Basic Keelboat -
Medicine Lake, Plymouth, MN -
French Regional Park
Basic Keelboat: Learn to Sail - ASA Course 101
Register for Basic Keelboat - ASA Course 101
Course Location
French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Road, Plymouth, MN 55441
Special Option! Bayfield "Big Boat" Basic Keelboat
A large percentage of adults entering sailing for the first time or refreshing after many years in a busy profession while raising family are most interested in bigger boats which they plan to charter in the future. A better course correction for this group is to take Basic Keelboat (ASA 101) in a combined course package with Basic Coastal Cruising (ASA 103) and Bareboat Cruising (ASA 104) aboard one of our Hunter 34s with two private cabins. You can review the basics in addition to learning new skills!
For details about requirements and registration, visit the Vacation Courses on Lake Superior page.
Description
Basic Keelboat is taught by ASA-certified instructors on Medicine Lake in Plymouth, MN aboard a 20' keelboat. Qualified graduates will become charter certified for day sailing on 20-27' keelboats.
Northern Breezes Sailing School offers learn-to-sail classes on Medicine Lake on our Flying Scot. This location is found west of the Twin Cities at French Regional Park located right off of the intersection of I-494 and Rockford Road. Medicine Lake is the 2nd largest lake in the western suburbs after Lake Minnetonka at 902 acres. It is located in Plymouth, Minnesota, ten minutes or less from New Hope, Maple Grove, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.
This is a three- or four-session, 12-hour course taught by Northern Breezes Sailing School instructors certified by the American Sailing Association (ASA). Note: If you are the only student in the class then it is shortened to 9 hours of instruction time. Classes meet mornings, afternoons or evenings for three or four hours. Classes are limited to three students. This small seminar environment provides a great instructor to student ratio for very effective skipper and crew training. Each session starts with a briefing on the day’s lesson, getting underway, sailing exercises and ends with docking and securing the boat.
Each student receives the Sailing Made Easy textbook and Log Book by snail mail. Each student also receives a Basic Keelboat Pre-Test which you are expected to fill out using your Sailing Made Easy textbook prior to arriving for your class. We usually accept the pre-test as your written Basic Keelboat exam.
Upon successful completion of both the on-the-water and written pre-test, the Basic Keelboat graduate receives a seal for the Log Book, and an invitation to join the Northern Breezes Boat Club to continue sailing without the requirement to buy a boat; all while wearing your recently earned "skipper's hat!"
Course Outline
Session 1: Getting Underway, Tacking, Points of Sail, Boat Balance, Sail Trim, Docking, Securing the Boat
Session 2: Review, Tacking & Jibing, Sail Trim, Helming
Session 3: Review, Controlling Angle of Heel, Heaving to, Reefing
Session 4: Review, Crew Overboard Drill, Solo Checkout, Written Pre-Test
Note: Three-session courses contain the same material scheduled similarly.
Classes are cancelled and rescheduled due to weather: no wind, too much wind, potential lightening or pouring rain. Sailing is not an endurance test. It is fun, safe learning of a lifelong skill set. Graduates meet all the prerequisites for more advanced courses and the Northern Breezes Boat Club.
Course Fee
$499 singles. $899 couples (any two people signing up together) sharing materials. Family and friends option: if three people sign up together the total is $1,199 if they share materials.
Additional course textbooks may be purchased. Cancellation Policy
Family and Friends
Basic Keelboat is offered as a Family and Friends course! If you have family members or friends who do not want to earn certification through the American Sailing Association (ASA) or, who are not old enough to be certified, but would like to come along to learn at whatever level while you are being certified, this is the option for you! We offer 1, 2, or 3 certifications in a 12-hour course format spread over 3 or 4 days. Up to 4 people in addition to the instructor can be on the boat for this Family and Friends course. In certain locations we offer 4 certifications in a 15-hour course format spread over 4 or 5 days for $1,449 if they share materials. All Family and Friends Basic Keelboat courses are customized for the student and group's needs and schedule. This is a great mother - daughter / father - son option. You pick the combination!
Instructor to Student Ratio is One to Three Maximum!
