Please be sure to read our CAYSP Code of Conduct. Parents and students will be notified if and when policies are updated.
This program is designed to prepare students to move into the CAYSP sailing programs, with a strong emphasis on engaging the kids in fun, authentic experiences. Built on the idea that “first you have to row a little boat”, students will gain the prerequisite skills ahead of sailing to manage small boats independently (boat handling/rowing), to sail with an instructor and to learn basic seamanship, harbor awareness, navigation, and knot tying. We will also focus on developing confidence and awareness on and around the water. Most of our time will be spent in boats exploring the harbor and getting to know more about Camden’s active waterfront! With intention this class is kept at 12 participants to allow for ample attention and focus on our students with a minimum 1:6 instructor to student ratio. This class does fill very quickly.
Monday–Friday, 8:30–11:30
$165/week
*As a program designed to prepare students to move into our sailing program, we feel that it is best for students to attend for one or two weeks only.
The same great Scuppers program offered as before but now all-day! With intention this class is kept at 12 participants to allow for ample attention and focus on our students with a minimum 1:6 instructor to student ratio. This class is expected to fill quickly.
Bring a lifejacket and a backpack with your lunch, plenty of snacks, water, and a change of clothes.
Monday–Friday, 9:00–3:30
Pre-requisites: none
$325/week
*As a program designed to prepare students to move into our sailing program, we feel that it is best for students to attend for one or two weeks only.
Like all of our sailing classes, Beginning Sailing is taught by US Sailing Certified Level 1 Instructors and our ratio (1:6) is intentionally low to keep students fully engaged and safe. Students will sail in Cubes, Optimists, and RS Quests with and without instructors in the boats. They will receive a solid introduction to basic sailing skills.
This is a class for the beginning sailor or someone who wants to build confidence on the water. In addition to the basics of sailing, students will learn rigging, boat handling, basic weather and wind awareness, and knot tying. Weather permitting, a typical day includes a land-based demonstration and game followed by about two hours on the water. Building friendships through fun activities both on and off the water is an integral part of our curriculum.
Monday–Friday, 8:30–11:30am [and 1:00-4:00pm Session 9 only]
Pre-requisites: none
$170/week
This is a class for students who are capable of sailing their own Optimist, have a firm grasp of basic boat handling skills, and are interested in simply sailing for fun. THIS IS NOT A RACING COURSE.
Through on-land teaching and on-water drills sailors will continue to hone in their boat handling and seamanship skills. At times, the Opti cruising sailors will participate in on-land and on-water activities with the Opti racers, though not directly participating in racing drills.
Monday–Friday, 8:30-11:30
Pre-requisites: Beginning Sailing or equivalent experience. Must be comfortable solo sailing.
$175/week
Designed as a foundation course for
dinghy racing, this five-day intro to racing and rules is a broad-based
sailing course that covers race dinghy handling as well as basic strategy and
tactics. Taught on either our Optimists or 420s dependent upon age and ability
levels.
Each day begins with a chalk talk and
then proceeds onto the water. During the week, we dissect sailboat racing and
then by Friday put it back together.
While
an introductory course, students are expected to be comfortable sailing solo. Our US Sailing Certified Instructors will
continue to teach new concepts as well as offer drills to practice seamanship
skills, points of sail, weather awareness including wind speed and direction
changes, and moving within Camden Harbor safely.
As
always, community building and developing friendships are a part of the
curriculum.
Monday–Friday, 8:30–11:30
Pre-requisites: Beginning Sailing or equivalent experience. Must be comfortable solo sailing.
$170/week
*This class is designed to be taken once per season as either an introduction or refresher on dinghy racing.
This class is offered in the afternoons when the wind picks up to help move these heavier boats effortlessly over the water. Sailors in this class need to have basic sailing skills (can sail all points of sail including tacking and gybing, body positioning, etc.).
THIS IS NOT A RACING CLASS. The class is designed for older students who have had experience on the water and want to continue growing as a sailor in a non-competitive environment while enjoying the pleasures of sailing and the beauty of the Penobscot Bay. The curriculum is based on orienting students to a C420, a one-design: two-person sailing dinghy. Specifically, students will get acquainted to the 420 by learning rigging and de-rigging, becoming aware of centerboard, boom-vang, cunningham and outhaul adjustments, practicing body positioning/hiking and sailing with endurance through varying weather conditions.
Monday–Friday, 8:30-11:30 & 1:00–4:00
Pre-requisites: Beginning Sailing, Opti Cruise, or equivalent experience.
