Student Testimonials | Lake St. Clair Sailing School

Student stories · Lake St. Clair, Michigan

Confidence starts here. Students say it best.

Read what sailors say about hands-on ASA instruction, patient captains, practical training and the confidence to keep sailing.

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Published voicesFive student stories

Training coveredBeginner through combo

ReviewedAugust 7, 2026

American Sailing instructionCertification-focused education

Licensed captainsExperienced on-water leadership

Catalina 30 trainingReal keelboat experience

Lake St. Clair, MichiganServing Metro Detroit sailors

The direct answer

What do students say about Lake St. Clair Sailing School?

Published students consistently describe knowledgeable instructors, patient explanations, substantial hands-on time and practice that helps them continue building confidence.

Clear instructionKnowledge explained with confidence

Hands-on learningHelm, sails and onboard stations

Safety & patiencePractical coaching at the student’s pace

Reasons to returnPractice, higher courses and more sailing

Featured student story

Prepared on shore. Confident on the water.

Students are encouraged to read the required text and practice knots before class so more course time can be devoted to practical sailing.

I recently had the best experience completing ASA 101 with Captain Ranam. She is highly knowledgeable and experienced. She instructs clearly and confidently. Make sure you do your part to prepare properly by reading the required text and practicing your knots prior to class. Then, you can spend more time gaining practical experience on the boat. I highly recommend Lake St. Clair Sailing School and would come back again in a heartbeat!

KHASA 101 sailing student

More student voices

Different starting points. One shared confidence.

Student identifiers and experiences are retained from feedback already published by the school. Text has been lightly edited for punctuation and readability without changing its meaning.

First sailing experience

This sailing school was incredible! This was my first sailing experience, but it won’t be my last. This is a great school for your certification!

Safety-focused instruction

Lake St. Clair Sailing School and Captain Joe provide sailing education that is safety-focused, practical and high quality—and it worked around my schedule and the weather. Captain Joe is very experienced, knowledgeable and a great teacher. I would recommend the sailing school to others, and I plan to return for more.

ASA 101 + ASA 103

I had a great time in ASA 101/103. It was a big learning curve, but Captain Ranam did a great job with the lessons, including spending extra time on areas that needed attention. There was plenty of hands-on work at the mainsheet, traveler, jib sheets, helm, mast and sails. I learned a lot and am looking forward to ASA 104.

Continued practice

It’s the most recommended sailing school. The instructors are very helpful in getting students up to speed. The after-course practice sessions are especially helpful for becoming more involved with sailing. Highly recommended if you would like to get more into sailing.

What the feedback highlights

A teaching experience built around doing.

The student comments point to four qualities that shape the school’s approach.

Prepare first

Reading and knot practice protect valuable course time for practical learning aboard the boat.

Take the controls

Students rotate through the helm, sheets, traveler, mast and sail-handling responsibilities.

Ask and repeat

Patient instructors revisit skills that need more attention and adapt to conditions and schedules.

Keep practicing

Practice sessions and higher-level courses help students turn certification into lasting competence.

Choose your next step

Create the experience you’ll want to talk about.

Start a certification pathway, choose focused private instruction or simply enjoy Lake St. Clair under sail.

Certification

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Compare beginner, coastal cruising, bareboat and accelerated certification options taught on Lake St. Clair.

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Reserve a Sunset Sail

Enjoy a relaxed, captain-led sail with friends, family or someone special on Lake St. Clair.

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Ready to sail?

Learn to sail. Sail with confidence.

Contact the school for help choosing an ASA course, private lesson or Lake St. Clair sailing experience.

Find Your Course Call (586) 770-2518

Testimonials reviewed August 7, 2026 · Lake St. Clair Sailing School · Feedback reflects individual student experiences.

Google Testimonials

      
   Lake St. Clair Sailing School
   98 Google reviews 
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   Evan Considine 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lake st claire sailing school was great! Worth every penny, captain renam is extremely knowledgeable and skilled to teach anyone from novice to experienced sailor. Highly recommend this sailing school!
  
 
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   Ian van Duijvenboode 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent sailing tuition - Captain Ranam is super friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
  
 
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   James van Duijvenboode 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I learned so much and had so much fun. Captain Ranam was fantastic, she made sure we all enjoyed the weekend, while also being thorough with all materials and skills required. 10/10 would recommend, and I will be back next summer to take my next licensing course.
  
 
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   Andrew Kirkegaard 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What an awesome experience. I've always wanted to learn to sail and it's really cool to me that I can do this locally. Bareboat chartering is a dream of mine and now I'm certified to do it!

I took ASA 101, 103, and 104 here so I could charter a boat in the British Virgin Islands for my fifth wedding anniversary. Captain Ranam got me all set to go. She is an amazing instructor, very patient and very thorough. Thank you so much! I learned so much and I'm eager to come back and learn more.
  
 
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   greg yanik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My wife and I finished the ASA 101 course. My wife was nervous as neither of us had any proir sailing experience, but the class and the instructor/captain were excellent and patient.
  
 
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   Robert Walker 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently took ASA 101 with Captain Ranam and enjoyed all aspects of the class and her instruction. She is a knowledgable, patient, and relatable instructor who made certain that we were comfortable in our knowledge throughout dockside and underway training. The practical knowledge that she was able to share with us out on the water was priceless, and I feel we are already well prepared for more advanced classes due to her thoroughness and ability to make things click with new sailors. I look forward to sailing with her again next season.
  
 
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   Tammy Stilling 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My experience with Captain Renee and Lake Saint Claire Sailing school was amazing. Captain Renee was incredibly knowledgeable, a true expert in her field. She was both patient and encouraging. She truly has a passion for sailing and it shows in her teaching. I would recommend you do ALL the pre-work she recommends. It will give you a solid foundation and make the hands-on learning much easier.
  
 
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   Jim Kelly 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My daughter and I learned so much from ASA 101. I feel much more confident in my abilities and plan to take 103 and 104 soon!
  
 
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   Mark Pyko 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic experience—I couldn’t recommend this sailing school enough! The captain is exceptionally knowledgeable and has a natural talent for teaching complex concepts clearly. She ensured everyone received equal time at the helm and operating different parts of the vessel. Her real-time feedback during practice was incredibly helpful, and most importantly, she made the entire experience thoroughly enjoyable.
  
 
  
  
 
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