Thank you for your interest in the Harraseeket Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program!
*2023 SEASON AT-A-GLANCE*
Classes will be offered in 2 week sessions for beginner/intermediate programs and 4-week sessions for race teams:
Our Advanced Training Group is for sailors who have mastered safe maneuvering upwind and downwind of a 420 sailboat to move onto advanced skills of using spinnakers and trapezes. If you have questions if your child is ready for ATG at the time of registration, please reach out to our director or registration coordinator.
Opti and 420 Race Teams are run for 4 week sessions, afternoons Monday – Friday, by invitation from our Sailing Program Director – please reach out to the Sailing Registration Coordinator if you have questions about Race Team.
Our sailing curriculum offers everything from learn-to-sail classes for beginners to racing instruction on both optimists and 420 sailboats. We utilize sailing to help our students grow in confidence, self-reliance, and to foster problem-solving skills they need in their everyday lives. Sailing provides our students the opportunity to work both independently and as a team. We believe that these team-building skills we teach on the water are not only critical for sailing – they are critical for life!
Our curriculum begins with Guppies, a short introductory evening class for 5-7 year old students. Once students reach their 8th birthday, they are eligible for our day-time beginner class – Recruits. Sailors who have tackled beginning sailing topics then move to our intermediate Mates class. After graduating from Mates, students can either join our Opti race team or our Advanced Training Group depending on instructor approval and your child’s interests! Last stop on our curriculum is our 420 Race Team! Descriptions of each class are below.
Class Descriptions
Guppies Class: This introduction to sailing class is for 5-7 year olds. The class is very hands-on, allowing young sailors to gain comfort on the water. The sailing will be done in Optimist dinghies, 420 dinghies, and Sonar sailboats. The class will have many games and lots of fun! Sailors must be able to pass a swim test in order to participate.
3-days/week, 2 week sessions: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30am – 11:30am
$385/2 weeks
Recruits Class:
Recruits is our Beginner sailing class at HYC. They are the youngest members of our full-day youth program, usually age 8-11 (exceptions subject to prior approval). No prior sailing experience is required. Recruits sail Optimist dinghies and Sonar keelboats!
Monday-Friday, 2 week sessions – 8:30am – 11:30am
$385/2 weeks
Mates Class:
Mates at HYC are graduates of the Recruits class – and considered intermediate sailors. Most Mates are age 10-15; exceptions considered depending on experience! The Mates program solidifies and extends the skills and knowledge learned as Recruits. The sailors build confidence through experience. They learn sailing rules and the basics of navigation. Mates are introduced to a variety of sailing games and drills to continually hone their skills. Mates sail RAD 420s, which are 420s with slightly smaller main sails.
Monday-Friday, 2 week sessions – 8:30am – 11:30am
$385/2 weeks
Advanced Training Group (ATG) Class:
The ATG class serves as a bridge between sailing and racing. These intermediate sailors have mastered the Mates curriculum to confidently and safely sail a 420 both upwind and downwind and have the desire to race but need a boost of confidence and practice with specific skills, including trapeze work and use of spinnakers. The Mate who has mastered most skills but who sees the future as a “cruiser”, rather than a “racer” might also be a good fit for this class and can boost the sailor’s skill set. ATG sails 420s, a sailor needs to be at least 100 lbs to sail a 420.
Monday-Friday, 2 week sessions – 12:30 pm – 4:30pm
$500/2 weeks
Sonar Cruise Class (new program!):
This new program is ideal for highly motivated Recruits or Mates who want more time on the water, or older sailors that enjoy sailing and see themselves as cruisers rather than racers. This class will use Sonar keelboats and “cruise” the casco bay in the afternoons. The focus of this new class is to promote an understanding of navigation, rigging, and exploration in a more laid-back atmosphere. This is not an introductory class and completion of mates or recruits is a prerequisite. Approval is also required by the sailing director for enrolled Mates/Recruits looking for a full day experience).
Monday-Friday, 2 week sessions – 12:30 pm – 4:30pm
$500/2 weeks
Optimist Race Team:
The Opti Race Team is for sailors age 10-15 who are motivated to learn the art of racing. The Optimist is a small single-handed dinghy specifically designed for the young sailor. The boat-handling and tactical skills learned through the program will be the foundation for their future racing careers. The sailors will compete in local optimist regattas as well other away regattas in New England. Opti Race Team is broken into two four week sessions. Minimum commitment is one four week session. Please contact the Sailing Program Director if interested in Opti Race Team.
Monday–Friday – 4 week sessions – 12:30 pm – 4:30pm
$1000/4 weeks
420 Race Team:
The 420 Race Team is a logical next step for students who have grown out of the optimist dinghy and are looking to continue to improve their boat handling & tactical skills. A 420 is a double-handed dinghy that is raced competitively by junior sailing programs, as well as many high school & collegiate sailing programs. When committing to the race team, sailors are strongly encouraged to sign up for as many weeks as possible. Minimum commitment is one four week session.
Monday–Friday – 4 week sessions – 12:30 pm – 4:30pm
$1000/4 weeks
The HYC staff members work with parents to facilitate travel, help sailors transport their boats and equipment, and they provide on the water coaching at each regatta.
When planning for away regattas, please be aware that there will be additional fees (e.g. food & lodging), and that parents are expected to care for their children with respect to food, travel, lodging, etc. For students to participate in ‘away’ regattas – parental chaperones and volunteers are needed to ensure safety, success, and FUN!
If you would like to inquire about Scholarship, please contact sailingreg.hyc@gmail.com
Check out our 2019 season slideshow here!
Check out our 2020 season slideshow here!