Youth Sailing

YOUTH PROGRAM 2023

HYC FALL SAILING

Hyannis Yacht Club is offering Fall Sailing Clinics in Optimists and 420s.

We host our clinics on Sundays. 

Optimist Clinics are 9:00 am-12:00 pm.  The dates are September 10th and 24th, and October 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd.  The cost is $45 per session.  The coach is Julia Setterlund.

420 Clinics are 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.  The dates are September 10th (this clinic only is 1:00- 4:00 pm), September 24th, and October 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd.  The cost is $65 per session.  The coach is Anna Wiatrowski.  On September 10th the Coach is Gino Badano.

At the conclusion of the season, our Optimist and 420 sailors are welcome to sign up for the Halloween Howl  on October 28th and 29th.  This event is sponsored by Sail Newport. 

The Registration for the Clinics is through Clubspot.  Here is the direct link:  https://theclubspot.com/register/camp/Rzv8lwl7XT/class.

Any parents or sailors with questions are welcome to call Emily Mezzetti, General Manager, 508 778 6100 Ext. 350, or email gm@hyannisyachtclub.org.

We're looking forward to a fantastic fall of fun-filled sailing in our shoulder season clinics.

PHRF Youth Regatta - August 3!
The PHRF Youth Regatta is designed to provide an opportunity for young sailors to transition from dinghy to 'big boat sailing'. The regatta will expose our young sailors to bigger keel boats, provide them with connections to boat owners, and show them the camaraderie that grows sailing as a team.  Our goal is to provide our sailors safe, competitive and fair race events. For this regatta safety is the main priority.  We considered the safety of our youth sailors, as well as our volunteered boats and sails. Restrictions are put in place on sail configurations to keep the loads in the boats low, as well as easier to handle for a growing person.  Our racecourse will be a triangle (beat, reach , reach) so there should be no accidental gybes. We intend to have 2 races of 3-8 miles each on the day of the event. This will allow the kids to develop their skills each race and build confidence as the day goes on.   The event should be about 4 hours long, but that all depends on the sailing conditions. Our new crew members will rotate through different positions on the boat. There will be no passengers!
NOTICE OF RACE - Click HERE          REGISTRATION - Coming Soon

   

         

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.

Hyannis Yacht Club Foundation logo

     

Sailing Classes
PW (Pee Wee) Sailors

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 1 & 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Introduction to C420's

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. 
 

C420 Race Teams

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

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.