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Yes, it's true. You or your kids can learn to sail right here in the desert. The Arizona Sailing Foundation offers classes set up for fun-with maximum time on the water. A little classroom, a lot of boat. Soon you're scooting across Tempe Town Lake powered by nothing but the wind. What a kick!

ASF is the educational subsidiary of the Arizona Yacht Club, a nonprofit run by AYC members who share their passion for sailing with others. The classes use our boats and are taught by instructors certified by US Sailing.

ASF Education Programs

Junior Sailing

• Opti 1 & 2 for beginning sailors as young as eight years old,

• High School Sailing – an after-school program for fun, learning, and a bit of competition, and

• Junior Performance Sailing – a class for students who've completed Opti 1 & 2 and are ready for their next challenge

Adult Classes

• Beginning Sailing – for first time and novice sailors,

• Powerboat Handling – US Sailing course for power boaters, and

• Introduction to Sailboat Racing – racing basics that will get you going-fast!

AYC Members may be able to receive a $50 scholarship for a child to attend an ASF Junior class. You'll be guided through the sign-up process, including a medical questionnaire and legal release.

Learning To Sail

For the kids, it can begin with a Junior Opti class and progress through multiple levels (if they want to) until they're competing internationally in sailboat races. Several of our kids have done exactly that. If you're an adult, try out sailing with our Beginning Sailing class, where you spend more time on the water than you do in a classroom (but you'll still get all the necessary theory and jargon in the classroom).

ASF has a fleet of instructional boats kept in the marina at Tempe Town Lake, including Optis, O'pen Bics, Capri 14.2s, Lasers, and CFJs. There are two powered support boats and at least one is always on the lake during every class.

We have a core of volunteer US Sailing-qualified sailing instructors and US Sailing-qualified powerboat instructors (to teach powerboating and to drive the safety boats).

Naturally, a nonprofit program of this scope needs contributions and we welcome yours. If you have a boat (of any kind in seaworthy condition) or trailer, consider donating it to ASF and receiving a tax deduction. Or simply contribute money. Please see our donate page.

The Mission

Phil Freedman

O'Pen Bics Performance Boats For Young Teens

The Arizona Sailing Foundation, Inc., will provide fun, safe, community based education in the art of sailing on a non-discriminatory basis. The Arizona Sailing Foundation, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

For more information, visit http://arizonayachtclub.org/education/.

The O'Pen Bics were available for test drives, recruiting juniors to the February class in these exciting new boats. Photo: Phil Freedman

O'Pen Bics, performance boats for young teens. Photo: Phil Freedman