Skip to main content
Gulf Coast Sailing Club

Keep Sailing Fun

HomeDay Sailing
Gulf Coast Sailing Club

Day Sailing Program

Day Sailing is the easiest way to get out on the water with the club.  A skipper takes a few members out for the day, we head to the Gulf, and everybody gets a few hours of sailing with people who like the same things.  No racing and no rush, and you don't need to own a boat or have any experience.

64days to the next day sail
5Day sails on the schedule
10:00Boats head out
FreeFor club members
Attention MembersRegister for the dates you would like to sail and we will get you on a boat.  Tap a date in the calendar to register for one date or all of them, and if it's your first time out, say so!
Attention SkippersGet your boat out on the water with other club members.  Email us the dates you can make and how many members you are able to host on your boat.  Skippers don't need to register.
Never sailed?If you have never been on a sailboat and you have always wanted to try it, this is the event to come to.  Come out and find out whether you like it!
Members sailing together
2026–27 Day SailsTap a date to register
Next up: Day Sail · Saturday, Dec 19 · in 64 days
  • 2026
  • Oct17
    Day SailCancelled for weather · we’ll reschedule, stay tuned
  • Nov21
    Day SailCancelled · it’s the Ladies Day Regatta
  • Dec19
    Day SailSaturday · boats out at 10:00 · register
  • 2027
  • Jan9
    Day SailSaturday · boats out at 10:00 · registration opens soon
  • Feb13
    Day SailSaturday · boats out at 10:00 · registration opens soon
  • Mar13
    Day SailSaturday · boats out at 10:00 · registration opens soon
  • Apr24
    Day SailSaturday · boats out at 10:00 · registration opens soon

Organized day sails

How it works

  1. Members registerRegister on the website for each date you'd like to sail, and make sure your profile is up to date.  If it's your first time out, say so.
  2. Skippers tell us what you can doEmail the dates you can make and how many members you are able to host on your boat.  You don't need to register.
  3. We match you upWe put members on the skippers' boats for each date and let everyone know who is sailing with whom.  If we don't have enough spots on the boats for everyone, members are placed in the order they registered on the website, so register early!
  4. Go sailing!Boats head out to the Gulf around 10:00am and meet up out there.  Sometimes we raft up and sometimes we just cruise for a few hours and come back in.
Register for the next day sail
Members out sailing Sailing on the Gulf Sailors on board Crew on deck

Ways to Day Sail

Free for members, except where noted
Club boats sailing on the Gulf

Organized Day Sails

Six Saturdays · October through April

Saturday, Oct 17 is cancelled because of the weather.  We’ll reschedule it, so stay tuned!

These are the published dates on the calendar.  A skipper takes a few members out, we head to the Gulf and everybody gets a few hours of sailing.  It's the best way to try sailing with the club and our skippers are happy to have new sailors aboard and will show you what to do.

  • No boat needed
  • No experience needed
  • Boats out at 10:00
  • Register online
SaturdaysRegister
Boats rafted up together

Raft-Ups

Champney Bay · Tigertail Beach · any protected bay

A raft-up is an island of boats made by tying up together at anchor in a calm, protected bay.  We relax, have lunch together and walk from boat to boat visiting with friends.  We do them in Champney Bay, off Tigertail Beach or in any protected bay, and sometimes a day sail ends up as a raft-up.

  • Boats tied up together
  • Lunch on the water
  • Boat to boat visiting
  • Sail and power boats
Through the seasonEmail to join
Sailboat at sunset

Sunset Cruises

Late afternoon into the evening

There's nothing better than watching the sun go down from the deck of a sailboat.  We head out late in the afternoon, sail for a while and catch the sunset on the water before coming back in.  Watch the newsletter for sunset cruises, and if you're a skipper and want to host one, let us know.

  • Evening sail
  • Sunset on the water
  • Skippers welcome to host
Watch the newsletterEmail to join
A club boat on the water

Your own Day Sail event

Member organized

Not every day sail has to be on the calendar.  If you'd like to organize your own day sail, a raft-up or a trip somewhere close, let us know and we'll get it on the calendar and help get the word out.  This is a great way to meet people and get involved in the club.

  • Your idea
  • We help get the word out
  • Any member can organize
AnytimeShare an idea

Island Sailing

Club partner · bareboat day sailing in Naples
Island Dreams, Island Sailing's Catalina 309

Charter Island Dreams for the day

Island Sailing · Naples

GCSC members get 15% off

The club has a partnership with Island Sailing in Naples, where you can bareboat charter Island Dreams, their Catalina 309, for a half day or a full day of sailing along the Naples beaches, with up to 6 people aboard.  If you haven't sailed with them before, they'll take you out on a captained check-out sail first.

Sometimes we organize a club sail for up to 6 people and everyone shares in the expense, so let us know if you'd like to be on the list.  Or if you want to do your own, contact us so we can verify your membership and secure your 15% discount with Island Sailing.

  • Island Dreams · Catalina 309
  • Half or full day
  • Up to 6 people
  • Shared-cost club sails
  • 15% member discount
Join a club sailIsland Sailing website

Questions about day sailing?  Email daysailing@gulfcoastsailingclub.org.  Keep Sailing Fun!