CA-2
ADVANCED SAILING
Tahoe City | California
Level up your sailing skills and explore boat ownership...
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CA-2 is a 2-day course designed to build on your CA-1 knowledge and get you more hands on experience both at the helm, but with docking, anchoring, mooring, navigation and diving into what it looks like to own your own boat. ​
Tell me more...
01/
MORE NAUTICAL MILES & ADVANCED THEORY
Lock in your points of sail, tacking, gybing, and gaining confidence in all crew positions and learn about true and apparent wind angles.
02/
HANDS ON DOCKING/ANCHORING/MOORING
Put your theory to use in real life scenarios.
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COMMON RIG & SAIL TYPES
Learn about different types of sailboats and sails.
04/
DEEP DIVE INTO WORLD WEATHER
Zoom out from Tahoe to world weather patters, storms, etc.
05/
CHARTS, ROUTE PLANNING, NAVIGATION
Plan a mini-passage, and learn about how sailors measure navigation.
06/
SYSTEMS NEEDED FOR OVERNIGHTS
Check out the diesel, head, galley, batteries, holding tanks and more.
07/
TIDAL THEORY
What makes tides and how do we navigate them?
08/
MAN OVERBOARD
Theory and practical of MOB and USCG safety gear.
09/
BOAT OWNERSHIP & MAITENANCE
Explore logistics, costs, etc.
10/
CA-2 CURRICULUM INSERT FOR “SAILING BIBLE”
Get your own waterproof handbook with the CA-2 Curriculum, certifications, notes & nautical mile logger
what
will I
learn?
who is this
courseÂ
designed
for?
Is CA-2 a good fit for you?
This Adanced Sailing Course is the perfect next step after taking CA-1, which has a ton of information on sailing fundamentals to kick start you. CA-2 is really about give you more opportunity to be at the helm, and take everything you've practiced so far and mold it into muscle memory. CA-2 also provides the opportunity to put your theory of docking, anchoring and mooring into practice in real world examples. We dive into more advanced concepts like a balanced helm, true and apparent wind angles, navigation measurements, tidal theory, MOB, world weather and also explore what the logisitcs and costs of boat ownership could look like for you.
who's
teaching
the
course?
CA Instructors
CA-2 courses are taught by either Brady Trautman, Ryan Noble, or a combination of other hand-picked, experienced instructors.
Brady & Blue have built this course from the ground up, developed a curriculum and program that has successfully taught hundreds of people to sail, and trained an elite group of carefully selected Captains to continue spreading our love of sailing. As Cruisers Academy grows, and we include new instructors in the CA-2 program, we can guarantee that all Captains provide the same caliber of expertise.
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Read more about the CA CREW here.
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If any instructor is sick, a trusted and qualified instructor will stand in.
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why lake
tahoe?
Lake Tahoe, the perfect place to learn!
You may be surprised to see us excited about lake sailing, but this is not your average lake! Famous for its crystal clear water, Tahoe is the largest Alpine lake in North America, sitting at an elevation of 6,225 feet. Its water is 99.994% pure and reaches a depth of 1,644 feet. Lake Tahoe is surrounded by the captivating Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, where alpine forests tower above the lake's turquoise blue waters. In the summer, it truly is a tropical mountain paradise.
But the best part is its sailing conditions! Its "afternoon zephyr," a steady 12-18 knot wind from the Southwest, creates the perfect sailing playground. Smooth sailing never made a skilled sailor, and Lake Tahoe also presents challenges, like the katabatic winds that build and swirl down from the numerous valleys surrounding the lake. This 28 x 12-mile body of water is considered a Federal Waterway with its own Coast Guard station, navigational aids, and federal charts. Due to its size, Lake Tahoe can build ocean-worthy swells, localized squalls, gale-force winds, and occasional lightning storms. Easy days and demanding conditions create the perfect blend of conditions for a classroom of aspiring and experienced sailors.
cost
What's included?
The cost of the course is $1450 USD per person.
50% of the cost is due upon booking with the option of diverting the other 50% to be charged within 30 days of the course start date.
The majority of this 4-day course will be spent ACTUALLY SAILING! We value hands-on experience more than anything and think of the Catalinas as the perfect learning boat. There will be a maximum of 8 students per course, 4 students per boat.
You will receive a waterproof Cruisers Academy 'Sailors Bible' on the first day of the course to take home with you.
*Price does not include airfare, hotel, transportation to/from the airport or classroom, food, drinks or recommended items to bring.
tell me
about
catalinas
Catalina Sailboats
This course is taught on our Catalina sailboats ranging in size from 26-30 feet. We think of these Catalinas as the perfect template boat: everything you learn onboard can be adapted to other trailer sailors as well as bigger sailboats.
typical
schedule
10:00 am-12:00pm
Meet at the Boat Works Mall in Tahoe City for ~2 hours of sailing theory lesson in the classroom. We pride ourselves on our curriculum and have had many students share that this ends up being their favorite part of the course!
1:00-3:00 pm
After a lunch break, we head out to the dock at Tahoe City Marina and hop aboard one the sailboats for the practical section of the course; docking, anchoring, mooring, or exploring rigging.
3:00-6:00 pm
SAIL SAIL SAIL!
REPEAT FOR 3 DAYS!
