The Mainsail Clinic is a special offering that lets students practice the skills important to them in order to pass the Yellow test. It is highly recommended that this class be taken after your first Yellow test attempt, if you didn’t pass. Instructors for this class will design custom drills and learning experiences based on what the class indicates as it’s greatest needs.
For every sailor who walks through our door, start here! This class will get you familiar with how everything works at CBI. The orientation class is the gateway to everything that CBI has to offer, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or brand new to boats. Done entirely on the dock, your orientation will include a guided tour of CBI’s boats and facilities, an overview of our classes and programs, as well as plenty of time to ask the questions that matter to you as a sailor.
This class will teach you your port from starboard, mainsheet from mainsail, and just about everything else you need to know about our boats. A trained instructor will cover parts of the boat, sailing terminology, dock procedures, and how to set a boat up and how to break it down so that you can be well on your way to sailing on the Charles. This class is conducted in the classroom, and in our parked boats at the dock, and you’re encouraged to take notes.
Available for sign up 2 weeks in advance, through your member portal.
Online Rigging class viewable here.
Mainsail I builds basic sailing skills with both on-the-water instruction and simulator demonstration. Students will spend the first half of the class reviewing Shore School content, and then get a chance to practice their skills on the water under the direction of an instructor. Skills such as tacking, gybing, steering and sail trim will get special emphasis in this class, so that students are prepared for their Mainsail II Class, and their Yellow Test.
With demonstrations and boat simulators, Shore School explains all the theory you’ll need to start sailing. An experienced instructor will guide you through the basics of reading wind, trimming sails, steering a boat, and more. We’ll cover everything you need to know to get out and back to the dock safely, and you’ll even get a chance to practice these skills in our simulator located on the dock. and When you have completed this class, you’ll be prepared to take the Mercury green test!
Available for sign up 2 weeks in advance, through your member portal.
Online Shore School class viewable here.
For every sailor who walks through our door, start here! This class will get you familiar with how everything works at CBI. The orientation class is the gateway to everything that CBI has to offer, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or brand new to boats. Done entirely on the dock, your orientation will include a guided tour of CBI’s boats and facilities, an overview of our classes and programs, as well as plenty of time to ask the questions that matter to you as a sailor.
This class will teach you your port from starboard, mainsheet from mainsail, and just about everything else you need to know about our boats. A trained instructor will cover parts of the boat, sailing terminology, dock procedures, and how to set a boat up and how to break it down so that you can be well on your way to sailing on the Charles. This class is conducted in the classroom, and in our parked boats at the dock, and you’re encouraged to take notes.
Available for sign up 2 weeks in advance, through your member portal.
Online Rigging class viewable here.
The Tiller Club Annual Meeting will take place Sunday October 27, 2024, after the Lorna Slocumbe Frostbite Regatta, approximately 3:30-5:30pm. We will gather to enjoy some refreshments, welcome new members, swap racing stories, and present awards for the season. Tiller Club members, new racers, their guests, and interested CBI members are all welcome!
Members organize several short races most Fridays after work. Racing is informal, so boats can join at any point in the evening. A social atmosphere blending camaraderie, fun, sailing, and competition; meet new people and broaden your sailing horizons.
Who: All skill levels welcome; whether you’re a national champ or are just learning you’re encouraged to sail with us.
When: Rig anytime and head out to race as soon as a few boats are ready and a course is set — usually about 17:30. Racing ends at sunset, so come out even if you free up a bit later.
Where: Meet on the water. Look for a cluster of Mercuries, the nearby committee boat flying flags & sounding horns, and big red tetrahedrons.
What: You can race mainsail, sloop or spinnaker, solo or with friends, keel or centerboard, as long as it’s a Mercury.
See our blog below for updates, rules & racing tips, watermelon announcements, and hilarity. Sign up for email updates so you don’t miss a post; typically weekly or less:
Decorating begins at 5:00
Skipper's Meeting 5:30
First Race 6:00
Join the party 7:30
We will be hauling all the Mercuries out of the Charles, de-rigging them, and flipping them upside down on the dock.
Help us clean out the boathouse. Tasks include stacking Mercury sailboats up on the fences, wrapping sails, and more.
