JAMESTOWN SAILING FIELD GUIDE
One-on-One Sailing: Sharpen Helm, Tactics and Boat Handling Off Jamestown
Private, tailored lessons on small keelboats (J/22 or J/7) that let you pick a focused skill—helming, anchoring, spinnaker work, man-overboard drills, or racing tactics—delivered in flexible two-hour sessions.
One-on-One Sailing: Sharpen Helm, Tactics and Boat Handling Off Jamestown.
Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation’s Private Lessons in Jamestown condense targeted instruction into focused sessions aboard responsive small keelboats. Choose a single skill to work—helming, tactics, anchoring, sail tuning, spinnaker work, mooring pick-up, racing rules, or man-overboard recovery—and practice it with an instructor who tailors boat selection (J/22 or J/7) and drills to your objectives.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Personalized, skill-by-skill coaching
Lessons are 1:1 or small-group sessions that let the instructor concentrate on the one or two maneuvers you want to master—from anchoring and mooring pick-up to racing tactics and man-overboard recovery.
Sail responsive small keelboats: J/22 and J/7
Choose a boat suited to your goals: the responsive and stable J/22 for punchy keelboat handling (mainsail, jib, optional spinnaker) or the roomy, stable J/7 with an easy-to-handle asymmetrical kite for comfortable daysailing.
Hands-on practice with real sailing tasks
Work through practical, repeatable drills—spinnaker set and trim, picking up and leaving a mooring, anchoring, or man-overboard procedures—so you leave the session with practiced muscle memory.
What the day feels like
What the lesson feels like
The session begins with you selecting a focus so the instructor can tailor drills and choose the most appropriate boat. Expect concentrated on-water practice aboard a J/22 or J/7, with the instructor guiding repetitions of the targeted skill set so you can refine technique and build confidence in realistic conditions.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who benefits from these lessons — and who should consider another format.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Lessons are typically two hours long, though longer or shorter lessons can be accommodated.
After booking, the operator will reach out to confirm which location you should meet at.
There is a base rate fee for a private lesson with an additional cost for each person added; choose 1:1 or small-group instruction and a boat sized to your objectives.
The operator can advise on clothing and any gear recommendations when they reach out to confirm your booking and chosen boat.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is a private lesson?
Lessons are typically two hours long, but longer or shorter lessons can be accommodated.
Where do lessons start?
After booking, the operator will reach out and let you know which meeting location to use.
What skills can I focus on?
You can choose focus areas such as helming, tactics, anchoring, sail tuning, spinnaker work, picking up and leaving a mooring, racing rules and tactics, or man-overboard recovery for small keelboats.
Which boats are used for lessons?
Lessons are commonly conducted on responsive small keelboats such as the J/22 and the J/7; the operator will select the boat based on the skill sets you want to work on.
How many people can join a lesson?
Instruction is offered 1:1 or in small groups; the J/22 holds 3–4 people comfortably and up to 5 if some are small. There is a base rate plus an additional cost per person.
Can lessons cover spinnaker and man-overboard drills?
Yes—spinnaker work and man-overboard recovery are listed as areas of focus you can select for a session.