BYC Youth Sailing Lessons


Bellingham was recently voted one of the five best places in the U.S. to sail by Sailing World magazine!! Does your child or grandchild know how to sail?

Overview

The Bellingham Yacht Club (BYC) offers youth sailing classes as a non-profit and self-supported community boating program. The BYC’s youth sailing program provides kids of ages 9 -18 the opportunity to learn to sail or to improve their skills on Bellingham Bay from U.S. Sailing certified instructors.

New for 2012!

  • Basic Sailing class will now be offered by age group, separating younger and older students.
  • Opti, Laser and FJ (Flying Junior) afternoon Race Camps
  • Dinghy Cruising Camp
Membership in the BYC is not required to participate in the BYC’s youth sailing classes. However, parents and young adults are encouraged through incentives to join in order to support the program, as membership fees are very reasonable.

Our 2012 class schedule and fees will be announced soon. Our classes fill up fast, so keep an eye out for more information.

Most BYC youth sailing class sessions are held Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The exceptions to this are the Racing Camps, which are held Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost of a single-session enrollment is $295 for the 9:00-4:00 sessions and $240 for the 1:00-5:00 Racing Camp sessions. Discounts are available for BYC family members, students signing up for multiple sessions, or two or more students from a single family. The enrollment fee covers instruction, boat usage, and instructional materials. Students enrolled in BYC youth sailing classes must demonstrate basic swimming ability to class instructors.

Additional Information

Classes are open to anyone with an interest in having fun and learning to sail. Class enrollment includes access to an Optimist, Laser or FJ (Flying Junior) Olympic class sailing dinghy matched to each participants skill level. Class size is limited to 10-14 students and the Basic Sailing Class is segregated by age (ages 8-12 and 13-18). Two different classes are taught every week and there are three (3) certified instructors plus at least one (1) assistant to ensure proper supervision and safety for all classes. Each student receives a US Sailing “Learn Sailing Right” booklet wherein the instructor tracks the student’s progress as their sailing skills and abilities develop. Students completing the entire US Sailing training program receive a certification recognized worldwide for access to US Sailing sponsored training programs, boat rentals and regattas.

Why learn to sail?

Sailing is fun! Depending upon your inclination, a day sailing can be anything from a relaxing time out on the water, to a snarling roller-coaster ride that would challenge an Olympic athlete. It’s a matter of how far you want to push yourself. Sailing is easy and enjoyable for beginners, but takes a lifetime to master. It’s a brain-game: using only the wind, your knowledge and some high-tech equipment, you make your boat go – and go fast! Every day is different. The weather is constantly changing, so the combination of wind, waves and current will always present a new challenge. The more you learn about the factors involved, the more enjoyable the sport becomes. Best of all, when you’re sailing, you get to visit some of the most beautiful places on Earth – places that other people only get to see in pictures!

Questions?

Contact Megan Link, BYC Program Coordinator, at (206) 498-8655, email BYC.Junior.Sailing@gmail.com