$170/week
This is a class for students who are capable of sailing their own Optimist, have a firm grasp of basic boat handling skills AND are interested in continued improvement of the skills involved in racing. It is an introductory level RACING class, offered in the afternoon when the wind is typically stronger.
Through on-land teaching and on-water drills, sailors will build on what they learned in Intro to Racing, specifically how to maneuver the start-line, upwind and downwind legs, mark roundings, as well as race rules. The class will offer friendly competition in the form of a weekly race day and/or larger in-house regattas.
At the coach’s discretion and based on skill level and confidence, students may be invited to participate in day-long regattas in the entry-level “Green Fleet” a prerequisite to racing on the Optimist Race Team. Any traveling will require parental involvement. There may be times when we need to extend the day because of a regatta opportunity. Continuing to gain solid friendships and building community are an important part of our afternoon classes.
Monday–Friday, 1:00–4:00
Pre-requisites: Beginning Sailing and Intro to Racing, and/or equivalent experience.
$193/week
This is a competitive sailing team in Optimists. Emphasis is on safety and moving an Optimist fast and well through the water. Students will single-hand Optimists on a daily basis, developing a strong foundation by practicing more difficult drills, tactics, and seamanship along with an understanding of the Racing Rules of Sailing. Sailors receive intensive, individual coaching, and also learn to work together as a team.
This class will sail in most weather, including heavier wind days. It is a positive, team-oriented environment. In addition, there will be a weekly Race Day. For the most part these races will be held in Camden Harbor. There may be times when we need to extend the day because of a regatta opportunity with another local club or sailing center.
Attendance of regattas—such as the Opti Maine States, Camden Classics, US Sailing Regional Junior Olympic event, Battle of the Bay, and the Harraseeket Youth Regatta—are strongly encouraged. Sailors will need to be signed up for the same week as any regatta they hope to attend. Parental involvement is mandatory for regattas.
Continuing to develop solid friendships and building community are an important part of our afternoon classes.
Monday–Friday, 1:00–4:00
Pre-requisites: Intro to Racing and at least 1-season of racing as part of the Optimist Green Fleet (or equivalent experience).
$193/week
This is the highest-level youth sailing class offered through CAYSP. Prerequisites in most cases include the Optimist Race Team. Sailors should have previous 420 sailing experience and feel confident with boat handling skills in moderate to heavy wind.
Drills used to develop skills to the next level will be used regularly. These may include negotiating a crowded start line, maneuvering your boat in tight spaces, fine-tuning your boat speed using the boom-vang and Cunningham, making centerboard and outhaul adjustments, learning and practicing trapeze and spinnaker work, and sailing with endurance through varying weather conditions. Understanding the details of the race rules will be addressed as part of this class.
C420s will be the sole vessels used. Equipment maintenance will also be a part of the class.
In-state regattas will be an option which may or may not include: Maine States, Camden Classics, US Sailing Regional Junior Olympic event, Battle of the Bay, and/or the Harraseeket Youth Regatta among others. Sailors, Coaches, and the Program Director will decide upon who will attend these races, though the expectation is that all sailors will attend. Parental involvement with these regattas is expected.
Monday–Friday, 1:00–4:00.
Pre-requisites: Intro to Racing, Optimist Race Team (or equivalent), and 3+ years of sailing experience
$193/week
*Though this class is set as weekly, for maximum benefit it is strongly suggested to attend for the entire summer or a minimum of four weeks: specifically Sessions 4-7 (July 10-August 4). This allows both the sailors and coaches ample opportunity to train and prepare for the mid-/late- summer regattas.
This all-day course will give students the opportunity to learn and play in Camden Harbor and surrounding coastal areas. Hiking Mt. Battie, visiting Curtis Island, inter-tidal exploration, exploring Penobscot Bay by power boat, team building challenges, scavenger hunts, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) activities, and sailing RS Quests are a number of the activities students can expect to experience in this interdisciplinary course. Summer camp on the coast of Maine at its finest!
Bring a lifejacket and a backpack with your lunch, plenty of snacks, water, and a change of clothes.
Monday–Friday, 9:00–3:30.
$370/week
Note:
* Maximum of 6 learners per session.
* Sessions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 are reserved for ages 8-10
* Sessions 2, 4, 6, 8 are reserved for ages 11-13
* If any class is not filled one-week prior to class start date, the age requirement will be waived to allow any age 8-13 to fill those vacant spots.
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Private lessons are available from our US Sailing Certified Instructors. Please reach out to our Sailing School Director for contact information and suggestions on matching instructors with students.
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Questions? Please email the Program Director at caysp@camdenyachtclub.org