If you are an adult looking to learn to sail you have much better options, Please don't waste your time or money at Courageous Sailing. If you want to learn the basics of sailing at a fraction of the cost of courageous just check out Community Boating on the Charles River, it is only $275-445 for the entire year. With this you will have access to Mercury, laser, 420 (race boats), ideal 18, sonars & windsurfing. With courageous the learn to sail is scheduled for 2 weekends (4 days) with Community the classes are being held all the time and you can take them whenever you want, so you can avoid cold rainy days, and take the classes with different wind conditions (light, med, high) as many times as you want for no charge, unless its an advanced class which is only $50. When I took my learn to sail at courageous it was cold, rainy with fairly large waves. One of the people I took the class with actually started to cry. This is a non issue with Community because if the conditions are awful just come another day. After 1-2 years at community, if you like sailing you can go to a real adult school if you want to level up your sailing skills. Note the internal ratings at community and courageous have little to no value at other sailing organizations. If you are serious about sailing you need to build up your ASA certifications especially ASA 101,103 and 104, there are many ASA schools and you can take classes at different schools all across the country, Caribbean & world. Once you are ASA certified these credentials will follow you to other ASA schools & organizations. Once you reach ASA 104 you can apply for a type of international license. Also note that community has a much nicer facility and dock with actual restrooms with a shower. At Courageous they have portable toilets, no shower and 2 outdoor sinks which almost never have soap. These are the same sinks the staff preparing the cookout food uses. Also note that the traffic on the Charles is much safer vs the harbor, in the harbor you will run into huge tug boats and huge freight ships. On the Charles the boats need to pass under the bridges, so the biggest boats there are duck boats and some small/medium sized tour boats. Actual ASA alternatives to Courageous are First Reef Sailing in East Boston, one of the owners is Capt Paul Sullivan 5 time outstanding ASA instructor, they have the best learn to sail boat in the Boston Area Colgate 26, unlike Courageous the motors actually work & are reliable. If you are a student you can get a Colgate membership for 2K which I think they allow you to share with other members so better boat & may be less expensive vs Courageous also once you achieve 104 status (can do in one year) there is no range limit you just need to be back by sunset. They also offer memberships on cruisers & catamarans, these cost more like 10 K but you can also share those memberships. These are new boats almost everything works on them unlike courageous, And you can go on multi day to week long trips. Another ASA alternative is Reef Runner in Friendship Maine, one of the instructors there is 4 time outstanding instructor, its pretty close to Arcadia National Park. They are less expensive than Courageous and they quality of the instruction is vastly superior. Once you pass a class in an ASA school your log book will be signed by the captain, you will also receive an official stamp for your log book from ASA and the results will be uploaded to ASA so all other ASA organization globally will see your rating. Another tip is no matter where you sail keep a log book on the miles & a brief description of the trip read more

Primary fleet is a bunch of old Rhodes 19 boats that are falling apart. It's incredibly disorganized and understaffed. Focus on the youth program, which is really good, however the adult program suffers by lack of attention Even the larger boats 4 J80s frequently mean maintenance and are under maintained. They wait for people to donate boats to them so the cost is low, but you get what you pay for. read more

Courageous Sailing had organized a open house along with a free sail on Boston Harbor. Enjoy light refreshments ashore and fabulous views of the city from the end of the pier or aboard a Rhodes 19. Our skipper was very knowledgeable and gave us lot of information about sailing and the programs offered by courageous sailing. It was my first time sailing and I had so much fun! Definitely looking forward to coming back soon! read more

Courageous is the best sailing school in New England for your money. Great community, dedicated staff, awesome youth programs and sailing lessons for all. read more

Courageous Sailing - Courageous Sailing Center Pier 4 Charlestown - Boating Near Me - Charlestown, Massachusetts

A wonderful organization that provides noble service to our industry. From providing basic water access and lessons to folks who want to learn to sail to providing a positive experience to inner city kids, Courageous does important work. The crew is pleasant and helpful. The captain of the ship, Dave DiLorenzo, is selfless, kind, and dedicated. This is where the seeds are planted to grow interest in sailing and getting out on the water. Go down to the Shipyard and become part of it. read more

