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Welcome to the 2024 Jr. Summer Sailing program at the Bay Shore Yacht Club!  All skill levels from beginner to advanced are welcome! Kids 7 years old and up learn to sail in an exciting, supportive, and safe environment, and leave our program with invaluable life skills both on and off the water.

Morning Sessions (8:30am-12pm) - beginner/intermediate students ages 7+

Afternoon Sessions (1pm-4:30pm) are for Adventure Sailors and Opti/Sunfish/420 Race Team ages 11+

BSYC welcomes all of our Jr. Sailors to join the fun and participate in our annual (build your own craft) Huck Finn Race, Fire Island Adventure Sail & Clam Race, Wednesday Afternoon Club Races (held during weekly Family Grill Nights), Parent/Child Races, and FUN WEEK (sailing games, even more adventure sails, water slide and beach party)! There will be an awards night for all sailors and families at the end of the season.

• 7 week program runs June 24th through August 9th
• 2024 curriculum features 'instruction pods' for more individualized instruction and maximum water time. Sailors will be placed in small groups based on age and ability to encourage team building and boating confidence while having fun, safely, out on the water.
• Sailor/Parent Orientation is Saturday June 22, from 10am-12pm: Join us in the JYC for a welcome breakfast, meet the Instruction Team, enjoy a quick program overview and pick up your BSYC JR. SAILING Shirts!

There are three options for class registration:

• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
• Monday/Wednesday
• Tuesday/Thursday

Morning Session, 8:30am to 12:00pm

Sailors will be grouped by ability. All students must pass a BSYC swim test.

• Second Mate (group boats, Flying Scot/Mercury): this program is designed for children ages 7 and up, who are ready to learn the foundations of boat safety, seamanship, and sportsmanship. These sailors have little to no sailing experience. Variety, teamwork, fun, and skill-building are the core of the curriculum. Sailing games on and off the water, boating vocabulary, a STEM introduction to weather, wind, tides and learning about the marine life of the Great South Bay are important parts of this class.

• Opti First Mate: for sailors who have successfully passed the Second Mate. Sailors will work in small groups with the instruction team to increase their skills, learning safe seamanship: tacking, gybing, rounding marks and docking.  Land based chalk-talk plus sailing skill games on the water will prepare Opti First Mate Students for independent skippering with the goal of participating in beginner (Green Fleet) Opti regattas. Students will continue STEM units in weather, wind, tides and learning about the marine life of the Great South Bay.

• Opti Beginning Skipper/Jr. Racing Team: for sailors who have completed Opti First Mate and are ready to move on to Opti Racing. Students will learn racing rules, performance rigging and strategy with our Race Coach, Ella Hemeryck. Opti Race Team members are encouraged to participate in GSBYRA Jr. Regattas or Club Races on Fridays throughout the Jr. Sailing Season. We strongly encourage our racing students to participate in classes Monday through Thursday. Racers are also encouraged to have their own Opti and parents are expected to help transport boats and sailors to Friday GSBYRA races. Weekly Wednesday afternoon Opti club races and Friday GSBYRA Jr. races are included in tuition. Students will continue STEM units in weather, wind, tides and learning about the marine life of the Great South Bay.

Afternoon Session, 1:00pm to 4:30pm

Sailors will be grouped by ability. All students must pass a BSYC swim test.

• ADVENTURE Sailing (Session 1: July 1 to July 18 / Session 2: July 22 to August 8): this class is designed for students 12 & up with or without prior experience. Sailors will experience a variety of boats: Sunfish, Mercury , 420 and Flying Scots, providing a great opportunity to build skills and sailing confidence. Adventure Sailing is available in two 3 week sessions, Mon-Thurs. Learn to read charts, identify weather patterns and navigate on short adventure sails: anchor, swim, clam on the flats and explore our beautiful Great South Bay!

• Jr. Race Team, Opti, Sunfish & 420 (up to age 18): intermediate or advanced sailing skills required.  Students will build on their knowledge of racing rules, strategy and tactics under the supervision of our Race Coach, Ella Hemeryck. Practice and improve start techniques, learn optimal sail shape, performance rigging and sail trim. Improve mark rounding, fly spinnaker in 420 and perfect roll tack/roll gybe. Classroom lessons will be held on bad weather days. The Jr. Race Team will compete in Friday GSBYRA Jr. Regattas along the Great South Bay (included in tuition). Opti and Sunfish Racers are strongly encouraged to have their own boat and parents will be expected to help transport boats and children. We encourage our racing students to participate in classes Monday through Thursday.

Please note: Fridays are reserved for participation in GSBYRA Junior Races along the Great South Bay. This is a fun opportunity for your child to meet friends from other yacht clubs learn life skills such as resilience, independence, decision making, the value of sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, inclusiveness, and caring for the environment. If there are no GSBYRA Jr. Regattas scheduled, Friday races and sailing games will be held at our home club.

Classroom lessons will be held on bad weather days.

Please register your child early as there is limited enrollment in each class.

We look forward to a wonderful summer of sailing with your child!