Summer Sailing Program
The HYC summer sailing program offers something for everyone age 5-18 and is open to the public! No matter if it is your child’s first sail or they are seasoned competitor there is a program that can enhance your child’s love and understanding of the sport! The learning model that HYC unveiled in 2020 is designed to promote lifelong sailing in a variety of sailing disciplines, including both racing and non-racing. We provide a skill development path for every athlete. We recommend gaining experience and building confidence in a variety of watercraft to better prepare young sailors to take advantage of new sailing opportunities in the future. The skills built at an early age lay the foundation for safe, fun, and successful sailing for a lifetime.
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Drop Off/Pick Times
*Due to COVID-19 precautions drop off/pick up times will be staggered accordingly to help ease overcrowding of entrances and launch ramps. Please review so you know when your class will begin and end.
| AM Sessions: | Explorer, Dinghy 1, Dinghy 2 | 8:30AM-11:45AM |
| PM Sessions: | Dinghy Development Team | 12:15- 3:45PM |
| All Day: | Opti 1: | 8:45 AM-3:45PM (Sailors in Motion) |
| Opti 2 | 9:00AM-4:00PM | |
| Laser: | (T-F) 10:00AM-4:00PM | |
| C420: | 10:15AM-4:15PM |
Registration
Summer 2020 Registration is OPEN! Course Descriptions and Course Calendar at bottom of page.
All Hampton Yacht Club Junior classes are offered through Clubspot
Need financial aid? Click here.
Tuition
| Class | Member | Public |
| Explorers: | Before May 1st – $160 | Before May 1st – $210 |
| Sailors In Motion*: | Before May 1st – $575 | Before May 1st – $625 |
| Opti 1* or 2: | Before May 1st – $315 | Before May 1st – $365 |
| Dinghy 1 or 2: | Before May 1st – $315 | Before May 1st – $365 |
| Dinghy Development Team: | Before May 1st – $350 | Before May 1st – $395 |
| Adventure Sailing: | Before May 1st – $170 | Before May 1st – $210 |
| Advanced Adventure Sailing Inshore and Offshore*: | Before May 1st – $315 | Before May 1st – $365 |
*Sailors in Motion & Opti 1 price includes lunch! That is a $50 deal!
For information on Race Teams: Please click here
Class must be paid in full to confirm your reservation. Race Team Tuition or tuition over $900 has the option of splitting into 2 payments. Course fees are fully refundable upon cancellation no later than two weeks prior to the start of your camper’s session. No refunds will be made for missed classes or dismissal from the program for disciplinary reasons. Class minimum of 4 sailors in order to host the class. There are no processing fees for using ACH or your yacht club member number. However, if you use a credit card there will be a 3% processing fee.
Discounts
Member pricing for children and grandchildren of current HYC members.
There are also Package deals available for Opti, Dinghy, Wednesday Nights, and Race Teams. Please contact the sailing director to inquire.
**Age requirements are recommendations, please consult the sailing director if you are unsure of which classes and where to place your sailor.
Table of Contents
Entry Level Courses, Stage 1
Offered Week 1, 3, 5, 7
Prerequisites: None
One Week, half-day class. Primary focus of the Explorer Program is to connect young novice sailors to the water through a safe and fun experience messing about on Optis and Sonars. 6:1 sailor to instructor ratio.
Objectives: Explorers
- Foster a passion for the water
- Learn the parts of the boat, capsize and recovery
- Learn Knots: square knot, cleat knot
Offered Week 1, 3, (Sailors in Motion 5, 6), 7
Prerequisites: None
One Week, full-day class, lunch included. This class provides a foundation of wind recognition, basic boat handling skills, and rigging fundamentals of the Optimist. This course will instill safety, seamanship, and confidence in a fun environment.
Objectives: Opti 1
- Instill a passion for sailing
- Learn how to be the captain of an Opti
- Learn to reach and introduce concepts of upwind & downwind sailing.
