What an amazing sailing program. Great classes for beginners or free refresher classes. Go, get certified and then buy a season pass to take out a Laser, RS Quest, or a Hobie 16. For the skills proficiency test, you need to be able to independently rig, launch, capsize and recover your boat. You will need to also demonstrate sailing both upwind and downwind with tacks and gybes. Check out the calendar for the schedule of free sixty minute refresher classes on weekends from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Season passes that include sailboats and kayaks are $230 with student, senior and military discounts available. You can also rent for $35 per hour. Don't sail. No worries. Take out a single or double kayak for $20 per hour. Standup paddle boards and windsurfers are also an option. Such a beautiful lake for water sports with great instructors in Seattle. read more

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Signed my 10-year-old son up for a summer boating camp. I never anticipated he'd take his shirt off, so he wasn't sunscreened under his t-shirt. He ended up with a horrific second degree sunburn and missed 4 out of 5 days of the camp. That's on us, though a sharp eye on sun safety at the beginning of a week where young kids would be spending full days in direct sunlight would probably have been wise. The really disappointing part was that when I emailed to ask whether he could be fit into another camp later in the summer to make up for the four days he had to miss due to being so badly burned he couldn't even wear a shirt, no one replied. I emailed again, twice, then left a voicemail for the director of youth camps and classes. No reply. It's been 9 days since my first email and I guess we're being ghosted. $500 for one day of camp, and zero communication about whether we could redeem this experience for my horrifically blistered kiddo. Super bummed. read more

Sail Sand Point - Boating Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've taken the Sailing 101 course twice now with each of my teenagers. The instructors were great. The RS Quest sailboats used for the course were excellent for beginner sailors as they were both fairly stable and easy to rig the sails. I appreciated that the course provided plenty of time to actually sail the boats. We'll definitely be back in the summer to rent a sailboat to practice our new found skills! read more

Very unprofessional staff with little to no questions or even a waiver before we had to test out of the capsize test. No one showed us how to set up the sails or even checked them before we did the test. A little walk through to jog the memory would have been expected. Ezra, the kid who checked us out, told us we were 'wasting his time', apparently doing his job is wasting his time. Maybe consider paying for professionals that are older or more experienced. Most of the staff were high schoolers that got a bit of authority high and now cannot administer decent customer service. read more

The place has been all fixed up and gotten bigger. It's still a great place, but in my opinion it's lost some of its relaxed and friendly vibe in the process of becoming "all grown up". It used to have a really fun, relaxed vibe, but some of that is gone. That said, this is still one of the best things Seattle has to offer when it comes to activities for kids and adults alike. The have everything here. You can hand launch your own boat. You can store your own boat in the yard (after a year or so on the waiting list). You can take you one of their boats, paddle boards, or windsurfers. You can sign up for lessons. Plus, you can get into serious racing here. It really is a fantastic resource for getting out on (and in) the lake. read more

I wrote a lot more, but on second thought i'll just say this: - great place to rent a boat or store yours if you already know how to sail. - terrible instruction in the adult sailing programs. my wife's "beginning keelboats" class left the dock without a briefing and immediately started spinnaker drill. Totally inappropriate. If you want to learn to sail as an adult try the Center for Wooden Boats or an ASA101 course, like my wife did. This place is for old college racers to re-live their glory days. read more

Thanks to sunny weather and the Yelp app, I found Sail Sand Point recently. A friend and I were in Lake City and looking for something to do while the sun was out. We searched for "kayak rentals" on Yelp and the app pointed us to some stellar reviews of Sail Sand Point located at Magnuson Park. Not too far from us, we hopped in my car and headed that way. It's hard(ish) to find but basically you're looking for a business that's literally on the water. So drive through the main entrance of the park, turn left and drive towards the lake. There were a few sandwich boards leading the way and then we came to an open parking lot and the business sign. They're undergoing a remodel so we saw both the old and new space and it looks like when they're done with construction this new business space will be stunning. A friendly young guy answered questions and showed us information on the business, what they rent, the costs, the rules, etc. It's pretty simple, actually! We decided to buy annual memberships to kayak and that also includes renting paddle boards. For just $135 we can come back to Sail Sand Point and rent a kayak or paddle board at any time and take it out for hours and hours to have fun on the lake. The only rules are to check-in so they know you have their equipment out on the lake, to not take the equipment too far from the business area (so it doesn't get lost or stolen) and to use a life vest. Then when you're done you just head back, return the rental equipment and tell them you're done for the day. Super easy, super hands off, and super fun. Not ideal for someone who's brand new to either sport because we didn't get a lesson or any instructions, but we also didn't ask. So if you're new, expect this to be slightly more hands-off but I'm sure they will go over tips and safety if you ask. We kayaked at least about 3/4 a mile north and then south a bit and then back to the loading area. Going in groups seems best because I couldn't carry my kayak to the water all by myself. My friend and I each carried one at a time and helped each other launch. For kayaking bring waterproof gear and expect to get a little wet. I wore jeans, shoes, and a windbreaker. Don't forget sunscreen and sunglasses too! For paddle boarding you'll want to go full waterproof and wear a bathing suit or wetsuit/rash guard. You could end up a lot wetter than someone in a kayak. The life vest rack has sizes for kids and adults and the equipment was in good shape. In fact, a lot of it was brand new! There are also sailboats for people to check out and sailing lessons to take. I'll definitely be back as the weather warms up again. read more

