The summer may be ending, but it’s not too late to step the mast, rig the sail, and head out on the open water of Lake Washington. This Groupon gets you an adult unlimited sailing pass for the rest of the year to Sail Sand Point, located along the western shore of Lake Washington just five miles north of the University of Washington. A membership gets you and up to three friends out on the water with access to Sail Sand’s range of boats. The adult pass is normally $175 for the whole summer, whether you buy it in May or September (though they do offer an early bird special of $150 if you purchase before April 1). With this Groupon, just $50 will get you in on the action for the rest of the 2009 sailing season. Note: Sail Sand Point closes on October 15—that’s two months of sailing and access to Sail Sand Point boats.

Sail Sand Points offers six different types of boats for you to use:

• Optimist: a small, single-handed boat used for beginners and young racers who are less than 100 pounds, 45.35 kilograms, or 45,359.23 grams.
• Hunter 140: a double-handed boat for all ages and ability levels. This boat is safe and sturdy for teaching and can comfortably hold three to four people for cruising.
• Hobie Wave: a single-handed catamaran for all ages and ability levels that can hold four people and is great for cruising.
• Hobie 16: a double-handed catamaran that can hold up to four people and is great for racing.
• Laser: a single-handed boat for experienced sailors.
• FJ: a double-handed boat great for experienced sailors to learn racing basics.

Open Sailing hours through August 31 are Mondays through Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. No reservations are necessary for boat usage—just show up during open hours, select your boat, and hit the water. The September and October sailing hours are TBA, but will be easily accessible soon on the website.

To get your unlimited pass to Sail Sand Point’s fleet, you’ll have to fulfill a few requirements: complete a medical/liability waver, sign the boat usage contract, complete a Sail Sand Point Green card, and pass a proficiency test for each boat you want to sail. Then you’re good to go for unlimited water fun aboard Sail Sand Point’s hobies, hunters, and lasers for as many times as you are able this sailing season.

Reviews

Only one Yelper and one Insider Pages reviewer have reviewed Sail Sand Point, but both give the organization five stars: > * Sail Sand Point is a gem in Seattle’s boating community… Seattle is lucky to have a community boating center like SSP. – Annie J., Yelp > * They have a lot of small boats to sail…Everyone there is very nice and really helpful…The boats are all in great shape and the instructors know there [sic] stuff. – Susan P., Insider Pages

Washy

Lurking beneath the crystal waters of Lake Washington is a fabled creature known as Washy. Only a few eye-witness accounts exist, and each one describes the undersea monster as “tall, green, and willing to please.” One report noted that Washy used the cool, cleansing waters of the lake to clean the windshield of the witness. Other reports claim that Washy likes to hum waltzes by Brahms, organized a union for all lake monsters (Megafauna Local 117) and gives good directions to lost dolphins. Lake Washington is proud to have the world’s most respected, well-mannered, responsible monster residing below its calm blue waters. If you see Washy while you’re out on the lake, tell him Groupon says hi.