Dauntless Sailing School

Sailing in central Indiana? It seems like an almost preposterous concept, but I’m here to tell you, friends, it can be done! Get yourself some soft-​soled shoes, your most nautical striped top and a copy of «Basic Keelboat» and sign up for a session with the Dauntless Sailing School. This school operates on a 28-​foot sailboat on Geist Reservoir. Captain Todd will teach you the basics of sailing on his pretty boat, and you and your classmates will attempt to crew it for six weeks. Hijinx will ensue.
I took the fall class – sadly, this fall was characterized by little wind. Still, on windless nights we learned about anchoring and boat safety and the strange history of the reservoir itself. You’ll learn to tie knots and use all the esoteric language of the sea! Impress your friends by knowing how to break a Bowline knot and how to tell the difference between a jib and a genoa (and how to use them!).
This class is pretty much a must if you’re looking to buy a boat (not my tax bracket) or if you just want to learn the basics of sailing (that’s me). Beware that fall sailing will occur mostly in the dark, and get cold toward the end of the session. Supposedly there’s more wind in the fall, though unfortunately that didn’t pan out for my class. The teacher is quite the character, and he does allow you to party on the boat if you want. Sadly, my group had a kind of collectively uptight vibe, which I think was a bit of a disappointment to the instructor. I honestly wish I could take this again, probably in the summer, with five of my closest friends.
Todd also offers multi-​day excursions on Lake Michigan during the summer and Friday night sailing opportunities.