I'm from Hawaii and grew up on fishing boats. Sailboats? Not so much. I had no idea anything like this was available because I never looked into it. I'm not a sailing expert so you'll have to excuse my lack of sophistication around terminology and such. This summer, a group of us went and it was fantastic! We had planned on going for a leisurely ride (which we did) but a faster boat became available and we got to experience that as well. Riding on each had it's benefits. While on the leisure boat, a number of folks fell asleep! Relaxation at it's best. On the faster boat, we got to do a bit of work. It was a little strenuous since we weren't used to it and definitely got splashed with water (compared to the leisure boat where you could stay dry). All in all, it was a great day. I cannot say enough about the staff. They were so nice and helpful. They provided information in a clear, understandable way. I enjoyed the experience and the staff was a big part of it. Suffice to say that when I left, I already wanted to come back. read more

Sail Sand Point is a gem in Seattle's boating community. It offers small sailboat rentals and lessons for both kids and adults. They also offer outrigger paddling and dry storage. For those who want to learn to sail (or refresh your skills) they offer lessons. If you know how to sail and just want to get out on the water they offer open sailing (after showing them that you can actually sail, of course). SSP is also home to the Sand Point Youth Sailing Team (SPYS) and the UW Sailing Team. They have been a gracious host to a large number of youth and college sailing regattas over the years. Seattle is lucky to have a community boating center like SSP. read more

Review of sailing classes adult beginner levels 1 and 2. My husband and I took these classes and had a great expirience. The classes had around 12 students with 2-3 instructors. We learned to rig and sail flying juniors. Going into the class with either no to little expirience, we both felt confident as novice sailors at the end of it. The instructors were all a wealth of information and very professional. I always felt in good hands. The other students were a blast too, a great place to have fun with a sense of community. I think you get what you give in these classes. Prepare yourself to be both challenged and rewarded. read more

Sail Sand Point - Rigging a flying junior in adult beginner 1 class. - Boating Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I stumbled across Sail Sand Point a couple of years ago while researching summer camp options for my then 7 year old. We are from Arizona, where most of one's water exposure comes from a swimming pool, so a beginning sailing class seemed like fun and novel activity for him to give a try. It was a fantastic experience! The camp counselors and sailing instructors are all friendly, approachable, and capable of handling and engaging a large group of kiddos, who can range from age 6 through high school. The kids learn a lot in a week of camp, and he came home sharing his newly acquired knowledge of boat parts, sailing strategies, and lingo. It was the one camp that he begged to return to, so this past summer we signed him up for the full-day camps, and he again had the best time. Frankly, I don't think I've seen an activity that boosted his confidence and sense of responsibility as much as sailing, and if your kiddo is one of those independent types, sailing just might suit them well. They have adult classes, too! Last summer, I did a "mommy and me" sailing class with my 5 year old, which was a half-day week long class, and served as a nice introduction to sailing for him and for me (a bonafide land lubber) as well. I later took the beginners adult class with my 78-year-old dad (2 nights a week for two weeks) where we learned a surprising amount in a short period of time. Again, the instructors for the adult classes were patient, approachable, and upbeat. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff here. The camps are pricey - I think one week of camp here equate to about 2 weeks of a full day of camp at the YMCA. But the experience, competence, level of quality of the counselors at Sail Sand Point far exceeds any other camp our kiddos have been enrolled in thus far. It was well worth the splurge. And I found the pricing on the adult classes to be in line with what other outfits charged, if not less. Plus, Sail Sand Point has its own parking lot, so finding a good parking spot won't be an issue. If you already know how to sail and are looking to just rent a small boat for a couple of hours, this is a great place to do so. Hobie's, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards are also available. See you next summer, Sail Sand Point! :) read more

Woohoo! As good as it gets! I just came back from an exhilarating sail around the Sand Point area Wind blowing waves chopping; the Cat was flying across the like my own Hydro! Woohoo! As good as it gets! Yes you have to demonstrate sailing ability with each type of boat you sail Yes you have to right a capsized Cat to use it. Sail Sand Point will teach you to do this in one or two lessons. Then you can sail all year for $175. On nice days you will not get a boat without out a long wait, but there are plenty of kayaks to paddle while you wait! :) read more

Awesome place with awesome staff. Those two things don't seem to occur simultaneously anymore. We took the adult beginner course met by Lena, Mariah, Tate, Caylin and they are just great. Very nice, very helpful. The lessons are mostly on the water so you don't have to have a lot of classroom time. The boats are Flying Juniors which are nice and light and fiberglass. The help you get is amazing, you get a lot of time to ask questions as the instructors are out on the water in a powerboat. Also, bring a friend to take the lesson so that you will have more fun. Overall, great place, great staff and very reasonable prices. The Magnusson park area is really nice and I wish I bought an unlimited rental pass here. read more