- Introduce points of sail, parts of the boat, capsize and recovery
- Learn square knot, bowline, double half-hitch, cleat
Offered Week 5-6
Prerequisites: None
Two Week, full-day class, lunch included. Sailors will learn basics in sailing physics in Optis, Sonars, and Fevas. After lunch the sailors will go to the VA Air and Space Museum and participate in hands-on engineering projects relating to the force of motion (like rockets and roller coasters).
Objectives: Sailors in Motion
- Instill a passion for sailing and for science
- Learn basic wind recognition
- Learn to reach and introduce concepts of upwind & downwind sailing.
- Introduce points of sail, parts of the boat, capsize and recovery
- Learn how physics and force is utilized in sailboats
Offered Weeks 1-2, 5-6
Prerequisites: None
Two Week, half-day class. This class provides a foundation of wind recognition, basic boat handling skills, and rigging fundamentals of the Feva Dinghy. This course will instill safety, seamanship, and confidence in a fun environment.
Objective: Dinghy 1
- Instill a passion for sailing and the preparation and teamwork involved
- Develop wind awareness and boating instincts
- Learn the points of sail and how to adjust angle and sail trim according to each
- Learn how to tack and gybe
- Understand the basics of how a spinnaker works
- Introduce concepts of racing
Intermediate Level Courses, Stage 2
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered Week 2, 4, 6, 8
Prerequisites: Opti I
One Week, full-day class, lunch included. The Opti 2 course works to further develop skills geared towards better boat speed and increases the student’s understanding of sail trim. This course will introduce basic concepts of sailboat racing and promote fun competition and sportsmanship. Regatta opportunities will be offered but not mandatory.
Objectives: Opti 2
- Prepare sailors to become RWB racers
- Apply sprit tension & vang on the water without assistance
- Master points of sail, parts of the boat, capsize and recovery without assistance
- Improve boat handling skills to become second nature and habitual
- Master Knots including square knot, bowline, double half-hitch, cleat
- Learn how to properly roll tack, gybe, 360, 720
- Understand how to get out of irons
Offered Week 3-4, 7-8
Prerequisites: Dinghy 1
Two Week, half-day class. The Dinghy 2 course works to further develop skills geared towards better boat speed and increases the student’s understanding of sail trim in a sloop rigged vessel as well as how to use a spinnaker. This course will introduce basic concepts of sailboat racing and promote fun competition and sportsmanship. Regatta opportunities will be offered but not mandatory.
Objectives: Dinghy 2
- Develop an athletic sailing mindset that promotes preparation and improvement
- Improve boat handling and focus on getting speed out of maneuvers
- Learn how to use a spinnaker
- Understand the roles of skipper and crew and how to communicate effectively in the boat
- Prepare sailors for high school fleet and team racing
- Encourage sailors to participate in DDT
Offered Week 2, 6
Prerequisites: None
One Week, half-day class. This is an exploratory class for those that love the water. The concept of Adventure Sailing is to introduce wind recognition, basic sailing skills, as well as games, paddlesports, weather, marine science, history, and building a love for the sea.
Objective: Adventure Sailing and Watersports
- Have fun on the water
- Learn about a variety of water activities such as sailing, paddleboarding, or fishing
- Develop a knowledge and passion for water sports and sailing
- Instill safe habits on the water
- Traveling to local points of interest by power or sail
- Learn Knots: square knot, bowline, double half-hitch, cleat
- Basic seamanship and navigation
Offered Wednesday Nights Throughout the Summer Weeks 1-4
Prerequisites: Any Stage 1 Course
The Keelboat 1 Course is a hands-on, fun one night a week race around the buoys with an instructor. The students will sail a Sonar around a course against other boats in the club. This is a great way to spend an evening for those curious about what it is like to race a keelboat!