This sailing center is a non-profit organization run by the Parks and Recreation Departments of Boston. It was started to try to bring sailing programs to the people of the city and offer ooprtunities for inner city youths to learn about sailing. The "Courageous" Yacht that won the America's Cup twice, used to dock at this pier so that's where the sailing center gets its name. They offer kids sailing lessons and adult sailing programs which is what I took with three friends. The instructors were very nice and helpful and taught us to sail in 19 foot sail boats. It was a blast. They teach the basics and then allow you to sign out the boats without a charge as long as you have a membership. Its a beautiful place to learn to sail, though on weekends the traffic in Boston Harbor can get heavy. The winds in the harbor shift a lot, but that's a good thing when you are learning as it teaches you how to deal with setting up your sails correctly. You can take the boat out for the whole day and sail out of the harbor around the islands if you like. As a member you can participate in races and they have a barbeque for members every Friday on the pier. They also will host private or corporate events. Its a fairly economical membership fee and your money is going towards a good cause. Its a fun day to sail on the harbor, get a beautiful view of the city, the Constitution, and Bunker Hill and then come back in and have lunch and a sangria (or two) at Tavern on the Water which is just one pier over. You can find out more about their sailing packages at their website. http://courageoussailing.org/adults/lessons.html read more

I always enjoy my weekends at Courageous. The employees are great and always willing to help. The instructors are the best. I had over 60 hours of training and I feel fully capable of sailing any size boat in any situation. Over the course of several years I have had 4 different instructors and all were extremely capable and I continuously went away a better sailer. The location is great. We have burgers and dogs right on the dock overlooking the City. It is the best view in the state. There are always plenty of boats available and they have their own pier so that there is no need to be "run" out to your boat. The price also is very easy to handle compared to anything else in the harbor. You have to check this out if you sail. read more

Never knew this gem was there - what a find! Got a deal, so this was priced RIGHT - we had a choice of sailing lessons, or just a sailing trip. Lazy beasts that we are, the 4 of us opted for an afternoon sail in the harbor, summer of 2013, and left the hard work part to our "skipper", Liz. . She was a very entertaining young woman in her early 20s, who had been sailing since she could walk..or perhaps it was swim? In any event, she went out of her way to share humorous and informative stories with us and made those in our party who were not terribly sea-smart, feel safe, without making anyone feel stupid. Love that we were supporting kids sailing programs, so that was a plus. A wonderful way to see the city. Try it! read more

Learning to sail at Sunset in the Boston Harbor, great time, doesn't get better than this! Thanks Nate (: read more

Courageous Sailing - Boating Near Me - Charlestown, Massachusetts

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We came here through an Airbnb Experience. This was my first time booking an event through Airbnb, and I am extremely pleased with how it went. We booked a sailing tour around the harbor for two hours. We were with another couple and our sailor (captain?). The boat was small, a little cramped, but otherwise cute and efficient. We even got some experience tacking the sail. Our captain was super friendly and had lots of great sailing history and personal anecdotes. Definitely would recommend checking this out on a fair weather day. read more

This place is amazing! I was visiting from out of town and wanted to sail in Boston Harbor. The staff were very helpful and got me sorted right away. I was able to rent a Rhodes 19, which gave a surprising smooth sail. I enjoyed each moment on the water. Whenever I come back to Boston or know anyone wanted to visit Boston and sail, I will point them to Courageous Sailing! Special shoutout to Emiliano who took great care of me during my time at Courageous. Btw, did you know this place is a stone's throw from the USS Constitution, one of America's first and oldest Navy Vessels. You have to check that out when you visit!! read more

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All about Sailing! Great People which focus entirely on teaching people how to sail and how to get better and better. CSC is an NPO dedicated to learn Bostons Children to sail. CSC has an extensive adult program, too. It's right there at the Navy Yard and you Sail in Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands (depending on your flag rating). I enjoy coming down there to relax, de-stress and having fun! Thank you all from CSC for being there! read more

As a long time member very excited to go sailing again . The entire registration and online information is easy to follow and pier looked clean and the boats where spotless . Courageous has always taken safety measures seriously and today was most enjoyable stress free day on the water . read more

Friendly service. Went out for a private sail. I'm hoping to get spend more time out on the water with them!

My uncle took me out for a sail one day and I immediately bought a membership when I got back to shore. I can't tell you how much I love this place! It's turned into more than just a sailing club...it's a place to find friends and meet lots of great new people. Spend a day on one of their boats and then hang out on the pier and meet new people. I've always been able to just show up and find someone to go sailing with. Oh, and their lessons are amazing! I've learned so much about sailing and I've even started racing since I joined. You can't beat the prices, people, location, and the cause. Knowing that your money is going to teach Boston kids how to sail for free is the best part! read more

