Junior Sailing

Important Notes Regarding our Junior Sailing Programs:

Junior Program Staff members are not responsible for children on the waterfront during non-class times.
A parent/guardian needs to be available to assist in rigging the boat if your sailor needs help. Junior Program Staff members will be available to assist but cannot help everyone at every class. It is the sailor and parent/guardian’s responsibility.
ALL PARTICIPANTS in the CYC Junior Sailing Program MUST PASS a swim check, to be administered by staff on the first day of the student’s term. Swim requirements include: ability to swim approximately 25 yards without help, tread water for two (2) minutes & then put on a life jacket while in the water & without assistance.
ALL PARTICIPANTS in the CYC Junior Sailing Program MUST HAVE (and wear at all times when on the docks, boats) a proper-fitting, Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket) with a working whistle (to be used in emergency only!) attached, closed-toe non-skip footwear, hat, and adequate sun protection. A towel and sweatshirt are strongly recommended!

Class Descriptions

Below are descriptions of the classes offer by CYC. Please read carefully to decide which class would best suit your child. Many of the class descriptions have changed from last year. Read all of the choices before choosing.

Beetles	Beginning sailing, usually the youngest sailors are 7-9 years old, but also may include older students, with limited sailing experience. Curriculum emphasis includes basic rigging, parts of the boat, basic seamanship (safety, parts of boat, knots, rules of the road), tacking and jibing, points of sail, confidence building and fun! Students may be ability-grouped by boat. Sailors begin the season with an instructor in the boat, but work toward independent sailing.
Opti Beginner	A great way to get started sailing on your own. This class is designed to allow children to start to feel comfortable sailing by themselves. Beginning with very basic techniques, Opti Beginner teaches students to rig, steer, and safely handle an Optimist. Boat handling remains the focus of the class. The class is recommended for children who want to jumpstart their sailing experience. Note: Your child needs to provide their own Opti for this class.
Opti Junior	More proficiency at beginner Opti skills, introduction of racing techniques (participation in Unkie Cup Races encouraged). Note: Your child needs to provide their own Opti for this class.
Opti Advanced	This class will be split into 2 Groups. Group A: Advancing skills further emphasis on racing techniques (participation in Unkie Cup and other outside regattas expected). Sailing in challenging conditions, especially outside the harbor. Group B: Advanced sailors who wish to strengthen their sailing skills with less of a focus on racing. This group may mix with the A group when appropriate, but will have a less competitive focus. Note: Your child needs to provide their own Opti for this class.
420 Beginner	Introduction to the 420 – rigging, care of boats, jib, spinnakers, skipper & crew responsibilities, boat handling, limited racing. Students should have previous sailing knowledge.
420 Advanced	Racing is the focus of this class. Students need to have participated in either 420 Beginner or Opti Advanced. Boat handling, sail trim, spinnaker work and team racing will be components of this class. Participation in outside regattas is encouraged. CYC Junior Program Staff will assist in the coordination of regatta participation.
Sailing For Fun	This class is for older students who enjoy sailing, but do not wish to participate in racing. The class focuses on all-around seamanship. Several different types of boats are used. Topics such as navigation, water safety and anchoring are covered.
Boating Fun - Come Have Fun On The Water!	As the Water Rat proclaims in the The Wind and the Willows: "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." This class is designed for children of all ages to simply enjoy the fun of sailing in West Falmouth Harbor. It is a great chance to explore all that being on the water has to offer. From rowing to sailing to distant sandbars, this is your chance to come and experience life on the water. We encourage students to participate in another CYC class in addition to Boating Fun.