Website: https://learntosailnashville.com/
SailNashville is a sailing school based in Nashville, Tennessee that offers sailing instruction and certification courses on Percy Priest Lake. The school describes itself as the only American Sailing Association (ASA) affiliated sailing school in Tennessee and advertises that students can “learn to sail in just 3 days.” Instruction combines classroom sessions delivered via Zoom with on-the-water training, and courses lead to recognized ASA certifications. According to the school, more than 750 sailors have learned to sail and earned their certifications through its programs.
Courses
SailNashville offers a sequence of ASA-affiliated courses, most structured as roughly half classroom instruction and half on-the-water training:
- ASA 101: Basic Keelboat Sailing, an entry-level course with no prerequisites, typically taught over three days (with two-day options for individuals or couples) aboard Catalina 22 Sport keelboats. It covers parts of the boat and sails, rigging, points of sail, and departing the dock, and includes approximately 21 hours of instruction, a textbook, logbook, testing, certification fees, and introductory ASA membership. Certification requires passing a written exam.
- ASA 103: Coastal Cruising, a three-day course requiring ASA 101, taught on a Catalina 275 keelboat, covering the skills and knowledge needed to sail along coastal waters, with classes limited to four students.
- ASA 104: Bareboat Cruising, a three-day course requiring ASA 103, also on a Catalina 275, covering provisioning, galley operations, boat systems, auxiliary engine operation, and advanced sail trim.
- ASA 110: Small Boat Sailing, a two-day standalone course (no prerequisites) taught on Catalina 12.5 and 16.5 dinghies, covering capsizing and recovery, docking, maneuvering, rules of the road, and safety equipment, with a group course price listed at $695.
- ASA 111: Sailing Review Clinic, an on-the-water refresher offered in full-day or half-day formats for already-certified sailors, with no exam or textbook.
Most courses pair two evenings of Zoom classroom instruction with weekend on-the-water sessions (typically Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm), and certification is earned by passing a written exam with a score of 80 or higher.
About
SailNashville was founded in 2019 by John Summers, a USCG-licensed captain with more than 40 years of sailing experience. His sailing background spans waters including the Bahamas, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, the Windward Islands, Chesapeake Bay, and San Francisco Bay, among others. The school positions itself as Tennessee’s only ASA-affiliated sailing program.
Location & Contact
SailNashville is based in Nashville, Tennessee, with on-the-water training conducted at Hamilton Creek Marina on Percy Priest Lake. Classroom sessions are delivered remotely via Zoom. The website (also referenced under the sailnashville.com domain) provides course details and a downloadable introductory ebook.
Additional Information
Courses include instructional materials, logbooks, testing, certification fees, and, for ASA 101, an introductory ASA membership. Class sizes are limited (for example, four students in ASA 103), and the school offers a review clinic for certified sailors seeking to refresh their skills.
Profile compiled from the company’s official website (learntosailnashville.com).