht Club successfully held onto the America’s Cup for a 132-year period from 1851 to 1983, when it was finally won by challenger Australia II.