2012 Youth Sailing Class Information

Sailing Lessons – Student Requirements:
  • Students must be able to swim 30-40 yards and tread water for 3 minutes without floatation aids. Students must have a Type III floatation jacket for use during class. For comfort, students should have a lightweight wet suit or spray jacket. BYC has a limited number of floatation jackets and wet suits for rent.
  • Because classes fill up fast, early registration is highly recommended! Classes are subject to change due to weather conditions. Class registration closes the Thursday at 5pm prior to the Monday start date of that session.

More classes Available!! This year we have added Racing Camps for Optis and Lasers/FJs and also added a “Cruising Camp”. Read on for class descriptions or click here to view the Class Schedule.

Basic Small Boat Sailing Courses (available for ages 8-12 and 13-18)

No sailing experience is required for the beginning sailing classes! Students receive instruction in introductory skills applicable toward US Sailing certification. On-the-water instruction takes place in an Opti or Laser dinghy. Students successfully completing basic sailing should be able to rig and launch a dinghy sailboat, self-rescue a capsized sailboat, understand the three points of sail (beating, reaching and running), and tack and jibe a dingy sailboat in fair weather conditions with proper supervision. Students wanting to refine their sailing skills can repeat basic sailing sessions. Instructors work with each student to provide continuing skill advancement towards the US Sailing small boat certification. The emphasis is on safety, fun, and on-the-water experience as students learn sailing terminology, theory, basic right-of-way rules and boat-handing skills.

Intermediate Small Boat Sailing Course

The Intermediate Sailing Course builds upon skills acquired in basic sailing and introduces students to helmsmanship and skippering a double-handed dinghy. Students will further develop their understanding of sailing theory, sail trim, boating safety, racing rules and strategy. Students will continue to gain on-the-water experience and complete US Sailing certification skills. Students will learn to race Laser or FJ Olympic class boats and compete in a mini regatta. The course is open to students who have completed a basic sailing course, have a US Sailing Certificate, or demonstrate comparable sailing experience. The class will have a strong emphasis on safety, peer learning and having fun!

Opti Racing Camp

This course is for students ages 9 to 13 interested racing an Opti dinghy. Students will need to have completed a basic sailing course and demonstrate to an instructor that they understand the fundamentals of sailing. The focus will be on the various levels of boat handling, racing rules, starting tactics and more. Class instruction will focus on off the water instruction as well as on the water drills and racing, with a mini regatta at the end of the week to practice skills learned.

Laser/FJ Racing Camp

This course is for students ages 13 to 18 interested racing a Laser or FJ dinghy. Students will need to have completed a basic sailing course and demonstrate to an instructor that they understand the fundamentals of sailing. The focus will be on the various levels of boat handling, racing rules, starting tactics and more. Class instruction will focus on off the water instruction as well as on the water drills and racing, with a mini regatta at the end of the week to practice skills learned.

Cruising Camp

This course is for students ages 10 to 18 interested recreational sailing. Students should have completed at least the basic sailing course and be able to demonstrate the ability to sail a dinghy. The focus of the course will be to plan a sailing trip considering factors like wind, tide, and weather. The double-handled FJ dinghy will be used for this course and trips during the week may include sailing to Fairhaven harbor and/or Inati Bay on Lummi Island. This is an ideal opportunity to find a friend to sail with and join a group of up to seven (7) FJ’s on a sail on Bellingham Bay!