Sacketts Sailing Center

My husband and I have taken the ASA101 and the ASA ¹⁰³⁄₁₀₄ classes with Bay Area Sailing School/​Sacketts. We’ve really enjoyed all of our time on the water and love our new hobby. We also have a great deal of respect for the business owner, Glenn. He runs an honest small business. I always have a ton of questions and he takes the time to answer any question I may have. It goes without saying that sailing is dependent on weather. Glenn cares about keeping everyone safe and making sure you have fun. He has never pushed us to go out when the weather is bad. He is very flexible with booking and cancellations and doesn’t stick anyone with cancellation fees!

After thoroughly researching all of the ASA sailing schools in the area, I chose Bay Area Sailing School (which is apparently owned by Sacketts Sailing Center). Although I had a pretty decent sailing resume going in, I wanted to get my ASA 101, 103 and 104 certifications, both for the experience and to be able to charter in the BVI next year. Based on my previous experience, Bay Area Sailing School let me «challenge» the 101 course while taking the 103 and 104 courses, which reduced the 101, 103 and 104 «combo course» down to a three-​day course. The 101÷103÷104 combo course is usually five to eight days at most schools, with 101 being the longest and having the steepest learning curve for new sailors. Being able to «challenge» the 101 course is a HUGE cost savings.
Originally I scheduled into a class with three other students. However, the other three students apparently had to cancel at the last minute, so I suddenly became a class of one. Since I had booked a flight from St. Louis just to attend the class, I was afraid that the school would cancel and re-​schedule the class. Not so. Glen, the head of the sailing school, was completely accommodating and so the class became a one-​on-​one experience. I’m not sure that the school cleared a profit on my class, but they sure left me with a great impression on that basis alone — and I hadn’t even pulled away from the slip yet.
My time was divided between an S-​2 (39-​footer) and a Beneteau Oceanis 390 — both proven blue-​water cruisers. Both boats were very clean and in reasonably good condition. I had the opportunity to dock the boat a total of five times. Docking is probably the most intimidating part of transitioning to bigger boats, but I managed to dock the boat all five times without breaking it and I now feel completely confident that I can handle a 40-​footer in close quarters with complete confidence. We spent quite a bit of time under sail in Galveston Bay and also in the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions were 6′ to 8′ seas with at least 25 knot winds gusting slightly higher. In other words REAL SAILING.
My instructor, Gene, was very professional and great company during my three days afloat, including the long motoring passages between Kemah and Galveston Island where the 103 and 104 course is taught. I learned a lot. Everything was very hands-​on. It was clear that Gene was not going to pass me just because I read the books. Practical knowledge and seamanship is what you sign up to learn and at Bay Area Sailing School that is exactly what you get.
Overall, I would say that Bay Area Sailing School, being one of the less expensive schools along the Gulf Coast, let alone the Houston Area, was a tremendous value for the money and a quality experience in every respect. I highly recommend this school.

Good group of people, laid back environment. Never had any issues.

The Bay Area Sailing School that runs out of Sackett’s Sailing Center was a great experience for me, a totally novice sailor. The Basic Keelboat class had about 20 participants for the half-​day classroom session Saturday morning, but when we broke for practical on-​the-​water instruction all afternoon Saturday and 8 – 2 Sunday, there were just three to four students per boat, giving us all a chance to practice each basic maneuver. The two day course was just under $ 300, which includes 2 full days of instruction, books, log book, a several hour mentor sail, and a half day bareboat charter for our first trip out without an instructor.
My husband took this class last year and later did the mentor sail. He then followed it up with the second three day course ASA 103 and 104 — Basic coastal cruising and Bareboat chartering. We haven’t yet taken advantage of his free half day bareboat charter because of the long drive down to Kemah and inability to schedule in advance for weekends, but don’t expect there will be a scheduling problem if we can make it down there mid-​week.
My bareboat today just had three students – two young professionals (1 guy-​late 20s and one girl, late 20s) and me, a 54 year old wife and mom. The instruction was thorough and good humored. We started out without a clue what we were doing, but soon were tacking and jibing without scaring our captain. For anyone wanting to get a first taste of sailing, this is a great start. I don’t have experience with the sailing club or charters yet, but as a school it rocks.