Junior Sailing Program Class Descriptions
First time sailing?
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Love to be on the water, but not necessarily racing?
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Teach me to race!
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Hunters - formerly mates and skippers (3 days per week)
For ages 7 to 12 (sailors are generally separated by age into boats). This class focuses on the fundamentals of sailing along with gaining comfort and confidence on the water. Lessons are provided in the club-owned Hunter 170s, Hunter 140s, or a 420 with a Junior Instructor on board. The Hunters class is also a great option for sailors who have tried Opti 1 or Opti 2 and are looking for more one-on-one instructions with a JI. Class size will be limited for safety reasons and determined by the Program Director. Sailors must be able to swim with and without a life jacket and tread water for one minute without a life jacket.
Introduction to Junior Sailing/ IJS (4 days per week)
For ages 13 to 16, in this class sailors will be encouraged to sail without the assistance of an instructor in their boat. Class size will be limited for safety reason and determined by the Program Director.
For ages 7 to 12 (sailors are generally separated by age into boats). This class focuses on the fundamentals of sailing along with gaining comfort and confidence on the water. Lessons are provided in the club-owned Hunter 170s, Hunter 140s, or a 420 with a Junior Instructor on board. The Hunters class is also a great option for sailors who have tried Opti 1 or Opti 2 and are looking for more one-on-one instructions with a JI. Class size will be limited for safety reasons and determined by the Program Director. Sailors must be able to swim with and without a life jacket and tread water for one minute without a life jacket.
Introduction to Junior Sailing/ IJS (4 days per week)
For ages 13 to 16, in this class sailors will be encouraged to sail without the assistance of an instructor in their boat. Class size will be limited for safety reason and determined by the Program Director.
Opti 1 (3 days per week)
Ages 7-9, an introduction to sailing the optimist dinghy. Participants must provide a boat, but do not need any experience in sailing. To enroll a sailor must be able to swim with and without a life jacket and tread water for one minute without a life jacket. Class size will be limited for safety reasons as determined by the Program Director.
Opti 2 (4 days per week)
Ages 8 and up, intermediate to advanced. Participants must provide a boat, and should have completed one full season in the Opti 1 class. Sailors in this class should enter the season feeling comfortable sailing in and out of the inner harbor without the guidance of an instructor. Additionally, they should be able to navigate their boat through tacks and jibes in medium wind conditions. Class size will be limited for safety reason as determined by the Program Director. NOTE: This class sails at the same time as the Opti I class twice, parents with sailors in both classes must provide a boat for each child or otherwise arrange for them to have a boat to sail in.
Opti 3 (4 days per week)
Ages 9 and up, an introduction to racing. Participants must provide a boat, and should have completed one full season in the Opti 2 class. Sailors in this class will participate in all four Unkie Cup races with the assistance of the Opti 3 instructor, transportation of both the child and the boat are the responsibility of the sailor; however a trailer is available upon request. Before enrolling in the Opti 3 class, sailors should feel comfortable sailing their boats independent of an instructor in medium and heavy wind conditions. Class size will be limited for safety reasons as determined by the Program Director.
Opti Racing Team (5 days per week)
Ages 10 to 15, advanced with a focus on racing tactics in preparation to participate in seasonal regattas. The opti racing team will compete in a number of regattas throughout the season, for which participation is expected. Sailors not wishing to compete in regattas should consider remaining in Opti 3, moving to 420-Intro, or moving to IJS.
Ages 7-9, an introduction to sailing the optimist dinghy. Participants must provide a boat, but do not need any experience in sailing. To enroll a sailor must be able to swim with and without a life jacket and tread water for one minute without a life jacket. Class size will be limited for safety reasons as determined by the Program Director.
Opti 2 (4 days per week)
Ages 8 and up, intermediate to advanced. Participants must provide a boat, and should have completed one full season in the Opti 1 class. Sailors in this class should enter the season feeling comfortable sailing in and out of the inner harbor without the guidance of an instructor. Additionally, they should be able to navigate their boat through tacks and jibes in medium wind conditions. Class size will be limited for safety reason as determined by the Program Director. NOTE: This class sails at the same time as the Opti I class twice, parents with sailors in both classes must provide a boat for each child or otherwise arrange for them to have a boat to sail in.
Opti 3 (4 days per week)
Ages 9 and up, an introduction to racing. Participants must provide a boat, and should have completed one full season in the Opti 2 class. Sailors in this class will participate in all four Unkie Cup races with the assistance of the Opti 3 instructor, transportation of both the child and the boat are the responsibility of the sailor; however a trailer is available upon request. Before enrolling in the Opti 3 class, sailors should feel comfortable sailing their boats independent of an instructor in medium and heavy wind conditions. Class size will be limited for safety reasons as determined by the Program Director.
Opti Racing Team (5 days per week)
Ages 10 to 15, advanced with a focus on racing tactics in preparation to participate in seasonal regattas. The opti racing team will compete in a number of regattas throughout the season, for which participation is expected. Sailors not wishing to compete in regattas should consider remaining in Opti 3, moving to 420-Intro, or moving to IJS.
Club 420 Intro (4 days per week)
Ages 13 to 18, the goal of the class to gain an understanding of the Club 420 while learning to work as a part of a team (skipper and crew). They will learn to both skipper and crew, as well as, fly a spinnaker and use the trapeze. Participants must provide a boat or communicate with a classmate with whom the could share a boat. Prerequisites participated in IJS, Opti 3 or Opti Racing. Sailors are encouraged to participate in the WHYC Saturday Open Series. (NOTE: The combined weight of skipper and crew for a 420 should be between 250 and 275 pounds to safely operate the boat in our wind conditions, consequently sailors under 95lbs are encourage to remain in the opti or enroll in IJS)
Club 420 Racing Team (4 days per week)
Ages 14-18, this class focuses on racing tactics and team racing strategy. Sailors are expected to participate in the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Club 420 Grand Prix events and the WHYC Saturday morning series. Sailors from this group may be selected to participate in the US Sailing ladder events for the Bemis Trophy as well as for Southern Massachusetts Sailing team racing team.
Ages 13 to 18, the goal of the class to gain an understanding of the Club 420 while learning to work as a part of a team (skipper and crew). They will learn to both skipper and crew, as well as, fly a spinnaker and use the trapeze. Participants must provide a boat or communicate with a classmate with whom the could share a boat. Prerequisites participated in IJS, Opti 3 or Opti Racing. Sailors are encouraged to participate in the WHYC Saturday Open Series. (NOTE: The combined weight of skipper and crew for a 420 should be between 250 and 275 pounds to safely operate the boat in our wind conditions, consequently sailors under 95lbs are encourage to remain in the opti or enroll in IJS)
Club 420 Racing Team (4 days per week)
Ages 14-18, this class focuses on racing tactics and team racing strategy. Sailors are expected to participate in the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Club 420 Grand Prix events and the WHYC Saturday morning series. Sailors from this group may be selected to participate in the US Sailing ladder events for the Bemis Trophy as well as for Southern Massachusetts Sailing team racing team.