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.

Book a Sailing Lesson

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 really enjoyed my first adventures in sailing with Jason. He's a great instructor. Very patient, but kept us fully engaged. A lot of hands-on. Met a couple of great crewmates. Beautiful boats.

Fred Smith 09/15/25 via Google Reviews

My son and I had a great experience at Outbound Sailing taking the 101 course with Jason. Jason is an excellent instructor and made it easy for us to learn our way to 101 certification. It was awesome to learn on a larger boat and develop the right habits from the start.

Fred Tavern 09/09/25 via Google Reviews

It was a great experience! Highly recommend if you are at all interested in sailing. Jason was awesome and very patient. Looking forward to getting out on the water again.

Adam Gray 08/26/25 via Google Reviews

Read All Our Reviews

Welcome to Outbound Sailing

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 want to learn to sail on Lake Travis or gain the skills to cruise or charter confidently anywhere in the world, 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
(512) 222-7245

P.S. Have questions or just want to talk sailing? I’d love to hear about your sailing goals and help you figure out the best next step — even if that means suggesting a different program or school. Call or text me anytime — I’m always happy to help.

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

Welcome to Outbound Sailing

OS Sailing Pathways

Adventure Learning

ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing