Learn to Sail

Test the Waters with a Trial Membership

At 3rd Coast Cruising, we make sailing fun, flexible, and open to everyone—from total beginners to future boat owners. Our "Learn to Sail" program is all about hands-on experience, with more sail times and packages than any other sailing school in Chicago.

If you’re new to sailing (or just new to us), the best way to see if this fits is to get out on the water a few times. That’s why we created the Trial Membership—your chance to “test the waters” before diving into one of our full Learn to Sail Memberships.

How it Works:
Our program focuses on real seatime, and Trial Members get a taste of that. After your trial sails, we check in with the skippers and crew you sailed with to make sure it’s a great fit all around. If it is, you’ll have the option to join one of our unlimited sailing memberships and keep the adventure going. Trial Membership Details

Purchase beginning

Purchase Trial Membership

3rd Coast is a Certified NauticEd School

Internationally Recognized SLC License For Sailing

Learn to Sail with 3rd Coast

Sailing Packages

Listed below are all of the sailing packages that we offer. Everyone who is considering a Membership will need to complete our Trial Membership Program. Considering the number of membership options we offer and that most Learn to Sail Club Members have been with us for several years, we encourage all prospective students to kick the tires with us before committing. For folks wanting to Fast Track their learnings, we also offer Private Lessons for groups up to 6 people.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

NON-MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

cOMPARISON

Good for 1 Season
Some are Shareable
Unlimited Seatime
Certification/Bareboating

Good for 2 years
Shareable
PPS: Pay Per Sail
Certification

Lighthouse Club or 5 week

Sailing Profiles Choose your package

Club Membership Plus Packages
(Includes Bareboat Rental Hours)

Mate Membership Packages
(Ultimate Flexibility for Scheduling)

Weekly Membership Packages

(Sail 1 time per wk)

LIGHTHOUSE PACKAGE

$550

Five 3-hr. sails: Good for 2 years, weekend and weeknight availability for Catamaran and Monohulls. Lessons taught by Captain Jim (the owner) or another USCG Licensed Captain.

EXPLORER PACKAGE

$900

Ten 3-hr. sails: Good for 2 years, weekend and weeknight availability for Catamaran and Monohulls. Lessons taught by Captain Jim (the owner) or another USCG Licensed Captain.

PORT PACKAGE

$300

One 3-hr. sail: Good for 2 years, weekend and weeknight availability for Catamaran and Monohulls. Lessons taught by Captain Jim (the owner) or another USCG Licensed Captain.