Last week, DCist was treated to a sailing lesson by DC Sail, the city’s nonprofit community sailing center, operated by the National Maritime Heritage Foundation.

It was a calm day when we set sail on a 19-foot, five-person sailboat from Gangplank Marina on the Southwest Waterfront. Across the Washington Channel, bicyclists and joggers circled Hains Point. To the right of the marina, while the 14th Street Bridge buzzed with rush hour travelers, we took in a view of the Washington Monument; to the left, the channel continues into the Potomac, eventually heading under the Frederick Douglass Bridge and into the Anacostia River. Across the docks sits former Presidential yacht U.S.S. Sequoia. It’s parked so close to the sailing school boats, in fact, that our instructor Oliver Whitney joked that the DC Sail motto is “Don’t hit the Sequoia.”

With our instructors Oliver and Sarah Meharg doing all of the work, we managed to avoid a Sequoia collision, and headed into the not-so-windy waters. Zigzagging across the Washington Channel proved to be fun, relaxing, and doable—even by these two novices. While the wind wasn’t roaring enough for us to venture past Hains Point, sailors can go as far as Anacostia and the Nationals Stadium, though the masts are too high to maneuver under the 14th Street Bridge. Keep the wind levels in mind when sailing—while getting stuck likely isn’t death-defying, who wants to paddle back when the wind could do the work for you instead?

The crowded marina on the Washington Channel, with the Washington Monument in the background. A lot of folks don't realize just how close all this is; it's an easy walk from the Mall, and just one stop from L'Enfant on the Green line. (Ian Buckwalter)

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You can become certified in four sessions of DC Sail's U.S. Sailing Curriculum-based three-hour classes. Subjects covered include: how a sailboat works, sailing vocabulary, boat rigging, points of sail, water safety, reading the wind, and essential sailing knots.

Or, if you are already an adept sailor, you need only to take the forth class and exam. Memberships cost $50 annually, and once certified, members have full access to boats and can take up to four friends out for a sail at a time. Sailboats are available for reservation on Wednesday evenings starting June 4, as well as Saturday and Sunday days and evenings. Starting next Thursday, DC Sail will also be holding weekly races. Rentals and races cost $15 for basic members, and are free for Super-Members ($250). Broke sailors should note that DC Sail relies heavily on volunteers to help with instruction, maintenance, and boat setup (they currently have over 120). Those who help out twice a month enjoy free rentals.

DC Sail gives lessons to the younger crowd as well, with a partially-subsidized summer camp for middle schoolers, a high school program, and educational sailing excursions for schools. See the website for details.

In addition to lessons and rentals, DC Sail also hosts a number of activities for those who just want to kick back and relax, without having to do any of the manual labor or learn any sailing skills. Schedule a group sail on a small boat, join others on the 35-person American Spirit, charter a private sailboat if you’re spendy, or combine your American Spirit ride with some booze and baseball in a Boating & Baseball Doubleheader.

To find out more information about DC Sail and its programs, visit their website.