Youth Sailing
The Hyannis Youth Foundation Sailing Program runs the full eight weeks of the Summer Program. Classes begin with PWs at age six and continue through 420 Race team, Laser Racing, and Captains.
Sailing Classes meet three times per week at the beginning and intermediate levels, but the number of classes varies for the older and/or competitive sailors, dependent on the class. New this year will be a few full day classes from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm to increase the participants’ time on the water.
All sailors participate in beginning sailing classes. After beginners, families can choose to move into the Optimist Program or the Mates Program.
The Optimist Program has four levels. Beginning in Optimist 2, children who are ready participate in Southern Mass Sailing Association hosted regattas. Optimist 3 and Optimist 4 sailors are part of the Optimist Race Team and consistently race in a variety of SMSA events.
Families may also select for their children to continue with the Mates and Captain’s classes. These classes, grouped into “Adventure Sailing,” sail a variety of boats including Quests, 420s, J22s, and larger cruising boats, with the focus on seamanship and fun sailing, rather than racing. For 2023 we are overhauling the Adventure sailing curriculum to make it a much richer experience.
Sailors from both the Optimist and Adventure Sailing classes may select to learn to sail 420s. “Introduction to 420s” is a mandatory course for all sailors who want to progress to the 420 Race Team. In this class, they learn to sail a 420 including utilizing spinnakers and trapezes. The next level is the 420 Race Team. Race team sailors participate in program-sponsored Southern Mass Sailing Association regattas. The most experienced sailors may also choose to compete in National, North American, and International events.
One new addition to our sailing offerings is the ILCA (Laser) Race Program. Sailors who participate in this class learn to sail an ILCA and have the opportunity to progress as single-handed sailors/racers. They are also invited to compete in our club-sponsored Thursday night series with on the water support.
Our other new addition is board sailing, which dependent on interest, will include windsurfing and/or winging, with foiling possible. This will be a once a week “clinic” style class Tuesday evenings, and will be open to those over twelve, including adults.
The Adult Sailing Program meets weekly on Wednesday evenings. This program is tailored to the individual goals of the participants and includes learn to sail, learn to race, and advanced seamanship opportunities.
PW (Pee Wee)
Age 6-7
Boats: Hunter 140, RS Quest, J-22
3 days/week, 3 hour class
MWF 10AM - 12PM Tuition: $1515 Member Discount: $1145
The PW class is designed as an introduction to boats, sailing, and seamanship. Focus is on beginning "rules of the road” and good sportsmanship. Students will start off with 3 or more students in a Hunter 140 or RS Quest with a JI (Jr Instructor). They will learn about steering and how to use a jib and a mainsail. As students gain confidence in the boat the goal is to remove the JI so that the students are sailing on their own. Students will rotate in the different positions on the boat so that they learn each position.
SEAMAN level 1 (Age 7-8) and level 2 (Age 8-9)
(Level 1 & 2 meet at the same time)
Age: 7-9
Boats: Hunter 140’s, RS Quests, J-22
3 days/week, 3 hour class
TTh 9AM-12PM & W 1-4PM Tuition: $1835 Member Discount: $1380
Depending on their level, students will sail either with or without an instructor on board. Rules of the road and sportsmanship are critical as sailors begin to sail without an instructor. A typical scenario is three students to a boat, unless in a J-22 when we would have four to a boat. On the J-22 there will always be an instructor for safety purposes, but the goal is for them to become an observer, giving instruction and tips, rather than participating in sailing the boat. Students will be grouped so that they have a great social experience while learning more about the basics of sailing.
MATES
Age: 9-10
Boats: Hunter 140, Quest, J-22, Open Bic Skiff Tuition: $1835 Member Discount: $1380
3 days/week, 3 hour class
M,T, Th 1-4PM
The Mates' class is an extension of the Seaman class, where students learn to hone the skills that they were introduced to in Seaman 1 and 2. Sailors are typically choose between Mates and Opti Beginner. The goal of the Mates class is to establish a core understanding of the importance of teamwork on the multi-crew boats (Hunter 140, Quest, J-22) and eventually try out the Open Bic Skiff.
CAPTAINS (Adventure)
Age: 12 (6th grade)
Boats: RS Quest, J-22, 420, Open Bic Skiff, Laser 4.7, Sailboard
2 days/week, T, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, Th, 1:00 - 4:00 pm Tuition: $1835 Member Discount: $1380
This class will be significantly different than it has been in previous years and will build on the skills from the prior Captains' and Mates' courses.
The emphasis of this class is not about racing in the traditional Opti/420 track, rather it is about trying out new boats and experiences, and developing life-long sailing skills. We recognize that sailors may change their minds on what interests them as they experience more sailing options, so the class curriculum is designed to be fluid so that a sailor is continuously trying out new things and can update and change their focus.
We will challenge the sailors with higher performing planing boats both as a solos sailor and with a crew, which means more fun for the participants. We will give them a taste of 420 sailing with the trapeze and spinnaker as well as use of the A-Symmetrical spinnaker on the Quest.
We will spend several classes learning to sail "big" boats and will include at least one overnight cruise using HYC member boats. We will focus on safe sailing and boat handling considering the higher loads, as well as navigation, utilizing these skills to plot courses to fun destinations. The use of modern electronics such as chart plotters and radar will also be taught.
If there is interest, we will include introductory power boat skills to help our sailors become more well-rounded boaters. It may also be possible for them to try out the ILCA (Laser) 4.7 and board sailing (windsurfing and winging) dependent on weather and interest.
