Learning to sail in different types of weather, both good and bad, is important to becoming a confident sailor. We teach in all types of weather unless we deem it too dangerous to safely be out on the water. Should a serious storm cause the interruption or cancellation of your class, we will gladly reschedule for no additional cost. Reef Runner Sailing captains make weather calls. We use a variety of apps that track weather and wind to help make hour to hour decisions on each day of your course. All students should come prepared to sail in a variety of conditions. If it's teachable conditions, we will be sailing in it!

Be sure to bring all of your course materials. In addition, bring a rain jacket, hat, sunblock, sunglasses, and deck shoes or white (non-marking) soled sneakers. For day sails (ASA 101 or 103), we are usually on the water during lunchtime, so you may want to bring food, snacks, or drinks. Bringing a refillable water bottle is always as a good idea. For overnight classes (104 combos), all meals are provided while at anchor. We also provide basic bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, sheets, and a towel) for live-aboard classes. It's common to get a little wet while sailing - either from pop-up rain showers (common during Florida summers), from salt spray, or fog (common when sailing in Maine). Wear clothes that are fast drying and that you don't mind getting wet! Tech-wicking or other moisture wicking clothing are recommended. Cotton and jeans are not recommended.

For classes in Panama City, FL all classes will start at the St. Andrews Bay Marina. Class is held aboard our teaching boat S/V Atlas. For more details about this location and directions to the marina, please see our Panama City location page. For classes in Friendship, ME, all classes will start from the Friendship Town Dock. Class is held aboard our teaching boat S/V Shearwater in Friendship Harbor. Please follow the directions and specific parking instructions on our Maine location page.

Gratuity is not required, however if you feel your instructor provided an excellent class, feel free to offer them a tip. 5-to-10% of the class price is generous. All tips are greatly appreciated.

This is a personal choice. In all ASA classes, students will do the majority of the line handling. Lines are generally soft, but of course have the potential to slip through hands resulting in rope burn. This is rare. Most of our students choose to sail without sailing gloves, but you are welcome to bring them if you would like. West Marine have both men's and women's sailing gloves that are fairly inexpensive. If you want something higher end, Gil and Helly Hansen are popular marine brands.

There are many closed toed shoes available that provide good traction on slippery decks and protect the decks from scuff marks. Sperry and Olukai are popular brands if you are looking for an all round moderate weather shoe, and looking to invest in a good pair. For heavy weather, we've had good success with XTRATUF. For those looking for something cheaper and better for warmer weather conditions, we use ALEADER for all round deck and water shoe. Generally, flip flops or other sandles are not recommended because they present tripping hazards and do not have good traction. If you are headed out for a multi-day trip, you can bring open toed shoes for wearing after classes, if preferred.

Sailing is for everyone, but it is important to know that it requires moderate physical activity. For the safety of yourself and others, please let your instructor know of any relevant medical history that may affect your ability to safely engage in sailing activities. It is your responsibility to monitor your physical well-being during sailing activities. Stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun, and cease participation if you experience any discomfort, pain, or other adverse health conditions. We take safety seriously. Life jackets must be worn during all American Sailing Association (ASA) events. Familiarize yourself with the layout and components of the boat. Your instructor will provide guidance on essential features, including emergency equipment, hatches, and exits. Understand your assigned role and responsibilities as part of the crew. Stay informed about weather conditions before and during your sailing course. Follow the guidance of your instructor regarding appropriate actions in varying weather situations. Reef Runner Sailing School does not allow any school vessel to be operated by anyone while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled or illegal substance. Persons appearing to be intoxicated or under the influence will not be allowed on board.

We operate our Panama City, Florida location primarily from the months of October to April. Our Friendship, Maine location operates from May to September. We do not have a set schedule, instead we book classes by request and they may begin any day of the week. We try to work with your schedule to accommodate when you want to sail! Classes typically book 30 days in advance and 60-90 days for live-aboard courses. Weekends and holidays tend to book first, so please try to plan ahead.

Cancellations are allowed 30 or more days prior to your class start date and carry a $150 fee. We will make every effort to accommodate date changes if you need to reschedule. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. In the rare event RRS has to cancel, partial or full, due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather not safe to carry out course instruction (e.g. strong winds, heavy fog, torrential rain, etc), or the unforeseen illness of a captain, rescheduling will be offered at no additional cost. Please note these instances are rare. Reef Runner Sailing captains make weather calls. We use a variety of apps that track weather and wind to help make hour to hour decisions on each day of your course. All students should come prepared to sail in a variety of conditions. If it's teachable conditions, we will be sailing in it!

We do allow you to reschedule a class, sunset sail, or charter. Please let us know as soon as possible prior to the event that you need to reschedule as our captains make travel plans around these events. We will do everything we can to help find another date that works for you. Please note that our calendar fills up quickly so rescheduling may result in several weeks or possibly months later.

A deposit of 50% is required to confirm your reservation. The full balance is due at the start of your first day of class. For classes, you will receive an application form that, once completed and returned, will act as your booking confirmation. Prices are subject to change without prior notice unless deposit is received and reservation is confirmed.

The ASA is the leading authority on sailing instruction and sailing schools in the United States. ASA schools follow a proven curriculum with certification standards for students and instructors. ASA certification provides a standard of skill recognized by many charter companies, national authorities, and insurance companies. While every charter company has its own chartering guidelines, ASA certification shows you have received formal training and meet that standard.

Basic Keelboat Sailing (ASA 101) is a comprehensive course for the beginning sailor. No sailing experience is required!

Self taught sailors, while skilled, may lack fundamental knowledge gained from a formal sailing course. Our professional instruction, quality course materials, and on the water training are invaluable for helping you become more confident and competent in your sailing skills. Certification may also make it easier and less expensive to charter a boat since you will have proof of your sailing experience.

Deciding what course to take depends on your sailing experience and your long term goals. Whether you just want to learn the basics or become an advanced offshore passage-maker is up to you. Everything starts with ASA 101: Basic Keelboat Sailing which is a prerequisite for all other levels of certification. It can be taken alone or in combination with other courses. If you are an experienced sailor (with proven experience), you can “challenge” it by taking and passing the test. You can then move on to the ASA 103: Basic Coastal Cruising class. If you don’t care about certification, you can take courses simply to learn to sail or improve your skills.

By design, we keep our classes small. We usually have only 2 to 4 students per class. This guarantees each student enough hands on training to really learn to sail.

For live-aboard classes, usually ASA 104 combos or higher (or custom classes), we provide all bedding (one sheet, sleeping bag or fleece blanket, pillow case, and pillow) for all guests. Towels and wash clothes are also provided per guest. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus snacks) are provided while at anchor. If some nights include staying the slip, students have the option of trying local restaurants at their expense. Meal plans will be sent to all class participants at least one week prior to classes and can be modified depending on diet and preference.

It depends on the boat you are sailing! S/V Atlas and S/V Deja Vu are fully equipped with hot water and showers in the head. Hot water is heated by running the engine. Water on a boat is a precious resource, so often conservation is key especially when living at anchor. The captain will advise you on best practices for water conservation. It is recommended that you come prepared to take fast showers, if desired. S/V Athena has a shower, but it will be cold (electric hot water heater only). You're welcome to try a cold shower or we may hook up a hose to the water tanks for deck showers.