Sailing has gone from blueblood vocation to everyman's delight as the pleasure of taunting stiff dorsal-finned sharks with billowy, wind-nabbing sails has transcended economic class and space-time. Catch the drift with today's Groupon: for $180, you get enrollment in an introductory Keelboat 101 sailing class from the Seattle Sailing Club (a $395 value). This 15-hour course covers everything you'll need to properly crew a boat, and to make sailing a habit rather than a blue-moon occurrence. This class is based out of the Shilshole Bay Marina, just as the club has been for the past 40+ years.

Classes run year-round at various times of day during the midweek and weekend, depending on availability (it's busiest on weekends, naturally). The first three hours are spent in the classroom, covering basic knots, safety precautions, and terminology. Once you've sorted out port from starboard and clarified where the bunny goes after emerging from the hole, you and two or three other students will hop into one of the club's boats for some hands-on practice. The small class size ensures plenty of time sailing, mastering the rigs of rigging and the sportsmanship of seamanship, while receiving personal attention and critique from a worthy seastructor who is United States Coast Guard certified.

Though you’ll learn techniques for both upwind and downwind sailing, as well as the procedure for "man-overboard" recovery, only time and further practice will transform you into a transcendent old man of the sea. That's why you have the option to make it official with a written exam from the American Sailing Association (an additional $30). After passing, you can pay another $39 to become an ASA member and fully certified sailor.

Must be over 18. Reservations required.

Reviews

Sailors are too busy navigating the waters to write many reviews about their experiences with the Seattle Sailing Club. Four Yelpers give it four stars.

• The employees I've met at the SSC are all very nice, and they give me the impression that they care about whether I'm having a good time. They have also helped me improve my sailing skills tremendously. – Dan G.