
ASA Sailing Lessons and Sailing Classes
Crafting Lifelong Sailors Since 1969
Harbor Sailboats is San Diego’s leading sailing school offering beginner through advanced sailing lessons, sailing classes and ASA Certifications. Since 1969, Harbor Sailboats has perfected our curriculum to ensure maximum time on the water that will deliver the skills and confidence necessary to enjoy this amazing lifestyle.
How To Get Started!
Join the sailing club and pick the next available weekend Basic Keelboat Sailing Class (included with your membership). Upon joining, you will be provided your official textbook, logbook, and our proprietary study guide to prepare for your upcoming sailing lesson. After completing Basic Keelboat, members will have the skills, confidence, and certification to skipper small keelboats within San Diego Bay.
Next, you will build your skills while enjoying morning, afternoon, or full day rentals of 22′ sailboats until you have reached the minimum sea time necessary to enroll in the next level sailing class, Coastal Cruising. From there, you can continue to build skills and confidence throughout the upper range of rentals and sailing lessons accessed as a member of the club.
Harbor Sailboats prides itself on having the most professional and experienced sailing instructors teaching aboard the newest fleet of boats in Southern California. We look forward to building the foundation of your sailing career!

Courses Offered
Click for class for details
ASA 101 Basic Keelboat
certifies up to 22′
ASA 103 Coastal Cruising
certifies up to 37′
ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising
certifies up to 51′
ASA 105 Coastal Navigation
home study that allows passage north of Mission Bay
ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising
advanced passage making
Private Instruction
Have a tough schedule or very particular goals? Harbor Sailboats can tailor private sailing lessons or sailing classes to meet your specific needs and goals. Sailing lessons are available aboard any boat in the Harbor Sailboats fleet 22’-51’.
On the morning of class, please check in with the club between 8:30am and 9am, all sailing classes start promptly at 9am. Students should bring homework, class textbook, and ASA logbook. All sailing classes run rain or shine so please check the forecast prior to arriving at the club.
What to Wear
While shorts and a t-shirt will suffice, pack a backpack with the following as it can be chilly on the water (bags can be stowed onboard): jacket, long pants, a sweatshirt or wind breaker, and a bottle of water. Sneakers or light soled shoes are encouraged- no flip flops. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are strongly recommended.
What to Expect
Plan on spending five to six hours per day on the water. Each morning is spent in a classroom setting but we are firm believers that being a competent sailor depends on real world experience, so we will hasten to wrap up the talking early so that we can go SAILING! We aim to be back at the dock by 4:30pm, class ends at 5pm each day.