You like sailing? Take their test and nothing (fine, except a more-than-reasonable purchase of 5 rentals for $75) stands between you and some glorious trips on the water. I sail the Hobie Wave boat and have a great time every time. It's dead simple and great for brushing up on sailing fundamentals. I only wish sailors were allowed to go as far as Kirkland for a real mini-trip. But it's probably a good thing for you stay in distant sight of SSP. Tips: - Make sure there's some wind before you go. http://www.sailsandpoint.org/current-conditions/ - Don't capsize if your friend brought his camera aboard (ask me how I know) read more

Take your life or your kids life into your own hands. I was planning on bringing my kids here after scheduling a group outing with adults, but after experiencing the lack of professionalism, I will go elsewhere. The equipment and facilities are nice, and the people friendly. If you know what you're doing, you should have a good time. However, if you are a novice or are thinking of sending your kids to this place, you should really think twice. The staff was very young and seemed to not care/know much about boater safety. I was amazed that nobody on the staff bothered to ask if anybody in the group could swim. They didn't check life jackets to see if they fit. No mention of the dangers of being hit by the boom or hypothermia... all real risks on small boats run by novices on a windy and cold day. They said you'd be safe as could be because you had life jackets. If you're an experienced boater as I am, these probably aren't too concerning, and you can have a great time. Same goes if you are just lucky and happen to stay dry. But I felt compelled to share this with those people who are hoping to have a fun, safe day on the water, as this place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. read more

Wanted to do paddle boarding at the UW waterfront activity center, but a friend of mine suggested we come here. She said the water is serene on this side and the Sail sand point staff are just more friendly, even though it is a little bit more expensive and there is no student discount for one time rental ( there is a discount for a season pass purchase), so we ended up here. The place is packed, so much so that no one even bothered to give us any instructions or info, they simply asked us to fill out the waivers, gave us two paddles and told us to go get our boards, nobody checked to see if we have the right size jacket on or if we put them on to begin with (there were signs saying it is illegal to paddle board with no life jacket on). So given that we are complete novices, we just watched others and learned where to go and what to do. $15 an hour and you get to float on the water, paddle board and enjoy the beauty of Seattle. It was a fun afternoon and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only downside is the profuse presence of dog feces right by the beach and considering that everyone is barefoot and ready to step into the water, it can be a little uncomfortable to bypass the feces, otherwise, I enjoyed my time here. read more

I'm cautious to leave a review because this place should remain a locals-only best-kept-secret. In short, this place has everything you need to enjoy hours of fun on Lake Washington. The whole establishment is very low key, great staff, and the people that come here genuinely love being on the water. I've done both kayaking and SUPing here, very easy, and both great experiences, with the BEST prices in Seattle, and I've done my research. They also do some free sailing classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings, which is great if you want to get into the sport. They have "pass" packages, so you don't have to pay each time, and you can buy a pass for the whole summer season, and it's really a sweet deal. I'll be doing that next summer. Bonus that they offer military discounts. read more

The best deal out there for small boat owners! On-land, mast-up moorage for an entire year for not much more than you would pay for one month of in-water moorage anywhere else in the area. And the new ramp at the north end of the center is awesome. It's great to be able to tie up after launching while you put your trailer out of the way. read more

SSP is a great place to learn sailing and spend time on the simply beautiful Lake Washington. My kids are asking everyday when we can get our season pass for this summer. The instructors are great, all US SAILING certified and very good at what they do. It is pretty clear that they too love where they work. I recommend SSP for anyone who wants to learn sailing or just go free-sailing!!! read more

Took Adult Sailing 101, for $220, only to find out that the class does not get you the option of renting a boat or include the test. Went out to take the test with my son, (a more experienced sailor) and the staff FORGOT about us after launching. We assumed we were still taking the test, preceded to capsize (part of the test) only to have the extremely rude person in charge come out and tell us we weren't being safe and failed us (for capsizing the boat - a required part of the test). He told us we were a waste of his time. I sailed the Quest back to the dock, went to the front desk to talk to him, and he would not return from being out on the water. I called and left messages to speak to him, but they were never returned. Went to rent a boat this year, asked about my rating and was told that I need to come back and retest. Fine. But then was told that the rental test is different from the test I took. You cannot get a straight answer from this group. Very unprofessional staff, leadership. Should be a wonderful place based on its facilities and programs, but sadly it is not. Maybe we could have recovered if the director had returned my calls or even communicated about what he thought we did wrong, but alas. read more

Really great community sailing resource. They have small sailboats, including catamarans, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and also those giant outrigger canoes. I sail there regularly, mostly on the Hobie 16s and Hobie Waves. The Hobie 16s are mostly 1980's vintage boats, and they get used a lot, often by people who maybe don't really know how to rig them properly, so they tend to get beaten up. Check your boat over carefully before you go out to make sure the person who used it before you didn't mess something up. (Are the plugs in?) read more