About the Catawba Yacht Club Learn to Sail Program

Our Mission

The Catawba Yacht Club Sunfish Learn to Sail Clinic is a community sailing education program designed to introduce adults to the fundamentals of sailing on beautiful Lake Wylie in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our weekend clinics provide hands-on instruction in the Sunfish sailboat, one of the most popular and accessible sailing dinghies in the world. Whether you have never set foot on a boat or simply want to build real confidence at the helm, this clinic is for you.

Who Is This Program For?

Our Learn to Sail Clinic is perfect for adults ages eighteen and above who are curious about learning a lifelong recreational skill on Lake Wylie. The Learn to Sail Clinic is held October 2-3, 2026. Registration is four hundred and fifty dollars, or two hundred and fifty dollars for existing Catawba Yacht Club members. The clinic is limited to ten participants to ensure personalized attention and a safe, enjoyable learning environment.

What You Will Learn

Students learn essential sailing skills including rigging and de-rigging the Sunfish sailboat, understanding wind direction and points of sail, tacking and jibing maneuvers, capsize recovery, right-of-way rules, and basic water safety. Our certified instructors use a combination of on-shore classroom sessions and on-the-water practice to build competence and confidence. By the end of the clinic, participants are able to independently sail a Sunfish around a course on Lake Wylie.

About Catawba Yacht Club

Founded in 1939, the Catawba Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan area. Located on the shores of Lake Wylie, the club has a rich tradition of competitive and recreational sailing, social events, and community engagement. The Learn to Sail Clinic is part of our ongoing commitment to growing the sport of sailing and making it accessible to everyone in the greater Charlotte area, including residents of Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Belmont, and surrounding Lake Wylie communities.