Learn To Sail

Learn to sail on Hatteras Island. We teach youth and adults to sail and offer a variety of options throughout the spring, summer, and fall including open session group camps, semi-private group sessions, and private lessons.

Private Lessons

Individuals & Family Groups

Private sailing lessons are perfect if you want to go out sailing, level up your skills, or get an introduction to sailing. We can set up a single introduction to sailing session for 2hrs or you can get a package of 3-Day or 5-Day lessons. 3-Days or 5-Days of lessons are great if you really want to focus on learning to sail while you are here on Hatteras.

We schedule you into the week and then try to find the best weather windows to get you out on the water with an instructor for the best outcome. Normally we teach private lessons in the morning or early afternoon depending on the forecast.

Sailing School

Learn To Sail & Earn Sailing Certifications

Looking for a sailing school? Come to the beach and learn to sail while your family is happily lounging on the national seashore. Our sailing school offers a similar curriculum to Offshore Sailing School or JWorld right here on Hatteras Island. Day courses finish around 3pm leaving you enough time to enjoy a couple hours on the beach and dinner with your family after lessons are done for the day. Liveaboard courses set sail and do not return until the end of the course.

Course Description (link to registration)BoatScheduleHours InstructionCourse Fee#Sailors
Basic Keelboat CertificationMelges 243-Days: 9am – 4pm21$895 pp4
Performance KeelboatMelges 243-Days: 9am – 2pm15$595 pp4
Basic Catamaran SailingStiletto 273-Days: 9am – 4pm21$595 pp5
Basic Liveaboard CruisingSabre 425-Days: Live Aboard120$1250 pp5

Sailing Camp

Youth & Kids Sailing Camp

The Cape is surrounded with water, the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Pamlico Sound on the other, so our exploration takes us to the water! We use our sailboats and coach boats to take the kids to hidden bayside beaches and sandy clam shoals where they can play in the shallow water and learn to sail. We learn basics of sailing on the same boats our sailing team sail and we get out on the big boats too. A week of jam packed water sports fun.Taught by Hatteras Sailing Coaches and junior sailors as assistant coaches. We learn to sail and have lots of fun with a variety of activities including

  • exploring
  • sailing
  • paddling
  • swimming
Registration Link
& Description
AgesBoatScheduleHours InstructionCourse Fee#Sailors
Anytime 3-Day Sailing Camp8-12 yrsOptimist / Stiletto 273-Days:
9am – noon
9$179 ppmin 4 / max 8
Anytime 5-Day Sailing Camp8-12 yrsOptimist / Stiletto 275-Days:
9am – noon
15$349 ppmin 4 / max 8
Anytime 3-Day Sailing CampTeen – AdultC420 / Melges 243-Days:
9am – noon
9$300 ppmin 4 / max 8
Anytime 5-Day sailing CampTeen – AdultC420 / Megles 245-Days:
9am – noon
15$500 ppmin 4 / max 8
** To reserve a spot, complete the registration form indicating the week you are on Hatteras. All camps are first come first serve. Once 4 campers are signed up, we will send you a payment link to confirm your camp reservation in camp.

Group Events

Hatteras Sailing’s staff, resources, and facility can be reserved in whole for 3-day or 5-day private events. When you reserve a private event, Hatteras Sailing makes available our entire fleet and facility from 9am-3pm on the days of your event and we tailor your experience to meet the needs and goals of your group. We have tested and proven group experience options that we highly recommend:

  • Intro to Sailing
  • Kids Learn To Sail
  • Teen Learn To Sail
  • Adult Learn To Sail
  • C420 Racing Clinic
  • Optimist Racing Clinic
  • Corporate Team Building

How do we choose from the curriculum options that you offer?

Call us and speak with our program director Meg Phillips. She will guide you into the best choice based on the ages of your group, sailing experience, desired outcomes, and physical agility. We can run the clinic with mixed objectives for different parts of your group.

Do you work with School Groups?

Hatteras Sailing regularly works with school groups and homeschool groups to offer sailing education in a variety of forms with a variety of objectives – STEM Programs; Kick Off High School Sailing; Intro To Sailing. Visiting Hatteras can be quite affordable for school groups and boy scout groups who camp in the National Park campgrounds nearby the sailing center.

What ages do you teach?

  • Kids 8 – 12
  • Teens & Young Adults
  • Adults
  • Family Groups of mixed ages

What if we have a smaller group?

The money required to reserve a private event is usually a lump sum based on your learning goals so you can bring as few people as you have in your group. However, we only have enough safety boats and coaches for a maximum number of 16 in any group event. If you have a smaller group of 4-8, check out our “anytime” sailing camps for smaller groups – these smaller group camps can still be private for your group and a little more cost effective for small to medium sized groups.

What does it cost to book a private group event with Hatteras Sailing?

The pricing depends on the curriculum that you choose, but you can estimate around $1000 per day of your event. That price can vary depending on the curriculum you choose for your group and the assets we allocate.

Can we really learn to sail in 3 or 5 Days?

Sailors can spend a lifetime learning and never learn everything there is to know about sailing. In 3 or 5 days, we focus on boat handling, key knowledge concepts, and maximizing time on the water as possible. The best way to learn is to get involved in sailing on a regular basis all year long, but coming for a 5-Day Learn To Sail experience is a great way to get started.

Are you organizing a private event for your group? Contact us here for more information: