We had an amazing sunset cruise with captain Jim. He was so nice and ensured our safety throughout the whole trip. He couldn’t have been more accommodating, knowledgeable and kind. Best first time sailing experience for my girlfriend and I. We are definitely going to be sailing again and only with patriot sailing. I highly recommend Jim for all of your sailing needs!Also we love pictures and took our tripod (rookie sailor mistake). We accidentally left it on the boat. Jim was so kind to mail it to us within a couple of days because we weren’t able to come back to Buffalo to pick it up. He’s an amazing guy. Great company!

Captain Jim at Patriot Sailing is an excellent instructor. His passion for sailing is evident with his attention to detail as an instructor as well as maintenance quality of his boat. The ability to practice every aspect of sailing ( to be the skipper and the crew) in order to build confidence makes Patriot Sailing a great place to learn to sail.

I have always been interested in sailing and thought this opportunity with Patriot Sailing was a great way to see if I would like to learn more. Jim was excellent from the first contact. The outing was myself and 2 others on a beautiful late afternoon. Jim had us each doing a job on the boat including coming out of the dock and returning. It allowed me to really see/feel what sailing is about. It was a reasonable price for this several hour ride and it hooked me on learning more ! Thanks Jim

This was really a cool experience. My adult daughter and I did this together and both loved it. A really great way for me to get re-introduced to sailing. Jim has a great way of explaining concepts and made our 3 hour sail very enjoyable. Highly recommend!

I have done sailing excursions before but this was the best. Jim is an excellent skipper who both made sure we enjoyed the cruise but also imparted knowledge. My husband took sailing lessons years ago and he let him try his skills during the sail. Signing up was easy, the cost was worth every penny. Most importantly we didn’t feel at all rushed and Jim worked with us to find the perfect day for sailing!Totally recommend!! Can’t wait to go again.

Jim was very informative knowledgeable and let me be hands on right from the start. I learned more than I ever imagined. Ill be returning to Patriot sailing!

Jimmy was an excellent captain. This was a surprise experience for my boyfriends 50th birthday. We will definitely sail with patriot sailing again. Thanks again Jimmy!!😄

My husband and I took the 2.5 hour introductory sailing course with Jim this past Monday. Right from the moment we spoke on the phone all through the sail Jim was nothing but professional, kind and informative.Day of sail: Jim met us in the location very clearly specified and we exchanged pleasantries on the way to the boat. Before boarding he explained all of the necessary safety information, key terminology, and how to properly board the boat. For the next couple of hours we got a very comprehensive instruction on all of the ins and out of sailing. My husband and I had actually never been on a sail boat before our maiden voyage with Jim and feel completely satisfied with the instruction we received. We look forward to taking the next level course with Patriot Sailing.

My dad and I took an introductory sailing lesson with Jim last week and I would definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to learn! He was a great teacher, very patient, informative, and easy to chat with. We had great time and hope to take more lessons with him in the future!

Jim was very knowledgeable and made learning to sail both easy and enjoyable. I was very happy I chose to go with Patriot sailing over the other buffalo based options.

If you truly want to learn how to sail - correctly , this is where to go . James is by far the most knowledgeable / professional instructor I have had the pleasure of learning a new skill from . All aspects of sailing are covered , like EVERYTHING 👍 Highly recommended

Fives Stars for Patriot Sailing!Jim was an excellent teacher. Very knowledgeable and patient.I completed the 19 hour course and would recommend Patriot Sailing to all who are interested in learning to sail.

I enjoyed the sailing lesson with Jim. He is very nice, informative, and patient. During the lessons with him, I learned all sorts of knowledge of a sailing boat, including what I should do before starting a boat, during the sailing, and after the sailing. Jim makes sure that I learned all necessary knowledge to handle a sailboat after the lesson. Thanks.

My girlfriend and I took a sunset sailboat ride with Mr. Jim. The boat was wonderful. Initially I had some scheduling conflicts but Jim was quick to respond and helpful with getting me in his schedule. The ride was beautiful. He taught us a lot about the sails and the boat. The sunset was gorgeous. If you’re looking to do this, I HIGHLY recommend using Patriot Sailing. What a wonderful experience. We will be back.

Patriot Sailing provides an excellent sailing program for first timers. My wife and I signed up for the 20 hour beginner sailing course with Jim and now feel ready to sail our own boat. Jim is a natural teacher who is patient, persistent, and personable. We highly recommend Patriot Sailing!

A few friends and I took an evening cruise and first-time lesson with Jim on a Monday evening and couldn’t be happier with our experience. Jim was patient, fun, courteous, and did a great job of explaining all details while allowing us to control the boat from start to finish.Jim is the real deal - a seasoned captain and teacher. Unfortunately I’d been in from out of town and cannot continue learning with Jim on a regular basis but will be sure to get another lesson with him on my next trip to Buffalo.Thanks for a great experience, Jim, and wishing you a successful summer!

Captain Jim is great! The boat was clean and comfortable. It was a beautiful day on Lake Erie. I would definitely sail with Patriot Sailing again.

My girlfriend and I had a great time learning to sail with Jim at Patriot Sailing. Jim made it a very enjoyable experience and taught in a very straight forward manner. Id recommend Patriot Sailing to anyone who has an interest in learning to sail. See you on the water!

Anyone looking for a private sailing charter or lessons, I would HIGHLY recommend contacting Captain Jim at Patriot Sailing. He was professional, personable, and obviously loves teaching his vast knowledge of sailing to others.Jim takes great pride in his boat and his cruises and you can see it in every detail of his service.If I could give Captain Jim a 10 star recommendation, I would.