We are flexible. If you would like day classes, private lessons, rides, refresher, etc. Please call.
Directions to French Regional Park Sailing Docks
French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Road, Plymouth, MN 55441
From Interstate 494 (just north of Highway 55), take Rockford Road east (Rockford Road is also named Hwy 9 or 42nd Avenue,) 1/2 mile to French Regional Park entrance, which will be on your south or right side.
From Highway 169, exit west onto Rockford Road (Hwy 9 or 42nd Avenue). Proceed west 2 miles to French Regional Park entrance, which will be on your left or south side.
Follow the park roadway about a mile down to the lakeshore parking area.
Medicine Lake, MN courses:
2024 Class Schedule; 12 hour course.
Choose from Morning, Afternoon or Evening; and Weekday or Weekend.
Classes meet for three 4-hour sessions; or four 3-hour sessions.
Evening Classes are scheduled to conclude by the end of Civil Twilight.
Schedule may need to be modified based on availability of instructors and boats.
K1 • M, T, Th: 5/6, 5/7, 5/9, 2024: 5-9pm
K2 • Sa, Su, Sa: 5/11, 5/12, 5/18, 2024: 8am-12pm
K3 • Sa, Su, Sa: 5/11, 5/12, 5/18, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K4 • M, T, Th: 5/13, 5/14, 5/16, 2024: 5-9pm
K5 • M, T, Th: 5/20, 5/21, 5/23, 2024: 5-9pm
K6 • Su, Sa, Su: 5/19, 5/25, 5/26, 2024: 8am-12pm
K7 • Su, Sa, Su: 5/19, 5/25, 5/26, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K8 • T, Th, F: 5/28, 5/30, 5/31, 2024: 5-9pm
K9 • M, T, W: 5/27, 5/28, 5/30, 2024: 5-9pm
K10 • M, T, W: 6/3, 6/4, 6/5, 2024: 8am-12pm
K11 • M, T, W: 6/3, 6/4, 6/5, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K12 • M, T, Th: 6/3, 6/4, 6/6, 2024: 5-9pm
K13 • T, Th, M, T: 6/4, 6/6, 6/10, 6/13, 2024: 6-9pm (4 sessions)
K14 • M, T, W: 6/10, 6/11, 6/12, 2024: 8am-12pm
K15 • M, T, W: 6/10, 6/11, 6/12, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K16 • M, T, Th: 6/10, 6/11, 6/13, 2024: 5-9pm
K17 • Th, M, T, Th: 6/13, 6/17, 6/18, 6/20, 2024: 6-9pm (4 sessions)
K18 • Sa, Su, Sa: 6/15, 6/16, 6/22, 2024: 8am-12pm
K19 • Sa, Su, Sa: 6/15, 6/16, 6/22, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K20 • M, T, W: 6/17, 6/18, 6/19, 2024: 8am-12pm
K21 • M, T, W: 6/17, 6/18, 6/19, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K22 • M, T, Th: 6/17, 6/18, 6/20, 2024: 5-9pm
K23 • Sa, Su, Sa: 6/22, 6/23, 6/29, 2024: 8am-12pm
K24 • Sa, Su, Sa: 6/22, 6/23, 6/29, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K25 • M, T, W: 6/24, 6/25, 6/26, 2024: 8am-12pm
K26 • M, T, W: 6/24, 6/25, 6/26, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K27 • M, T, Th: 6/24, 6/25, 6/27, 2024: 5-9pm
K28 • Sa, Su, Sa: 7/6, 7/7, 7/13, 2024: 8am-12pm
K29 • Sa, Su, Sa: 7/6, 7/7, 7/13, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K30 • M, T, W: 7/8, 7/9, 7/10, 2024: 8am-12pm
K31 • M, T, W: 7/8, 7/9, 7/10, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K32 • M, T, Th: 7/8, 7/9, 7/11, 2024: 5-9pm
