Captain Dave and his wife Patty provide a thorough program that will make you a safe, competent sailor. He offers monthly classes via zoom and both public (pay per person) and private outings on Lake Lanier. Once you are ready for the ocean part of the course you'll do a weekend or two down in the Jacksonville FL area. I couldn't give Windsong Sailing a higher reccomendation! My wife and I both did our training with Windsong. I've been on 3 Charters in the BVIs since completing the ASA 101, 103, and 104 with him and have got to put his techniques for standardization and crew resource management to good use. I have yet to be the captain but have witnessed other skilled Captains make simple mistakes that would have been prevented by Dave's thorough techniques he has learned from his vast sailing experience. Dave's course is not a 0 to hero course like a week-long trip down to Florida might offer. It's a course over time that will really create a solid foundation to keep your passengers, boat, and crew safe. I'd start with a seat on a Saturday public outing and his ASA 101 ground school ASAP! read more

Simply amazing! My husband and I took their class over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much, we bought a little sailboat of our own. I just ran into a problem and picked up the phone and called David from Windsong and he was so helpful. He could have brushed me off and not help me out, instead he stayed on the phone with me and patiently helped me. Windsong will always be very special to us. read more

I've always wanted to go sailing, so I decided to do it for my birthday. I found Windsong on line and decided to give them a try. My initial contact with Captain Dave was so informative and pleasant. I knew after speaking with him that I made the right choice. My best friend and I had such a great experience with captain Dave and his wife. It was a very informative and enjoyable experience. I would recommend Windsong to all of my friends and family who wanted to try this experience. Thank you Captain Dave for giving me a birthday to remember!! read more

My wife booked a family sailing lesson for father's day. We had a great, instructive time with Captain Dave on his sailboat on Lake Lanier. We learned how to operate the boat and to track and work with the wind. We would definitely recommend and will return! read more

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This is a great sailing school and we really enjoy our time there. The instructors have decades of experience and you'll feel comfortable the first time out. We're really glad we found them. I would highly recommend this school. read more

My wife, my 13 year old nephew and myself sailed on Windsong's Murder Mystery Sail. It was amazing! We had a total blast. We highly recommend Windsong to anyone. Captain Dave and his wife are amazing sailors and made us feel safe; yet, entertained. The boat was flawless, as was the entire situation with the Academy. When they learned we were interested, they included us in all of the sailing. We learned so much. In fact, we are all planning on starting sailing lessons. This includes my nephew, who got to steer the boat for over an hour. The murder mystery part was fun; but, the sailing and learning was outstanding. Book your classes or sailings now! read more

Windsong is a great option if you like the format, but for me it was not a good fit. Captain Dave is very thorough in his instructions and you can get a lot out of a few outings, but the program is not run for people who want to learn the basics and then go and practice on their own. The program is rigid and Dave can be quite abrasive as things must be his way only. The pros to Windsong are: 1. Very structured 2. I believe Dave has the best intentions in his methods The cons to Windsong are: 1. The program moves at a snail's pace, which makes this an expensive option if your goal is to get out there and do it yourself. a. I was told I was not ready for the 101 test, yet I scored a 99 on the test and passed the practical through another school. I was told it would be another 6-10 outings before I was "ready." With my wife taking the classes with me, that was another $900-$1,500. Sorry, no thanks. 2. Dave's instruction is so rigid that it was not fun for my wife, which almost forced us out of sailing. a. His wife Patty has a style that fit us a lot better. 3. The outings are too short and too crowded at times. By the time everything was setup, you only got like an hour and a half on the water sailing. Add that there could be up to 4 students on the boat, and I felt like it was not enough for the price paid. I normally would not write a review where there are pros and cons, but I wish I knew how the Windsong program went before signing up for classes and outings. I would have done things differently. read more

I did the basic two hour sailing outing recently and will be back for more. Dave has been running this school for 30 years and sailing even longer. His level of detail and attention to everything the students did while on and off the boat validated his decades of experience. I'm still not sure how he was able to watch me and four other students simultaneously and tell us exactly what we needed to do and why while we were operating the boat. Dave is one of the few gifted teachers who is personally invested in seeing his students succeed. The class was well worth the money and I will gladly spend money here again in the future. read more

My husband and surprised me with this class, such a kind and loving birthday present. He read all the reviews and planning this to a "T" for my birthday. Sailing is something I've always wanted to learn but unfortunately it was not a pleasant experience, at least not by this Captain. The boat was clean, well maintained and the location is lovely - hence, 2 stars. This class was meant for me but it actually just felt like a class for my husband. My husband was instructed to do much more on the boat, with tying knots, pulling in sails, and allowed to move around the boat doing different things which I would have liked the opportunity to learn. I was instructed on how to enter/exit the boat, steer and tack... stationed only at the helm. I had dirty shoes entering the boat, as I mentioned this was a surprise so I wasn't dressed appropriately, and the Captain made me very aware that this was unacceptable. I offered to leave the boat and clean them and he said " No, we will work with the hand we were dealt" I can only assume my dirty shoes were the issue in him keeping me stationed on a few tasks so he didn't have to clean or else he didn't think I was up to the task of learning. Or perhaps, he didn't see the value in our business, since we are only in town for a short while. I deal with a lot of people like this in my business and it's unprofessional. The Captain was having a difficult day, so I can understand that but it did not make for an inclusive learning environment. Perhaps I should have spoken up to ask to do more but why should I have to? His jokes were very inappropriate and quite sexist as well. I felt like I was at an "ole boys club" the entire lesson. The Captain also said we (as in society) should be doing things to make other people's lives better - this was not a good example of making our lives better - it was a frustrating experience. I would not recommend this company read more

