How do I sign up for lessons?
Please use our online registration system to complete all sailor information as early as possible.
If you are a HYC Member, please ensure you have identified this on your registration form to accurately apply your membership program discount.
In accordance with state law, sailors will not be allowed to attend the sailing program until their completed health profile, liability waiver and emergency contacts have been received in their registration profile. We require 100% health profile completion by June 1st, including information about allergies, medications, behavior or injury limitations, etc. Parents/guardians are responsible for reviewing and updating this information on an annual basis.
What should my child bring to class?
Sailors must bring a Coast Guard approved life jacket (Type III PFD) clearly marked with their name and have a whistle firmly attached. They should also wear closed, soft sole shoes (no flip flops!) If your child is enrolled in a full-day class, come prepared with a healthy lunch! The yacht club has two refrigerators for lunches to be stored if needed. Please bring lots of fluids to class! Water, juice, low-sugar and non-caffeinated beverages are best. HYC also has a water cooler in the clubhouse, so remember to bring a re-usable water bottle! Don’t forget sunblock, sunglasses, hats, as well as appropriate clothing including a change of clothes and rainy-day gear, and a towel. (Remember, it is usually much cooler on the water than at your house!)
Will my child have to demonstrate their ability to swim?
YES! We will conduct swim tests for all students (except the adult program) on the first day of lessons, so please bring a swimsuit and towel to the first day of class.
Students must be able to:
– tread water for two minutes in a PFD
– swim 50 feet fully clothed in a PFD
Please note* Swimming is only allowed in a designated area under the direct supervision of an Instructor.
It is raining! Will my child have class?
Classes are held in all kinds of weather: even if it’s raining. The one exception is if there is a threat of severe storm or hurricane. In this event, class participants will be called at home, and informed of the decision to cancel class.
How do I know what class to enroll my child in?
If your child is new to sailing and 8 years old or older, they would typically start with our Recruits class.
If your child is an intermediate sailor – and has a handle on beginner sailing topics such as points of sail, parts of the boat, and basic boat handling skills, they are probably a fit for our Mates class.
If your child is an advanced intermediate sailor looking for new challenges they typically would either move to ATG or Opti Race team! Refer to our class descriptions page to help you decide what class would be a good fit.
If you would like additional input regarding what class would be the best fit for your child, feel free to contact our sailing director for their input!
I am too big to sail an Opti?
The Optimist is the boat used for sailors – from beginners to racers, who weigh less than 125 lbs and can comfortably maneuver in the boat. The Optimist is the largest one-design class in the world with more than a half-million boats being sailed and raced competitively around the world by kids ages 5-15!
My child is turning 8 during the Summer, can they do Recruits?
Our beginner-intermediate program begins at age 8, due to the age range within that group and the size of student needed to independently sail an Opti. Exceptions will be considered for 7 year olds who have had multiple sessions of prior Guppy or other sailing experience and with Director approval.
How do I get in touch if my child won’t make it to class, or if I need to get a message him/her during the day?
Call HYC at 207-865-4949 or email
I am having some problems with online registration, CampDocs. Can someone help me with this?
Yes, please email our registration guru, Sarah Kelley:
What if I need to cancel or change our registration?
Adjustments / Cancellations
Cancellations: No refunds are given for cancellations within 14 days of your program start. If you cancel prior to 14 days, a refund is available, less a $50 cancellation fee per session. There will be no refunds, transfers, or credits given for cancellations made for sailors who leave camp for behavioral reasons once a session has begun.
Additions: We recognize that summer schedules change and sailors sometimes wish to add additional weeks once they have experienced the program. We do our best to accommodate these changes on a first-come/first-serve basis. We do have a wait list for many weeks of the program so we can’t always accommodate additional weeks.
Transfer: Families may be able to transfer their sailor(s) to another available session at no cost prior to June 1st, depending on availability.
Payment Policy
Deposit: A minimum either 50% or $100 deposit is due at registration. You can also set up a payment plan through our RegPack system.
Payment Deadline: Sailing program tuition is due in full by June 1st. For families registering after June 1st, full payment is due at the time of registration.
Please note: Until full payment and/or deposit is received and all required documents submitted, your child’s registration is not complete and your child is not enrolled in the program. We reserve the right to cancel program registrations not paid in full after June 1st. We will send payment reminders to the email address with which you registered your child until full payment is received. Please check your email inbox (and spam folder) for these reminders and links to pay your balance online.
How are you planning to operate a Youth Sailing Program safely?
The Sailing Director, Registrar and Sailing Program Oversight Committee has reviewed all State, local and CDC guidelines and US Sailing recommendations to develop a plan for operating our program with adaptability, flexibility and consideration for the risks of COVID-19 exposure.