Here are three schools where staffers can learn the basics of sailing and hit the open water.
1. See Washington from a whole new vantage point aboard a 19-foot Flying Scot sailboat with DC Sail, the community sailing program of the National Maritime Heritage Foundation. Groups of four to 20 people can set sail from the Gangplank Marina in Southwest Washington and spend three hours sailing the Potomac and taking in the sights. The cost is $50 per person. If staffers aren’t looking to pull ropes and tie knots, private charters for up to 35 people are also available.
2. For 51 years, the instructors at the Washington Sailing Marina taught people of all backgrounds how to sail. Participants will experience views of the monuments the moment they leave the dock at Dangerfield Island. Groups of four to 30 can book a variety of classes that range from a two-hour basic course to a multi-day sailing camp. Rates are dependent on group size and length of outing but start at $120 per boat (minimum of four guests) per hour.
3. Launching from Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, the Mariner Sailing School is the largest full-time sailing school in the Washington area and can host groups of all sizes. The typical group setup is four rookie sailors and one instructor per boat. After learning the basics, groups can sail on their own or test their competitive spirit by racing one another up and down the Potomac River. Rates are $75 per boat per hour.