K33 • Th, M, T, Th: 7/11, 7/15, 7/16, 7/18, 2024: 6-9pm (4 sessions)
K34 • Su, Sa, Su: 7/14, 7/20, 7/21, 2024: 8am-12pm
K35 • Su, Sa, Su: 7/14, 7/20, 7/21, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K36 • M, T, W: 7/15, 7/16, 7/17, 2024: 8am-12pm
K37 • M, T, W: 7/15, 7/16, 7/17, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K38 • M, T, Th: 7/15, 7/16, 7/18, 2024: 5-9pm one opening
K39 • M, T, W: 7/22, 7/23, 7/24, 2024: 8am-12pm
K40 • M, T, W: 7/22, 7/23, 7/24, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K41 • M, T, Th: 7/22, 7/23, 7/25, 2024: 5-9pm
K42 • M, T, Th, M: 7/22, 7/23, 7/25, 7/31, 2024: 6-9pm (4 sessions)
K43 • Sa, Su, Sa: 7/27, 7/28, 8/3, 2024: 8am-12pm
K44 • Sa, Su, Sa: 7/27, 7/28, 8/3, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K45 • M, T, W: 7/29, 7/30, 7/31, 2024: 8am-12pm
K46 • M, T, W: 7/29, 7/30, 7/31, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K47 • M, T, Th: 7/29, 7/30, 8/1, 2024: 4:30-8:30pm
K48 • T, Th, M, T: 7/30, 8/1, 8/5, 8/6, 2024: 5:30-8:30pm (4 sessions)
K49 • Su, Sa, Su: 8/4, 8/10, 8/11, 2024: 8am-12pm
K50 • Su, Sa, Su: 8/4, 8/10, 8/11, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K51 • M, T, W: 8/5, 8/6, 8/7, 2024: 8am-12pm
K52 • M, T, W: 8/5, 8/6, 8/7, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K53 • M, T, Th: 8/5, 8/6, 8/8, 2024: 4:30-8:30pm
K54 • Th, M, T, Th: 8/8, 8/12, 8/13, 8/15, 2024: 5-8pm (4 sessions)
K55 • M, T, W: 8/12, 8/13, 8/14, 2024: 8am-12pm
K56 • M, T, W: 8/12, 8/13, 8/14, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K57 • M, T, Th: 8/12, 8/13, 8/15, 2024: 4:30-8:30pm
K58 • M, T, W: 8/26, 8/27, 8/28, 2024: 8am-12pm
K59 • M, T, W: 8/26, 8/27, 8/28, 2024: 12-4pm
K60 • T, Th, T, Th: 8/27, 8/29, 9/3, 9/5, 2024: 4:30-7:30pm (4 sessions)
K61 • T, W, Th: 9/3, 9/4, 9/5, 2024: 8am-12pm
K62 • T, W, Th: 9/3, 9/4, 9/5, 2024: 12-4pm
K63 • Sa, Su, Sa: 9/7, 9/8, 9/14, 2024: 8am-12pm
K64 • Sa, Su, Sa: 9/7, 9/8, 9/14, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K65 • M, T, W: 9/9, 9/10, 9/11, 2024: 8am-12pm
K66 • M, T, W: 9/9, 9/10, 9/11, 2024: 12-4pm
K67 • M, T, Th, M: 9/9, 9/10, 9/12, 9/16, 2024: 4:30-7:30pm (4 sessions)
K68 • Su, Sa, Su: 9/15, 9/21, 9/22, 2024: 8am-12pm
K69 • Su, Sa, Su: 9/15, 9/21, 9/22, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm
K70 • M, T, W: 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, 2024: 8am-12pm
K71 • M, T, W: 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, 2024: 12-4pm
K72 • M, T, Th, M: 9/16, 9/17, 9/19, 9/23, 2024: 4:30-7:30pm (4 sessions)
K73 • M, T, W: 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 2024: 8am-12pm
K74 • M, T, W: 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 2024: 12-4pm
K75 • M, T, Th, M: 9/23, 9/24, 9/26, 10/2, 2024: 4:30-7:30pm (4 sessions)
K76 • F, Sa, Su: 9/27, 9/28, 9/29, 2024: 8am-12pm
K77 • F, Sa, Su: 9/27, 9/28, 9/29, 2024: 12:30-4:30pm