LOCATION.  No school can compare to our on-the-water “classroom,” where the critical skills are developed.  They don't even come close!  No commercial shipping, crowded channels, wicked currents, or skyscraper wind sheers that would give an air traffic controller nightmares.

Convenience.  Stop by and see for yourself:  we're only 10 minutes to half an hour by car from most of New York City, Westchester, and the George Washington and Throggs Neck Bridges!  We're surprisingly convenient by public transit, too.  Manhattanites will see that in many cases, we're as easy or easier to reach as the NY Harbor area schools.  After all, we're less than the length of Manhattan away from Manhattan!

Quality.  Even if we're a longer commute for you, the slight extra time spent getting here pays off big dividends in a far superior learning environment with no time wasted getting from dock to drill area.  Most other schools have to waste a substantial amount of actual class time just getting the boat out to productive sailing waters.  They have to get out of strong currents, commercial shipping lanes, or crowded harbor areas.  They require engines just to get along, then try to pass this off as an important part of your sailing education.

At New York Sailing Center, our boats are moored right off our own docks.  Our launch ferries students out to the boats in less than a minute.  And you're there - in safe, productive training waters.  Our whole scheduled class time is productive, unlike our competitors, who don't make this distinction when they publish their sailing time.

CERTIFICATION.  We're a Certification Facility for both organizations regulating instruction standards in the United States: ASA and US SAILING. No other school in the Tri-State area can say that!  Our unique position enables us to use the finest instructors available, regardless of which organization they're affiliated with.  And it gives us better access to this top tier talent.
 

As a student, you can earn certification recognized nationally & globally, at no extra charge.  Invaluable credentials for renting and chartering!  Each course leading to certification is geared toward giving you all the knowledge and practical skills you need to pass with flying colors.

INSTRUCTORS.  All are ASA or US Sailing certified; some are also Coast Guard licensed.  They have extensive experience - and they’re patient!  They won't forget you’re here to have fun.  (More on our Instructors)

Beware!  A number of sailing schools that claim to only use certified instructors regularly fail too.  Unbelievable?

Unfortunate, yes - but true nonetheless.  How do you know?  Demand proof!

“TEACHING” BOATS. Many schools try to use flat-out racers such as the J-24 and Soling when teaching beginners.  Our boats are much better suited to the task!  Winner of a Cruising World  Boat of the Year award in 1993, our Beneteau First 210 offers the best balance of properties found in school boats.  They’re safe, stable, highly responsive, roomy & comfortable.

Safety First!  The Beneteau 210 has a number of very important safety features, some or all of which are lacking on boats widely used by other schools such as the J-24, Sonar and Soling: seats, lifelines, self-bailing cockpits, and positive floatation - just in case.  And speaking of "just in case,"  ours even have toilets -   in real cabins.  But you probably won't have to use them because our location makes it so convenient to just squeeze in a quick bathroom break mid way through the sailing session.  It's even productive, because you get extra docking or mooring practice at the same time.  You can't get away with that at most schools.

OBSTACLE COURSE.^sm We adapted the concept from ski school decades ago: to our knowledge, no other school uses anything like it.*  Obstacle Course^sm teaches you the essential boat handling skills far more efficiently than just sailing around ever could - and you’ll have much more fun doing it!

EXPERIENCE.  We founded one of the nation's most successful schools and ran it for 18 years.  While doing so, we won the  ASA School of the Year Award 4 times!   (Just one of our industry firsts.)  We’re not new to the sailing school industry- we’re just born again.

GUARANTEE.  If you don’t achieve certification upon completion of the course and are not satisfied with the quality of your education,  you can Start Sailing^sm again for free!