New Sailboat Owners 101 Class

Beginning April 15, the South Sound Sailing Society will be offering a course for new sailboat owners.  The goal of the course is to provide new or recent sailboat owners the knowledge and skills needed to understand their boat systems, navigate using electronic charts, the basic rules of the road, anchoring and mooring buoy use, skills to dock and maneuver in marinas, diesel maintenance, and tips on sailboat cruising and destinations.  

Critical to the course is assigning the new Sailboat owners to an “Experienced Skipper” who will assist in a boat inspection, practice docking, anchoring, and using mooring buoys; and have an on-the-water sailing experience.

The course consists of four evening sessions lasting approximately two hours each and three on-the-water experiences with the New Boat owner and their Experienced Skipper. The additional classes will be on April 29, May 9, and May 20.

This will be a free course for current members of the Olympia Yacht Club and South Sound Sailing Society. If you are currently not an SSSS member, go to ssssclub.com and join or renew your membership. 

If you are interested in participating in the course, please send an email by April 7 to with the following information:

• Name(s)
• Email address(s)
• Phone #
• If you have a sailboat, manufacturer and length and where it is moored
• Short description of your sailing experience and experience on your boat
• What you would like to get out of the course (optional)

If you have questions, please contact Bob Butts at or 360 951-6234.