Adult Sailing

Experience the joy of sailing with our comprehensive adult sailing lessons. Our courses are designed to cater to both beginners and those looking to enhance their skills. During the summer months, our Waterfront Director, Holly Murray, offers Adult Sailing Lessons in two-week increments.

• Weather-dependent sessions arranged by Holly Murray.
  • Contact Holly at Holly@fairhopeyachtclub.com to enquire and register.

Club members John Buziak and Joe Donelan also provide ½ day Sailing 101 classes. These classes will be announced via club e-mail.

Additionally, club member Joe Donelan offers ad-hoc training sessions in the Flying Scot sailboat.

• Contact Joe at joe@donelan1.com.

Club-Owned Boats for Use by Authorized Members

Fairhope Yacht Club owns several sailboats available for use by authorized members. To become authorized, members must demonstrate basic sailing skills. If you lack these skills, the club provides the necessary training.

Available Boats:

• Two Flying Scots
• Two Melges 15s
• Two Sunfish
• One Sonar 23 Keel boat

Holly Murray is available to check out members on the Melges 15s and Sunfish.

• Contact Holly at Holly@fairhopeyachtclub.com

Joe Donelan is available to check out members on the club’s Flying Scots and the Sonar.

• Contact Joe at joe@donelan1.com
• Authorized users can reserve the Club boats using the sheet below. We recommend using a computer, laptop or tablet. If you use a phone to access the sheet below, please install Google Sheets first. 
• For more information about becoming an authorized user, see the “Boat use terms and conditions” tab in the spreadsheet below.

Sunday Fun Races

Join us every Sunday, year-round, for the Sunday Fun Races, weather permitting. It’s a fantastic way for sailors of all experience levels to enjoy some friendly competition.

• Schedule:
  • Arrive at 12:30 PM
  • Races Begin at 2:00 PM

Five-mile races are held offshore of the clubhouse. All boats 19 feet and above are welcome. There is no cost to participate. If you need a crew or wish to join as a crew member, we can assist.

• Meeting Point: Under the clubhouse southwest corner at 12:30 PM any Sunday.

For more information, contact Joe Donelan at joe@donelan1.com.

Dinghy Races

Dinghy races are held for boats 19 feet and under, and are open to both youth and adults. Organized by Holly Murray, these races are an exhilarating way to engage in smaller boat racing.

• Registration Fee: $20 per series
• All club-owned boats must be reserved through Holly Murray.
• Dinghy Race Results

For 2025 dinghy series details and to register, please contact Holly Murray at Holly@fairhopeyachtclub.com.

Register for the Dinghy Series here.

Have Any Questions?

For more information regarding any of our adult sailing programs, or to discuss becoming an authorized user of our club-owned sailboats, please reach out to:

• Holly Murray: Holly@fairhopeyachtclub.com
• Joe Donelan: joe@donelan1.com

We look forward to seeing you on the water and helping you develop your sailing skills at Fairhope Yacht Club!