What makes a good sailing club is boat maintenance and staff vigilance. Courageous Sailing Center is good at both. This was my first season with Courageous. I am a certified sailing instructor so after a few tests (both written and practical) I was given the highest privileges, such as sailing in the outer harbor. They offer a variety of sailing classes. I didn't take any but I know the instructors and they seem good at it. The classes are endorsed by US Sailing, so if you pass you get a card and you can charter a boat anywhere. What impresses me most is the friendly, thorough staff. They make sure you can be contacted on the water, wear a life jacket, have harbor information (tides, traffic report). If something breaks and you need a tow, they are very fast to respond. If there is a change in weather you'll get a call on your cell phone or VHF radio (provided for free). Sometimes staff will call just to check in and make sure everything is going alright. The boats are kept in very good condition. I really can't believe how low the dues are. The financial burden of owning a sailboat is no joke. Boats are costly to own and store and they only depreciate in value. Joining Courageous for a year costs a fraction of what annual boat maintenance costs. There are other sailing clubs on Boston Harbor but I've done the research and they are all much more expensive and/or they don't look out for their members as well. Courageous is the best value for the money. Last but not least, there is always a boat available for you, EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS! There is an online boat reservation system but I seldom used it. read more

This gem is located in the historic Charlestown navy yard. They offer youth the opportunity to learn to sail in Boston harbor. There is an adult program that provides access to the water for new sailors and old salts. The adult education follows the US Sailing program. They also offer a chance for non sailors to get on the water with a skippered ride. read more

Great place to get a membership and sail on in the Harbor. Much more reasonably priced than other options.

This not for profit sailing club is fantastic ! Not only do the wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable staff offer lessons to inner-city children and take handicapped folks out sailing, they offer sailing lessons to people , young and old! We never sailed before and they have taught us and encouraged us so much that we are out on boston harbor sailing on our own and loving every minute of it!! read more

Had a really great time sailing with Ben! I he showed us the ropes (literally) to sailing and it was a really fun time! Looking forward to trying courageous sailing again some time! read more

We took the 2 hour private sail with Audrey. We were 3 adults, we had a great time sailing, learning to steer a bit and understanding how to sail a boat. A great experience, to remember! I would totally recommend it! I look forward to trying it again some time read more

Jessie was an awesome guide. He had a great sense of humor. We really enjoyed our trip, however, it was a light sailing because of the wind but we are def going back and trying it out again. The staff was friendly. read more

I had an UNBELIEVABLE experience yesterday at the Navy Yard location. The instructors were great. I'm not sure how some people were able to report a 1-star rating. They must've been in a bad mood from the overcast weather and/or the Celtics getting shalacked by the Bucks in game 3. Moreover, if you're looking for a place to learn how to sail from a friendly and knowledgeable staff, this is a great place to go. read more

I joined Courageous last year and am now US Sailing certified through three levels. By the end of this summer, I will have my bareboat certification and be off to sail in Greece next year! The people at Courageous couldn't be more capable, more friendly, or more fun. I took Cruising with Nate last year and had the most fun on the water I've had in years! After a many-years hiatus from sailing, I am now back at it and bringing my family along too, who are also learning to love sailing. In fact, my daughter will be in a Courageous camp for a week this summer. Belonging to Courageous has all of the benefits of boat ownership in Boston Harbor with none of the hassle-- I can't recommend it enough! read more

Such an incredible experience to see Boston! The staff are incredibly friendly and relaxed. Shout out to Liv who put up with our group and our craziness! She was nice and made our experience all the better. It's clear that the staff love what they do and are great at it. Would love to come back when visiting Boston again! read more

My 2 kids, who are 9 and 10 years old, have had a blast learning how to sail this summer. They talk about the instructors as if they are their new BFF's, and they have have also really enjoyed interacting with other kids. Keep up the good work! read more

These guys are amazing. Really one of the gems of Boston. Learn to sail programs are taught by really knowledgeable instructors. The racing programs are excellent. And all of this from a non-profit that is doing amazing things for the at-risk community of Boston. Come learn to sail and stay for the amazing community. read more

We took a 2-hour tour with Captain Eric. The wind wasnt very good, so we didnt get very far, but he still made it an enjoyable and fun ride. He taught us a bit about sailing along the way as well. We would definitely go back read more

Recently finished their Powerboating Safety Course. Such an incredible experience. We were out on the harbor for almost 2 days straight. We learned everything about operating the boat, man-overboard procedures, high-speed maneuvering. So informative, so well done. I would recommend this course to anyone. I've already signed up for both of their intro-level sailing courses!! read more

Courageous Sailing Center has been the mainstay of my summer entertainment and adventures for the past two years. I learned how to sail at the age of twelve on the Charles River however being locked between the Mass Ave. and Longfellow Bridges' I needed to get out on the harbor. Courageous Sailing Center offers awesome access to the Boston Harbor via Charlestown which is helpful for beginners and with a good wind advanced sailors can be out past Logan Airport in less than 20 minutes. Courageous offers a huge fleet of boats so members have no problems with availability when the urge to sail brings them to the docks. Being a younger member, age 25, Courageous offers fun parties on the deck of Pier 4 which offers great views of Boston's skyline. Courageous is the most economical choice for any college student or young professional who is interested in sailing. I recommend Courageous Sailing Center to all my friends and urge people to join. read more

Hi all, I have just spent the last two months in Boston to finish my studies. During this time, I had the opportunity to sail a lot thanks to the courageous sailing club. This experience was awesome. Not only I met very nice members, but also the Courageous staff was very kind and very professionnal. In addition, I liked to sail on Rod 19 and J22. The boat were in good shape and the Boston Bay is gorgeous! I had a really great time in Boston thanks to this fantastic experience. All the best, Sebastien Guyot read more

I started sailing this year. I had my lessons in May and sailed nearly every weekend all summer. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. It has helped build self-confidence and got me outside doing something really fun. I also enjoy seeing the kids sail. The program is fantasic and the auction that helps support it was a fun evening. The only thing that I could possibly say I am disappointed in is that the season is coming to an end. Can't wait for next season to open! read more

I bought the Groupon that was offered in May. $90 for a two hour sailing lesson, and it was worth every penny! We had an amazing instructor! A very through teacher (I think his name was Mark) who let us really experience the open waters. (We also had the option of just sitting back and letting him do all the work, but where's the fun in that?!) I had never been sailing before, so this was pretty adventurous. But I felt very safe in our instructors capable hands. Mark apparently worked as a volunteer for Courageous Sailing. He teaches people because he loves to sail, which I think made him an excellent instructor. I might be a little bit bias as we lucked out with a gorgeous day. Calm waters, clear skies, good wind. Boston Harbor is beautiful from the water! The service when we checked in was very friendly. But, I can see if you had a grumpy instructor, it could ruin the experience. So, I guess Mark really gets the stars. I'm not sure if I would have paid $190 for the experience. For almost $200 I would expect to be able to come back a few times. But as a groupon adventure, I couldn't have been more satisfied! If the groupon came out again, I would most definitely go for it. read more

I didn't really know what to expect when I bought a voucher for my family to go sailing. If I had known it was going to be as amazing as it was, I would have bought more. This was a great adventure for my family. We have two girls 8 and 11, who love the water, but were more than a little nervous to go out in a sailboat. The young man who set out with us soon calmed their nerves and eventually talked them into taking over. As a family we learned a lot about the boat and how to maneuver it on the water. I could see my girls busting with pride and confidence as they took control of the tiller and guided us along the harbor. I highly recommend anyone who has an interest in sailing or anyone who just loves being on the water giving Courageous a try. It was the highlight of our vacation and my girls are already asking when we can go again. This was some of the best family quality time we've had in a long time. read more

Dave Dilorenzo runs an incredible program here. If you're interested in sailing, check out courageous. They bring passion to the sport.

I learned to sail at Courageous about 10 years ago, went on to race several seasons (both summer and winter "frostbite" leagues) and from there learned to sail "big" boats. Compared to the cost of owning a boat the membership cost is minimal, but the experience is very real. Sailing in Boston harbor is exciting and challenging. For anyone who is interested in ultimately learning to handle a boat in coastal waters Courageous is a great start. They now have a big fleet, including some cruising boats, a very active and social racing program and some innovative events such as night sails in the summer and camping trips to the Boston harbor islands. Plus they provide free sailing programs for kids; truly a Boston institution worth supporting. read more

I just joined Courageous last summer and have had the single most positive sailing experience in Boston I could hope for! The center is wonderful. The adult sailing teachers are excellent and are able to get you out there immediately with confidence. The staffers are supportive and completely available and the other members are great to sail with on the weekends. Its a great vibe with some of the best views of Boston around! read more

Great place for everyone from beginners to advanced sailors. Staff is well trained and friendly. Sometimes they do groupons for lessons-- it's a great place to spend a day (or more) during the spring/summer/fall in Boston! read more

Courageous sailing is great! Great people, great boats. The convenience of club membership and not having the costs of boat ownership, storage and transportation cannot be overstated. I like the rigorous flag ratings to really push my sailing skills. Instructors are always friendly and helpful and really know their stuff. read more

I just took a sailing lesson with Ben at Courageous. It was awesome! He is both a good sailor and a nice person. He was very patient and calm and it was clear that his goal was to help me learn and improve in the areas most of interest to me. I will be racing on Rhodes19s this summer and I'm so glad I got out on a boat before the first trip to the starting line! read more