We had a beautiful sunset sail, Jim was responsive about the set up, very courteous, and made every effort to make our experience special! If you think you cant afford a 2 hour privates ail, you are wrong! very affordable!

I enjoyed my Friday evening with Jim on the water.From the beginning, Jim was courteous, went over several safety features and allowed me steer the boat on several occasions during our time on the water.I highly recommend Jim for a nice sail and I hope to sail again into the sunset with Jim in the near future.Thank you, Jim for a lovely Friday evening.

One of the best sailing experiences I had. Jim, the instructor prepared me well with a mix of on the boat and classroom training. Well organized course and well worth the value. The boat that I was training on was in superb shape. I have learned so much from Patriot Sailing and I highly recommend this course.

Jim was very patient and very prepared for everything and anything. We started with a print out which was for “no pressure” type study. Jim quizzed me on this at random during our training to ensure I knew my terms well. I still do. We went slow with him sailing and teaching me one thing at a time. Over the time you warm up and take over. It is more work heavy on light days and more fun on windy days.Because he is (seemingly literally) always sailing or on the dock it makes it very easy to schedule with him hours at pretty much anytime... through text, call, email. All in all I really enjoyed it and it’s definitely worth the amount of money.I will also say I am surprised how much goes into sailing, it definitely requires training and it’s worth it’s bragging rights alone.

We went for an afternoon cruise this past Summer and it was great!!!!The views of Buffalo and Lake Erie were AMAZING!! Captain Jim let us do some sailing which was a lot of fun. His boat was in great shape and very clean! Looking forward to taking sailing lessons next season with Captain Jim. I would highly recommend Patriot Sailing to anyone!!

If you have no experience sailing and the desire to learn, there is no one better than Captain Jim at Patriot Sailing. He is knowledgeable, experienced, patient, and a born teacher. He took us from never having sailed to being confident enough to purchase our very first sailboat. We would highly recommend Patriot Sailing.Frank and Lisa

We had a fantastic experience. Jim shared his love for sailing and provided a fun learning environment.

Captain Jim is an extraordinary sailing instructor - he exudes and instills confidence. Each class is very well structured and promotes both learning and fun! Captain Jim displays in-depth knowledge of and demonstrates rich experience in the world of sailing.His boat has been inspected by the Coast Guard and has its annual safety certification. It is an excellent boat for people who are learning to sail from beginner to advanced stages.All aboard!

Captain Jim is an excellent teacher, very focused on a balance of safety and enjoyment. He moves along at a pace comfortable for you, we never felt rushed or hurried.It was important to him that he helps you feel capable on all facets of sailing. During your lesson he truly cares that you are safe, comfortable and enjoying your time on the waterI would recommend Jim to anyone who is a beginner or wants a refresher to sail.Also important Jim’s equipment and rigging is all coast guard inspected. He keeps his teaching boat ship shapeHope you have an opportunity to sail with Jim soon.See you out on the lake

Had a very relaxing and enjoyable sail on Lake Erie.Captain Jim is great!Would definitely recommend*****

My girlfriend and I had a blast sailing with Captain Jim. Would recommend to anyone considering trying sailing out

Our family had a wonderful time sailing! Jim is friendly, outgoing and makes you feel welcome. He taught the kids how to help out with the sails and it was relaxing, fun and informative! I would highly recommend Patriot Sailing! We had such a great time we’d love to get a sailboat!

Jim is an extremely experienced sailor who is thoughtful and considerate . He’s always willing to answer any question and his instruction is top notch . I would highly recommend him to anyone wishing to get out on the water and sail.

We had a wonderful experience sailing with Jim last night. The boat was clean, comfortable, and up to the Coast Guard’s standards. Our experience was nothing short of amazing and the sunset over the water was beautiful. Jim is a great captain and teacher, we learned a lot from our 2 hour cruise. Definitely worth the time and money!

Great instructor, well-organized, with thorough lessons for the inexperienced.

My father and I learned to sail with Captain Jim last year. We found the lessons to be very well organized and fun. Jim focuses on safe sailing practices and his teaching style is relaxed. This made learning to sail much less stressful. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to sail with Jim again in order to refresh what I learned last year. Patriot Sailing operates from the Safe Harbor Marina in Buffalo. The winds were gusting and it was good to get back out on Lake Erie.If you want to learn to sail this year, make sure you check out Patriot Sailing before committing to another school. It is very important to visit each school you are considering BEFORE you commit/pay. Not all schools/instructors are the same. Examine the condition of the actual boat(s) you will be sailing on. Be wary if the boats do not look to be in good condition. Also, determine how many students might be allowed on any given lesson. I am aware that other schools in the area will allow up to 6 students on the boat per lesson.Speak with the instructor(s) you will be actually learning from. Confirm their sailing experience, and confirm that they possess (and will show you) a current USCG license. It is illegal for non-USCG licensed instructors to teach you to sail as a paying passenger.Finally, check to see if the school has their boats inspected by the USCG Aux. to ensure their safety and compliance with boating regulations. While this inspection is not required, it is a strong indicator that a company properly maintains their boats and possess all the required equipment.The Catalina 22 Sport used for lessons by Patriot Sailing is very well maintained and safe. It is large enough to handle Lake Erie, but small enough not to be intimidating as you learn to sail. It is also USCG Aux. inspected annually. Captain Jim has over thirty years of sailing experience and has a USCG issued 25 ton Master’s license. Captain Jim believes in that students learn better when class sizes are small. He never has more than 3 students on board per lesson.Finally, I want to mention that Patriot Sailing offers a 25% discount to all Military Personnel, Police Officers and Firefighters on all lessons and private sailing cruises. I would recommend Patriot Sailing to anyone.