Winter Crew Training
Experience the lost art of square-rig sailing during our immersive Winter Crew Training class. Enjoy hands-on training and presentations on ship and shore as you learn to sail Kalmar Nyckel.
Join Our Crew
During this 10-week class, you can learn maritime history, knot tying, safety drills, line handling, setting sails, and practical seamanship, while you make new friends. Each week, our Captain and dedicated crew mentors will present new material and hands-on lessons that utilize our indoor ¾-scale model of the ship’s deck, as well as the ship itself.
Upon completion of the class, passing the final exam, and volunteering 20 hours, you will be eligible to sail on board Kalmar Nyckel. We sail locally and voyage to ports from Virginia to Massachusetts with a crew of 18 to 24.
Crew Training Requirements
- Sailing crew must be at least 18 years old or ages 14 to 17 with a parent/guardian's approval.
- All participants must be physically able to safely perform all basic crew responsibilities on deck, as dictated by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. This includes climbing vertical ladders, climbing onto the fore deck, hauling lines, and assisting passengers during emergencies. Participants are NOT required to climb the rigging.
- A background check is required for all crew. This fee is in addition to your registration fee.
- Participation in the USCG random drug testing program is required. Please note that this is a federal DOT drug test, and marijuana is not federally legal.
- Volunteers must be able to travel to and from Wilmington, DE.
2027 Saturday Class Schedule
Dates for the crew training class are Saturdays from January 16 to April 17. Note: we are off from class several Saturdays during this time to allow for some family, study, or maintenance time between classes.
The first two classes will be on Zoom, and the rest will be in-person. There are all held on Saturdays and are both half day (9 am to 12:30 pm) and full day (9 am to 4 pm) classes, as follows:
Jan 16 • Zoom Half Day
Jan 23 • Zoom Half Day
Jan 30 • Half Day
Feb 6 • Full Day
Feb 20 • Half Day
Feb 27 • Full Day
March 13 • Full Day
March 27 • Full Day
April 3 • Half Day
April 10 • Half Day
April 17 • Graduation Sailing Day! Time will be either 9 am to 12:30 pm or 12:30 to 4 pm.
No more than two absences are permitted, and all full-day classes you miss must be made-up. These classes will focus on smaller group hands-on sessions. We will offer make-up classes typically on Thursday nights, but are flexible to work with your schedule. There will also be mentor sessions outside of class that you may attend to work on knot tying and seamanship skills in small groups.
These sessions will be after half-day classes, during the week, and select evenings to meet the needs of most eveyone's schedule. These are option sessions outside of class. Also, please note that climbing training will occur AFTER the half day classes or even the full day classes if needed (weather dictates this). Climbers typically bring a lunch then join in these training sessions and are usually done around 2:45 to 3 pm.
Location
Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Shipyard, 1124 E. 7th St., Wilmington, DE 19801
Registration Fees
The total winter session training fee is $135. All deposits are non-refundable.
- $110 is payable to the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to reserve your spot in the class. This includes your materials and a mandatory U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) drug test.
- $25 is payable to Intellicorp, an online background check company.
- Manuals will be ready for pickup at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation on the last week in December or first week in January, or you may pay $15 to have it shipped to you.
THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO SIGN UP ON THE INTEREST LIST AND WHEN THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING, WE'LL SEND YOU THE LINK! EVERYONE ON THE INTEREST LIST CAN COUNT ON A SPOT IN THE CLASS IF YOU WANT IT SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!