Please help us continue and expand our programs.
Junior Course Descriptions
Descriptions and Schedule
| Session 1: | June 24 - July 5 |
| — no sailing July 4 — | |
| Session 2: | July 8 - July 19 |
| Session 3: | July 22 - August 2 |
| Session 4: | August 5 - August 16 |
- All sessions are two weeks long.
- We highly recommend all sailors sign up for two consecutive sessions if possible.
- If you do sign your child up for two sessions (4 weeks of sailing), please sign them up for the same level class for both sessions (eg: session 1 = 420 beginner, session 2 = 420 beginner).
- Sailors may attend morning, afternoon, or full day classes. See the course availability page for when classes are offered.
Beginner Frosty : M-F 9am-12pm
This beginner course is designed for kids ages 8-9, stressing basic sailing skills, confidence building and water safety. This class is limited to six sailors per session.
Beginner Optimist:
A course intended for 8 to 12-year-olds (or anyone under 100 lbs.*) who are new to sailing. As with the Frosty class, this course focuses on basic sailing skills, confidence building and water safety. This class is often repeated to ensure a solid foundation of basic skills.
*If your child is over 5 ft. tall and over 100 lbs., they are probably a better suited for the Beginner 420 class.
Intermediate Optimist:
For sailors who have completed Beginner Optimist or the equivalent. This successor to Beginner Opti focuses on developing sailing knowledge, building boat handling skills and provides an introduction to racing. This class is often repeated to ensure a solid foundation of boat handling skills.
Advanced Optimist:
Offered Session 3 only. For sailors who have completed Intermediate Optimist or the equivalent. This successor to Intermediate Opti is designed for kids interested in becoming skilled sailors. They'll have demonstrated the skills needed to participate in more advanced sailing activities, including racing. Navigation, boating safety and fun are emphasized. Some sailors will participate in local regattas including the MIRC series. A full day class.
Frosties and Optis are both singlehanded boats.
Laser Class: M-F 1pm-4pm
This class is for sailors who are competent skippering their own boat and therefore have completed a few sessions of junior sailing either in optimists or 420s (or the equivalent). This class will focus on learning the "ropes" of a laser including boat handling skills, proper rigging and how to race a laser. Sailors must be 115+ pounds.
We have six lasers available – first come, first serve. You are also welcome to BYOB (bring your own boat).
Lasers are singlehanded boats.
Beginner 420:
An entry level class for sailors who are 12 and older and/or weigh over 100 lbs. This class is for those who are new to sailing or have sailed in single-handed boats and need some more confidence in a double-handed boat. This class stresses basic skills, confidence building and water safety. You can also choose to take this class for a full day by signing up for am and pm classes.
Intermediate 420:
A higher-level 420 course designed for kids who have demonstrated the skills necessary to participate in more advanced sailing activities, including racing. The class will focus on developing sailing knowledge, building boat handling skills and provides an introduction to racing. You can also choose to take this class for a full day by signing up for am and pm.
420s are doublehanded boats.
Adventure Class: M-F 12pm-4pm
Offered session 2 and 4. This is a class for adventurous, experienced sailors who want to sail beyond the buoys. This class is designed to expose those junior sailors to all aspects of boat handling, navigation and seamanship. The students will sail in SailMaine's J/22s, Sea Sprite, Catalina 22 and collegiate 420s. They might even take out a Frosty from time to time! The class will culminate in an overnight cruise planned by the sailors. Ages 12 and up.