My husband and I are taking classes with Windsong Sailing Academy and it has been such a wonderful experience! Captain Dave and Patty are absolutely Amazing teachers! They are very knowledgeable, informative and hands on; we could not ask for better instructors! If you're serious about learning to sail and want the knowledge to be comfortable out on the open ocean this is the right class for you! read more

I sailed with Dave and his wife for recreational reasons only. It was my 25 birthday! The weather was perfect. The outing was very relaxed, my significant other and I both were able to control and steer the boat with assistance and without assistance. Complimentary snacks, cookies, and water or soda was provided. It was an overall great experience that made my birthday weekend extra special. I will be back and thank Windsong for an amazing experience. Also, the price is awesome for the experience you get. read more

Capt Dave Crumbley runs an outstanding sailing school. His academics are informative and entertaining. Capt Dave's wealth of sailing experience helps him to put the academics in a practical and useful context. Capt Dave is a perfectionist on the water but he is also tolerant and has a good sense of humor when correcting errors. I started with Capt Dave about a year ago and I am now scheduled to sail the BVI next June. I highly recommend Capt Dave and the Windsong Sailing Academy. Capt Dave will be giving seminars at the Atlanta Boat Show Jan 10-13. Check with Capt Dave to confirm dates and times at 770 967 1515. Curt Bassett Greensboro, GA read more

I have some experience sailing and my wife has none. We booked a private lesson and had an excellent time. Dave is VERY intuitive, patient and has a good skills progression. His boat is well maintained and suitable for all skill levels. I would highly recommend this school, mainly because they don't just offer canned classes, the instruction is in small digestible chunks that are lots of fun. We plan on many more lessons, thank-you Windsong Sailing Academy. read more

I had a negative experience do to weather and due to Capt. Dave deciding to go out, but after negotiating with him, he did in good faith refund half of my money and it is clear he values his reputation. I think you stand to have a good outing 95% of the time with Windsong and Capt. Dave, but beware of the weather and be aware of their refund policy. I chose to give them a four star rating because they worked with me. read more

As a lifetime sailor, I finally broke my husband down and he agreed to buy me a sailboat, provided I could pass the ASA exams for basic and intermediate sailing. My problem was that while I was a decent crewman on my dad's boats, I wasn't up to skippering a boat solo, let alone with my three kids roaming the deck. I interviewed a number of sailing schools, both local to Lake Lanier and back home in San Diego. Most people advised doing a live aboard program, but I wanted to be able to learn at my own pace and not feel like I had to make it or break it in a few days on the ocean. I have been taking lessons and classes on and off for the last few months. I have learned so much that it is ridiculous. Since starting sailing with Windsong, I even ventured to solo a 38' sailboat, which went well. I've been sailing in pouring down rain, on pretty days, and on freezing cold days with high wind, days with little to no wind, and they're going to train you to sail in those conditions if it's safe and feasible to do so, because they're all a part of life on Lake Lanier and elsewhere. The trick with Windsong is that their goal is to train sailors in the art of sailing - not churn out a bunch of people who can pass a basic minimal skill set exam. They really take the time to develop a training plan that will meet your goal, and to work with you along the way to keep you on track. Their ground school classes cover a lot of important information that honestly makes sailing a whole lot easier than the "buy a boat and figure it out on my own approach." My husband is also taking lessons with Windsong, and he has far less on the water experience than I do, but he really likes their approach. Let's be honest here, it's sailing with highly trained instructors who actually care if you're successful and meet your goals, and that's one of the most important things. They are as committed as you are to achieving your sailing dreams. read more

Captain Dave is an incredible instructor, making you feel comfortable learning how to handle a sailboat while providing consistent, calm and understandable instruction when you are on an instructional outing. Everyone on the boat gets to learn various skill sets, which have been planned just for you by the Captain, every time you go out. The land school courses are outstanding, with enough technical detail to satisfy people who need to know "why" while providing the necessary knowledge for people who just want to sail safely. Captain Dave's teaching model is unique in the sailing instruction industry, leaving a person fully satisfied and content every time you go out on the boat or take a class. Captain Dave always goes the extra mile to try to accommodate people and ensure their desires are met. I am now certified in basic keelboat, coastal cruising and bareboat chartering thanks to Capt Dave, and I feel confident in safely taking my family out on a sailboat or a catboat when we are visiting areas that offer them now. read more