OPTI 1
Age: 8-10
Boat: Opti (supplied by participant)
3 days/week, 3 hour class
MWF 9AM-12PM Tuition: $1675 Member Discount: $1260
This course is a basic introduction on how to rig and sail an Optimist. Typically sailors are choosing between Mates and Opti Beginner. Sailors must have completed the requirements of Seaman 1 and 2 or have the permission of the Sailing Director to start in either Opti 1-A orOpti 1-B. Participants must have foundational knowledge of the rules of the road, sportsmanship, and basic boat-handling.
OPTI 2
Age: 9-11
Boat: Opti (supplied by participant)
3 days/week, 3 hour class
TTh 9AM-12PM & W 1-4PM Tuition: $1675 Member Discount: $1260
The Opti 2 course focuses on honing boat-handling skills and “getting your head out of the boat.” Rules of the road and sportsmanship are paramount. Although racing is not a requirement of the course, we will be utilizing a starting line and marks to instill an understanding on how to get to a destination in the most efficient way. This course adds more building blocks to their opti experience in preparation for moving up to Opti classes that focus more on racing. One of the goals is participation in the Hyannis Youth Invitational.
OPTI 3 (Traveling Green Fleet)
Age: 9-12
Boat: Opti (supplied by participant)
4 days/week, 3 hour class Tuition: $2150 Member Discount: $1615
MTWTh 1-4PM
This class is the precursor to Opti Race. This course is for the more advanced Opti sailor who wants to move in the racing direction. This course will prepare them for Green level (Beginning Racing) Opti Regattas. There will be some traveling offered to those interested, but travel is not mandatory.
OPTI 4/RACE (Championship Fleet)
Age: 9-15
Boat: Opti (supplied by participant)
5 days/week, 3 hour class
M,T,W,Th, F 1-4PM Tuition: $2620 Member Discount: $1970
The Opti Race team will have three levels based on age but the team will often break out the practices based on skill level:
White (10 years old or younger)
Blue (11 or 12 years old)
Red (13 years old or older)
Coaches will work with the sailors to determine which regattas make the most sense for each participant. The goal is to challenge our sailors and ensure that they are not locked into a certain level. Coaches will be re-evaluating their skills and abilities throughout the season and will move sailors up or change their level at regattas as appropriate. Sailors on the Race Team are committing to a large number of regattas and need to be aware of the time commitment due to travel. At regattas, parents are expected to work with the designated parent “regatta point person” (more info from the youth committee on this). Regattas require signing up in advance, and the fees will be the responsibility of the individual sailor/parent/guardian.
INTRO TO C420’s
Age: 13 and up
Boats: Club 420
T 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, W,F 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuition: $2620 Member Discount: $1970
For those interested in racing the class will offer an introduction to C420 sailing and the boat-handling that is critical for those that want to race. They will focus on the tactics and strategy of basic racing.This is a great primer for those that did not sail in the Opti Race track.
If you did sail in Opti Race and your goal is the 420 Race Team please check with Dave or Caroline as there may be an accelerated option for you to get racing sooner in C420’s.
420 RACE TEAMS
A) Travel Race Team (at least 5 of 7 regattas)
B) Local Race Team (3 or more local regattas)
Age: 13 and up (6-8th grade)
Boats: Club 420
M 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, W,F 1:00-4:00 PM, TH 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Tuition: $2940 Member Discount: $2210
Our focus this year is to foster the enjoyment of competing, with race results being a byproduct, and not the primary goal. Everyone wins if they like to compete, whereas only one team wins if it is only about crossing the finish line first.
All sailors new to the C420 Teams (Intro to C420 last season or new to the program) will work with the coaches at the start of the season to determine which group they should sail with. All members of the team will spend time both as a skipper and as a crew throughout the season to help foster their versatility and understanding of the integral role of both positions in the boat. This means if you normally have only skippered, expect to spend some time as a crew being paired with both experienced and less experienced sailors. We are doing this to help foster a supportive and competitive culture that will help our team and team members improve throughout the entire summer season.
The club has 6 new 420’s and ten sets of race sails that are only used as travel race boats. This allows us to put our best foot forward on the race course equipment wise, but more importantly allows us to practice more efficiently at both race team levels so that our sailors have a great opportunity whether racing on the circuit or competing in more local events. We are asking the sailors who are on the Travel Race Team to commit to at least 5 of 7 regattas. We will designate some days off based on the final regatta schedule. Even with the extensive race schedule, it is important that sailors practice so they can improve. Coaches will move sailors within the race teams depending on their commitment and focus to the teams. Coaches will also determine who sails with whom and there will be some switching up depending on the event or regatta.
At regattas, parents are expected to work with the designated parent “regatta point person” (more info from the Youth Committee on this). Regattas require signing up in advance, and the fees [which are not insignificant] will be the responsibility of the individual sailor/parent/guardian.
LASER RACE CLINICS
AGE: 12 and up, Adults welcome
Boats: Supplied by participant. A few club boats may be available. Contact Sailmaster Dave Penfield for information
T 1:00-4:00 PM, F 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuition: $1515 Member Discount $1145
The lead instructor for this clinic will be Dave Penfield, and will focus on Laser racing skills. Optimal rigging and sail trim will be addressed, as well as specific skills such as tacking, gybing, starting, mark rounding, boat speed and tactics. Adults will be included, and we anticipate some of our friendly and experienced HYC fleet racers will join in to make this an excellent opportunity for youth racers to quickly learn and progress. A brief break between the clinic and the normal Thursday night races will allow for rest, hydration and nutrition. Coaching as appropriate will continue during the races for those enrolled.