Each day will vary a bit depending on weather but this sample schedule gives you an idea of what to expect.
travel
01/
Traveling to Tahoe via Plane?
The closest airport is (RNO) Reno-Tahoe International Airport (50 miles away). The North Lake Tahoe Express provides a shuttle service via the Red Route to Tahoe City. Private Taxis can also be secured via Mike at Alpha Transportation 775-339-1036 (tell him Cruisers Academy sent you).​ Keep in mind, Uber/Lyft is scarce in the Tahoe area.
Be sure to book all travel in advance; it is your responsibility to get to the lake.
02/
Do I need to rent a car?
The Tahoe basin has much to offer and we strongly recommend renting a car to explore the area. However, if a student is flying in, utilizing the shuttle/taxi, and staying within walking distance of the Boat Works Mall in Tahoe City, then renting a car is not needed. There is also an app called "TART Connect" that is basically "free Uber" for those staying within the Tahoe City limits. Cruisers Academy can provide transport from the classroom to the boat and vice versa for those who don't have their own vehicle.
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There are several restaurants, grocery stores, and beaches in Tahoe City that are within walking distance.
03/
Live locally or driving to Tahoe?
Awesome! You may want to bring a bike with you to avoid summertime traffic and take advantage of Tahoe's many bike trails to get around.
where can
I stay?
Need accommodations?
These hotels are within easy walking distance to the Boat Works Mall in Tahoe City:
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As well as the campground across the street:
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is caÂ
accredited?
Accreditation
Cruisers Academy is self-accredited just like all other sailing schools.
Taking a sailing course with Cruisers Academy is not just about memorizing vocabulary and passing a test. After 10 years of sailing around the world, logging over 100,000+ nautical miles, and crossing every ocean, we've opted to create our own curriculum to teach what we find to be the most valuable information in an engaging and practical style. We reated Cruisers Academy to kick start YOUR sailing journey.
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By the end of CA-1, you will be competent, comfortable, and safe sailing a small keelboat. As we continue to add advanced courses, CA-1 will be the prerequisite to move forward to the next level.
what
should i
bring?
Recommended Items
Being out on the water means we are subject to LOTS of sun at a HIGH ELEVATION which can be intense! Typical summer weather is 60-80°F. The following items will make your time spent with us the most enjoyable.
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1. Sunscreen! Please avoid spray-on sunscreen as these make the boat slippery/dangerous. We ask you to use a "reef-friendly" sunscreen to help keep Tahoe Blue.
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2. A hat that will stay on in the wind.
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3. A swimsuit, towel, and long-sleeved rash guard/UV shirt.
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4. Water bottle and lunch. There are plenty of places nearby to grab food to go, the day of. We will also have a cooler with ice on the boats.
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5. Shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as we put shoes away while on the boat.
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6. Sunglasses to protect your eyes and help you see wind lines on the water. Polarized lenses work best.
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7. A light rain jacket in case of rain and a warm jacket in case it cools off in the evening.
cancellations
Cancellation Policy
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ALL below cancellations will incur a 3% charge to cover processing fees plus a $50 admin charge for all instances below.
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If a participant cancels 60 or more days before the first day of the course, they will receive a 100% refund.​ (Ex: If $1450 is paid, $1356.50 would refunded).
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If a participant cancels within 30-60 days of the first day of the course they will receive a 50% refund on their deposit amount. (Ex: If $700 is paid, $290.75 would be refunded).
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If a participant cancels within 30 days from the first day of the course, they will receive no refund.
reviews
Hear from our Alumni!
From Mike...
CA- 2 with Captain Brady was everything I expected and more. Taking what I learned in CA-1 to the next level. We learned and practiced real life sailing experiences. Anchoring, docking, mooring, route planning, sailing to specific destinations, weather patterns. Highlight of the class was dealing with a storm that was not predicted on the weather reports. Doesn’t get any better than that. Working and dealing with 35 MPH winds. Captain Brady and Captain Austin answered all questions in the classroom. Close over 16 hours of sailing and close to 30 nautical miles in three days. The group learned and grew together day by day. I fully recommend Cruiser Academy. They teach real life sailing and theory. They are not just some ahoy paloy that sailed every summer at the local summer beach house. You learn from real life experiences and from people who have experienced the world thru the leans of a sailboat. I recommend Cruiser Academy for all levels.
From Magusa
I took the fundamentals (CA-1) and CA-2 course as a complete beginner with no sailing experience and learned a ton about all aspects of sailing including sailing maneuvers, understanding weather, navigation using electronic charts, docking, mooring and anchoring sailboats. The instructors (Brady and Austin) are amazing teachers who made understanding sailing concepts fun and easy to understand. I believe that the experience I have gained from the Cruiser’s academy courses has prepared me very well to sail competently on my own or as part of a crew. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in sailing !
From Jack...
I took CA-1 last year and recently did CA-2 over Labor Day weekend. Taking the CA-2 class gave me more confidence operating dock lines, mooring, anchoring, and operating a boat in tight spaces. I was happy to see that I retained a lot of the information from CA-1 and the boat handing carried over to the bigger boat. The class was engaging and the practical exercises gave us lots of tiller time. It doesn't get much better than sailing on Lake Tahoe with chill people, highly recommended.
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