Intermediate Level Courses, Stage 3
*OPTI RWB Race Team will now be full day
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered Week 1-8
Prerequisites: Opti 2
Summer Team, afternoon practices. The Opti Travel Team is made up of sailors of differing levels that come out of the Opti 2 program. On the travel team, sailors are taught in depth skill development for racing as well as a deeper dive into the rules of sailing and an introduction to team racing. The Opti Travel Team will have travel regatta opportunities and it is coaching staff’s obligation to provide support and guidance at events.
Objectives: Opti Red White and Blue Race Team
- Prepare sailors to compete at a higher level at USODA events and qualify to represent Team USA for International Teams
- Preparation for big events including tune up regattas, practice days, and conditions based regatta prep
- Improve boat handling skills to become second nature and habitual
- Understand more detailed aspects of tactics, strategy, and fleet management and prepare sailors for future high performance sailing opportunities
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered Week 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Prerequisites: Dinghy 2 or Opti Travel Team
Two Week, half-day class. The Dinghy Development Team or DDT exists to provide a gateway to build the skills and knowledge necessary to compete on the c420 Travel Team. The DDT will focus on advanced double handed dinghy boat handling, sail trim, team racing, rules, and strategy and tactics. This program is the stepping stone for Opti Travel Team or Dinghy 2 participants that also would rather compete in Feva Class events. The DDT will have travel regatta opportunities in the Feva fleet and will be supported by HYC coaches.
Objectives:DDT
- Develop an athletic sailing mindset that promotes preparation and improvement
- Understand what regatta preparation and attendance is like
- Learn how to start successfully
- Improve boat handling and boat speed
- Learn how to use a symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers
- Learn how to trapeze
- Understand the roles of skipper and crew and how to communicate effectively in the boat
- Prepare sailors for high school fleet and team racing
Offered Week 3-4
Prerequisites: Adventure Sailing or Opti 2 or Dinghy 2
Two Week, half-day class/overnight. The Advanced Adventure course builds upon the basic sailing skills learned in the Adventure Sailing course to focus on operation of a keelboat and basic inshore cruising including operating winches, how to read a chart, anchoring, mooring, docking, and basic overnight provisioning. This course will include some distance trips and an overnight camping experience at Factory Point.
Objectives: Inshore Cruising
- Instill a passion for sailing and the preparation and teamwork involved
- Have fun with a team of sailors -Develop wind awareness and boating instincts
- Understand the points of sail and how to adjust angle and sail trim according to each
- Learn how to tack and gybe
- Gain confidence with basic navigation, docking, and anchoring
- Learn the basics of keelboat boathandling
- Introduce concepts of racing
Offered Wednesday Nights Throughout the Summer Weeks 5-8
Prerequisites: Any Stage 2 Course
The Keelboat 2 Course is a hands-on, fun one night a week race around the buoys with an instructor where students will fly a spinnaker. The students will sail a Sonar and other boats as made available to the junior program around a course against other boats in the club. This is a great way to spend an evening for those interested in racing a keelboat!
Objectives: Keelboat 2
-Establish a passion for the teamwork, skills, and preparation required for keelboat racing
-Prepare sailors for keelboat racing in a variety of settings
-Practice keelboat boathandling (emphasis on sets, douses, tacks, gybes, and maneuvering at the start)
-Participate in Wednesday Night Racing and encourage participation in keelboat events after the session
Veteran Level Courses, Stage 4
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered Week 1-8
Prerequisite: Opti Travel Team or DDT
Summer Team, afternoon practices. The Club 420 is the staple junior double-handed dinghy in the United States. The c420 Travel Team will compete through out the country and are expected to work towards competing at the highest level with integrity and sportsmanship. The travel team will work on honing finely developed skills for ultimate performance in a multitude of areas. Sailors participating on the team will be expected to travel.
Objectives: c420 Travel Team
- Prepare sailors for sailing at the travel team level or in high school, college racing, and other high performance sailing opportunities
- Develop strong habits that are conducive to improving and being prepared for racing
- Fine tune boat handling
- Have an understanding of tuning and sail shape
- Improve tactical and strategic knowledge
- Develop communication skills between skipper and crew
- Prepare sailors for/Preparation for big events including tune up regattas, practice days, and conditions based regatta prep
Offered Week 7-8
Prerequisite: Advanced Adventure, Inshore Cruising
Two Week, half-day/overnight. The Advanced Adventure course builds upon the keelboat and cruising yacht skills learned in the Inshore course. The offshore course will focus on night time navigation, teamwork, watch schedules, safety at sea, and performance cruising. The offshore team will strive to participate in a late summer CCV distance race with a HYC member.
At various points throughout the summer the HYC program will strive to provide clinics for appropriate Stage 4 sailors. These clinics will target a myriad of topics with the main goal of producing lifelong competitive and well rounded sailors with the knowledge and skills to proficiently and safely operate their vessel.
For more race team information and regatta calendar – Click here.
Summer 2020 Junior Sailing Calendar
| Week 1 June 15-19 | Week 2 June 22-26 | Race Team Practice Only June 29-July 3 | Week 3 July 6-10 | Week 4 July 13-17 | Week 5 July 20-24 | Week 6 July 27-31 | Week 7 Aug 3-7 | Week 8 Aug 10-14 | |
| AM Session | EXPLORER AGE 5-7 | EXPLORER AGE 5-7 | EXPLORER AGE 5-7 | EXPLORER AGE 5-7 | |||||
| AM Session | DINGHY 1 AGE 13-18 (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) | DINGHY 2 AGE 13-18 (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) | DINGHY 1 AGE 13-18 (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) | DINGHY 2 AGE 13-18 (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) | |||||
| PM Session | SAILORS IN MOTION AT VA AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM | ||||||||
| PM Session | DINGHY DEVELOPMENT TEAM AGE (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) 13-18 | DINGHY DEVELOPMENT TEAM AGE (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) 13-18 | DINGHY DEVELOPMENT TEAM AGE (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) 13-18 | ||||||
| ALL DAY 8:30AM-4PM | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | OPTI 1 AGE 8-12 | |
| TRAVEL TEAMS (ALL DAY) | |||||||||
| 9AM-4PM | OPTI 2 GREEN FLEET AGE 8-15 | ||||||||
| 9AM-4PM | OPTI RWB TRAVEL TEAM AGE 8-15 | ||||||||
| 10AM-5PM | LASER TRAVEL TEAM AGE 13-18 | ||||||||
| 10AM-5PM | C420 TRAVEL TEAM (RELIANT UPON PHASE II) AGE 13-18 | ||||||||
AM Sessions run from 8:30AM-11:45AM
Lunch 11:45AM-12:15PM. Lunch is INCLUDED for OPTI 1
Full Day Programs: Opti I, Sailors in Motion
Travel Team Sessions: 1:00PM-5:00PM (Subject to Scheduled Events)
Doublehanded Platforms (c420 and Feva) are subject to VA Governor Opening of Phase 1
Due to COVID precautions all multi-platform keelboat and adventure sailing has currently been removed, these classes may become available as restrictions ease.
Parents of Children Age 8-12 who would like a full day of programming are encouraged to select Opti 1 and/or Sailors in Motion combining a morning of sailing instruction as well as an Afternoon of educational programming at the VA Air and Space Museum.
Parents of Children Age 13-18 who would like a full day of programming are encouraged to select Dinghy 1, Dinghy 2 then Dinghy Development Team, or Travel Team.
Dinghy 1, Dinghy 2, and Dinghy Development Team are two-week programs.
OPTI 2, OPTI RWB, Laser, and c420 Travel Teams work best as eight-week programs, subject to travel, and participants or members are encouraged to own their own boats.
*Age Guidelines are recommendations only. The Sailing Director may authorize participation based on a child’s size, experience, or interests.
