Outbound Sailing - Sailing Lessons for Everyone

Sailing Lessons

Sailing lessons specifically designed to build the confidence to bareboat charter, sail, or cruise on your own.

Learning to sail is more than just classes and certifications. Our classes maximize time on the water and provide you opportunities after certification to build experience and confidence as skipper and crew.

We use the curriculum and standards set by American Sailing and currently teach ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 114 certifications.

Our base of operations is on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas. We offer sailing classes year round on Lake Travis and multiple other destinations worldwide.

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OS Students on Catamaran Picking Up Mooring Ball

Adventure Learning

Combining hands-on sailing with real-world voyages to create confident, capable sailors.

Immersive sailing vacations that combine hands-on training with the thrill of exploration. Aboard bareboat chartered monohulls or catamarans up to 50 feet, you'll operate as skipper, navigator, and crew under the guidance of expert ASA certified instructors.

Our program focuses on developing real-world skills, including navigation, safety, and near-coastal sailing, while allowing you to experience the beauty of destinations like the British Virgin Islands.

These adventures go beyond training — they're about building confidence, enhancing your expertise, and preparing you for independent charters. You'll deepen your understanding of sailing while creating unforgettable memories in some of the world's most stunning locations.

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Alumni Flotillas

Take the next step exploring the world with other alumni as the skipper of your own boat.

Set sail with fellow Outbound Sailing Alumni on unforgettable group adventures to stunning locations around the world. Whether you’re captaining your own boat or joining as crew, our flotillas provide the perfect balance of independence and community.

Enjoy the thrill of exploring exotic waters, anchoring in picturesque bays, and experiencing local cultures—all with the guidance of an ASA instructor as the flotilla leader.

Our flotillas are more than a getaway; they’re an opportunity to grow your sailing confidence, build lifelong friendships, and create cherished memories on the water.

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Jost Van dyke, British Virgin Islands - Alumni Flotillas

Spanish Virigin Islands - Alumni Flotillas

What Other Sailors Have To Say

I had taken a class to be certified and had a great time learning from John. The hands on learning and knowledge of the team made it a great experience. Please consider this sailing company as your next opporutnity to expand your skills.

Tino Angadicheril 01/02/25 via Google Reviews

Thanks Scott for giving me the confidence to get my own sailboat and to start sailing adventures with my family!

kmskalko 12/23/24 via Google Reviews

Outbound is outstanding! If you’re a bit intimidated and overwhelmed by the prospect of learning to sail, don’t be! I’ve now taken two classes there. Jason, the instructor, is very knowledgeable and patient and really enjoys sharing his passion for sailing with others. The classes are very well organized to make learning the material easy and logical with practical sailing exercises on larger monohull boats, not dinghies, that will build your competence and confidence fast. Best of all they introduce you to the culture of sailing which is very inclusive and welcoming to newcomers. They have very affordable rates including regular Community Sails after the class to get your experience and keep your new skills sharp. Highly recommended.

Steven Kling 12/12/24 via Google Reviews

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Captain Tim Taylor started Outbound Sailing to share his passion for sailing with others and inspire people to weigh anchor and explore the world. Nearly twenty years later, this passion and drive continue to fuel our commitment to our alumni.

Our focus is teaching others who want to bareboat charter, sail, or cruise aboard their own sailing monohull or catamaran up to 50’ in length anywhere in the world.

We have adopted and extended the curriculum and standards set by American Sailing to offer a comprehensive range of sailing courses from beginner to advanced levels, including ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 114.

Whether you're looking to get into sailboat racing on Lake Travis, or build the experience and confidence to go sailing, cruising, or bareboat charter safely on your own, we're here to help. Our goal is to help you become a competent and confident Mariner.

I invite you to join the Outbound Sailing Alumni. Your adventure starts here, but the memories and friendships we’ll make along the way will last a lifetime.

--
Jason Burns
Instructor & General Manager
Outbound Sailing

Driving Distance to Outbound Sailing

Coming from out of town to our home base in Austin, Texas? No problem. Check out great local places to stay near our base of operations on Lake Travis!

PANHANDLE / WEST TEXAS

San Angelo - 193 miles ~ 3 hr 13 min
Abilene - 220 miles ~ 3 hr 42 min
Midland - 305 miles ~ 4 hr 54 min
Odessa - 325 miles ~ 5 hr 11 min
Lubbock - 366 miles ~ 5 hr 50 min
Amarillo - 480 miles ~ 7 hr 32 min
El Paso - 575 miles ~ 8 hr 21 min

NORTH TEXAS

Fort Worth - 195 miles ~ 2 hr 59 min
Dallas - 200 miles ~ 3 hr 3 min
Arlington - 204 miles ~ 3 hr 15 min
Frisco - 227 miles ~ 3 hr 30 min
McKinney - 332 miles ~ 3 hr 36 min
Denison - 275 miles ~ 4 hr 26 min
Wichita Falls - 308 miles ~ 4 hr 44 min

EAST TEXAS

Crockett - 182 miles ~ 3 hr 20 min
Tyler - 236 miles ~ 4 hr 1 min
Lufkin - 227 miles ~ 4 hr 10 min
Nacogdoches - 236 miles ~ 4 hr 15 min
Beamont - 266 miles ~ 4 hr 20 min
Longview - 281 miles ~ 4 hr 39 min
Marshall - 305 miles ~ 5 hr 2 min

CENTRAL TEXAS

Austin - 23.1 miles ~ 37 min
San Marcos - 48 miles ~ 59 min
Bastrop - 50 miles ~ 1 hr 3 min
Llano - 62 miles - 1 hr 10 min
Temple - 73 miles ~ 1 hr 19 min
Waco - 107 miles ~ 1 hr 48 min
College Station - 123 miles ~ 2 hr 16 min

SOUTH TEXAS

New Braunfels - 66 miles ~ 1 hr 16 min
San Antonio - 97 miles ~ 1 hr 47 min
Victoria - 143 miles ~ 2 hr 39 min
Corpus Christi - 234 miles ~ 3 hr 35 min
Laredo - 253 miles ~ 4 hr 18 min
Harlingen - 346 miles ~ 5 hr 28 min
South Padre - 391 miles ~ 6 hr 9 min

UPPER TEXAS GULF COAST

Sugar Land - 180 miles ~ 2 hr 55 min
The Woodlands - 176 miles ~ 2 hr 59 min
Houston - 183 miles ~ 3 hr 2 min
West Columbia - 184 miles ~ 3 hr 17 min
Kemah - 217 miles ~ 3 hr 39 min
Freeport - 214 miles ~ 3 hr 51 min
Galveston - 236 miles ~ 4 hr 3 min

Book a Sailing Lesson

Build the Experience and Confidence to Sail Independently

Sailing Lessons

Adventure Learning

Alumni Flotillas

What Other Sailors Have To Say

OS Sailing Pathways

Adventure Learning

ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing