Why should I learn how to sail on Lake Nockamixon?

Lake Nockamixon is an ideal place to learn to sail.   The 1450-acre lake is approximately 6.5 miles long and has a marina with 648 slips.  The water is clean and safe.  Since engines above 20 HP are not allowed on Lake Nockamixon, sailors can focus on learning to sail without having to worry about jet skis or large power boats.  There is a large community of both cruising and racing sailors who enjoy Lake Nockamixon.  Winds average around 10 MPH throughout the year, providing sailors with some of the best sailing conditions available anywhere.  Winds on the Lake can be shifty and gusty at times, so students learn quickly how to adjust to challenging and changing conditions.  Waves on Lake Nockamixon are seldom above one foot, so motion sickness is nearly nonexistent.  The lessons learned on Lake Nockamixon transfer well to other bodies of water. Sailors who learned to sail on Lake Nockamixon have gone sailing in different bodies of water all over the world. 

How much should I tip the instructor?

Some students give more, but a gratuity of 15-20% of course fees is typical. Cash is appreciated.

Do I get my money back if I must cancel a class? Do students get their money back if the school must cancel a class?

We rarely cancel a class.  However, if we cancel a class due to weather, boat problems, or a captain being sick, etc., then students can reschedule or receive a full refund minus the cost of the course materials.  If we have a problem with the boat repaired during the class, the class proceeds, and we still meet the requirements, no refund is given. 

Full payment is due upon signing up for classes.  If a student cancels an on-the-water class or a classroom class, we will refund half of their payment, minus the cost of the course materials, if they cancel 30 days or more before the class start date.  No refund will be given if a student cancels with less than 30 days’ notice.  Course materials cannot be returned for a refund, even if in new condition.  

No refunds are given for ASA105 or 107 home studies.

What happens if the boat breaks down during the class?

It is rare to have significant boat problems, but it is possible.  Learning to deal with issues on the boat is normal and part of sailing.  Our experience has been that, so long as the class moves forward, students welcome the challenges posed by problems on the boat.  For example, if a fitting breaks, the captain and students may need to stop and fix it using spares on board our vessel.  The class would then continue as usual after the repair is completed.  Other examples could be given, but in general, as long as the class moves forward and we have time to complete all the skills required by the ASA standard, no refund would be given.

Is tobacco allowed on our sailboat?

We do not permit smoking on our sailboat.  We also do not allow chewing tobacco on our yacht.

Will I have a different instructor than the one I was assigned when I signed up?

Although most classes go forward with the instructor listed on the schedule page of our website, we reserve the right to change the instructor at any time.  This is sometimes necessary due to illness, family deaths, scheduling conflicts, etc. 

Do we need to bring lunch?

We will eat lunch on the boat.  Students should bring a bag lunch and plenty of water or soft drinks.  No alcohol is allowed.

What would you say is appropriate attire?

Students typically wear shorts and T-shirts or polo-style shirts.  Please bring a hat, boat shoes (no dark soles that might mark up the deck), suntan lotion, and sunglasses.

What are the class hours?

ASA101 and ASA103 classes go from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days.

Are all of the dates shown on the schedule page calendar available?

Please visit the Product Page for the class date you want.  The availability is shown as stock.  If there is stock for at least one student, you can sign up for the class.  If you prefer, you can contact Captain Mike Brown at 215-499-0335 or at captainmike@nockamixonsailingschool.com to sign up.

What is the minimum age for students?

Our program is for adults, so children need to fit into a class with other adults.  This requires that the child be genuinely interested and mature.  Before the class, they need to read a 120-page book and focus solely on sailing for two 6-hour days, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.  Some students may meet these requirements at a younger age, but without knowing a specific child, we have set a minimum age of 16 for our sailing classes.  If you think your child, who is younger than 16 years old, is an exception and could fit into an adult program, please let us know.  In most cases, however, we feel that students under 16 should take the class with their parent or parents. 

Do I have to wear a Personal Flotation Device during my sailing class?

We require all students and instructors to wear an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) during every sailing class.  This requirement exists to ensure student safety and is also required by our insurance company.  A PFD is available for free to all who take our courses.

What hotels, motels, and B&B Inns do you recommend, and what are the best restaurants near Lake Nockamixon?

Please have a look at the Location page of our website for a list of places to stay and dine while you are in the area for your sailing classes.  Lake Nockamixon and the surrounding area are great places to visit, and some students make a nice getaway out of their sailing classes. 

What happens if there is too much wind to sail or bad weather?

Safety is our primary concern in all our sailing classes.

If there is a tropical storm or hurricane, the class will be cancelled.

If there is a constant wind speed of 20 mph or higher all day, then the class will be cancelled.  

If it rains hard all day, the class will be canceled.

We cancel one class each season on average for various reasons, including weather, so the possibility of us cancelling a class is very low. 

If we cancel a class, students can either reschedule the class or receive a full refund minus the cost of the course materials.

Other weather matters:

If there is lightning nearby, we will come back into the slip, go over the course material until the lightning passes, and then go back out when it has passed.

If the apparent wind speed is less than 20 mph, with gusts in the low 20s, we would likely go forward, depending on how often the gusts occur.  The captain or instructor would decide this on the scene.

Wind speed typically changes throughout the day, so we might decide to work on course materials, knot tying, rules of the Road, etc., until the wind slows down.

An all-day rain is not that common.  If it is drizzly rain, then the class would go forward.  Much more likely, it might rain for an hour and then stop.  Students should bring rain gear to all classes in case it rains.

Is the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Safe Boating Certificate required to sail on Lake Nockamixon?

A PA Fish and Boat Commission Safe Boating Certificate is only required to operate boats powered by motors greater than 25 HP.  Lake Nockamixon does not allow any outboard engines above 20 HP.  Therefore, a Boating Safety Education Certificate is not required per se to operate a sailboat on Lake Nockamixon.  We believe that boating safety is paramount, and we teach both State and Federal boating safety requirements in all our sailing classes.  You can also get the PA Boating handbook for free at PA Boating Handbook.  We include a link to a free PA Fish and Boat Commission-approved Boating Safety Course with our ASA101 class.