(1-Day Clinic)
Learn to fly and trim large spinnakers aboard a Bavaria 47 on Puget Sound. This full-day clinic is hands-on instruction for confident downwind sailors ready to fly bigger kites safely.
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Difficulty
challenging
Duration
6–8 hours
Fitness Level
Participants should be comfortable moving on a heeled deck, handling lines, and hiking in short bursts; moderate upper-body strength is helpful.
Wildlife
History
Seattle's maritime culture grew with commercial and recreational sailing on Puget Sound; decades of local racing inform modern instruction here.
Conservation
Respect marine mammals by keeping distance during drills, secure trash on board, and rinse gear to prevent transferring invasive species between water bodies.
Windworks Sailing & Powerboating
(1-Day Clinic)
Windworks Sailing & Powerboating in Seattle, Washington offers a variety of hands-on sailing and powerboating experiences across Puget Sound.
The organization runs day sails, two-hour introductory outings, weekend and multi-day certification courses, skills clinics, flotillas, and seasonal events. Short experiences include the Intro-to-Sail two-hour cruise led by a USCG Captain/Instructor, and TGIF Sunset Sails on 30'–46' sailboats with a six-person limit for semi-private evenings. Practical skills clinics include Anchoring & Crew Overboard practice with on-water drills and role rotations.
Certification-focused programs include the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Series (three-day instruction with certified instructors) and the US Sailing Cruising to Bareboat five-day course that prepares participants for bareboat skipper certification. Powerboating options include a Powerboat Conversion class to train certified members on the Camano 31 trawler Clifford, taught by instructor Margaret Pommert, and a two-day US Basic Powerboat Cruising Series that leads to an international US Powerboating certification.
Community and event offerings feature the Founders Cup - Capri Race Finale and the Southern Crossing Flotilla, a four-day fall excursion in South Puget Sound. Each program emphasizes on-water practice, instructor guidance, small-group formats, and real-world seamanship skills to build competence and enjoyment on Puget Sound.
Location
Seattle, WA
Operating on Puget Sound waters
Certifications
US Sailing & US Powerboating
Courses that lead to formal certification
Signature Vessel
Clifford (Camano 31)
Used in Powerboat Conversion class
Trips Offered
11 trips
Range from 2-hour to multi-day courses
Reserve a spot for a day sail, clinic, or US Sailing/Powerboating course — small groups, expert instructors, real on-water training.
Check tide and wind forecasts
Consult local tide tables and a reliable wind forecast before arrival; Puget Sound tidal streams can shift wind angles quickly.
Practice crew calls ashore
Run through hoist and douse commands with your crew on land so everyone knows their role before the first real maneuver.
Bring protective gloves
Sheet work on a large spinnaker puts pressure on hands—thin sailing gloves prevent blisters and improve grip.
Protect electronics
Use a dry bag and secure mounts for cameras and phones; spinnaker runs are spectacular but wet.
Non-marking deck shoes
Grip and footwork matter when the boat heels during spinnaker work.
Sailing gloves
Protects hands during repeated sheet pulls and reduces rope burns.
Layered waterproof jacket
Keeps you warm and dry in Puget Sound's changeable conditions, especially on cooler days.
fall
Dry bag for electronics
Protects phones and cameras during wet maneuvers and boarding.