The HYC summer sailing junior program offers something for everyone ages 5-18 and is open to the public! No matter if it is your child’s first sail or they are a seasoned competitor there is a program that can enhance your child’s love and understanding of the sport! The learning model that HYC unveiled last summer was a success with Hampton juniors winning two national championships!
This year our programs will build upon that foundation to continue 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.
Hampton Yacht Club Junior Sailing
4707 Victoria Boulevard
Hampton, Virginia
Phone: (757) 722-0711
Website: https://hamptonyc.com/junior-sailing/summer-sailing-program/
Novice – Discover, Learn and Play
Explorer: Ages 5-7
Offered: June 27-July 1, July 11-15, July 25-29, August 8-12
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.
Teach Me How to Sail!
Opti 1: Ages 8-12
Offered: Each Week of the Summer from June 20- August 19 (except July 5-8)
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. Opti 1 is the the foundation that all future classes are built upon. New sailors or even those in their second year are recommended to take multiple sessions of Opti 1 during a summer until they are deemed ready by the coaching staff to move on to Opti 2.
Adventure The Chesapeake Experience! Ages 8-13
Offered: June 20-24, July 18-22
Prerequisites: None
One Week, half-day class. This is an exploratory class for those that love the water. The concept of Adventure is to introduce a love for boating and life on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Topics to be covered may include some basic powerboating, lots about fishing and the ecosystem of the Bay, tides, currents, weather, marine science, history, and building a love for the sea.
Dinghy 1: Ages 13-18
Offered June 20- June 24, July 11-15, July 25-July 29, August 8-12
Prerequisites: None
One Week, full-day class with lunch included. 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. Dinghy 1 is the foundation for Dinghy 2 and other great sailing opportunities.
Intermediate – Develop & Challenge
Opti 2 (Green): Ages 8-13
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered: Full Summer or By Session
Session 1, June 20-July 1 EVENTS: Fishing Bay Yacht Club June 25-26, Hampton Yacht Club June 28-29, Norfolk Yacht & Country Club July 1.
Session 2, July 5-15 EVENTS: Annapolis Yacht Club July 6, Severn Sailing Association July 7
Session 3, July 18-29 EVENTS: Light the Night at Hampton Yacht Club July 20
Session 4, August 1-12 EVENTS: Rock Hall Yacht Club August 8-9, Miles River Yacht Club August 11, Oxford Regatta at Tred Avon Yacht Club Aug. 13-14
Prerequisites: Opti I with a desire to follow the racing track.
Two Week, full-day class. 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 are not mandatory. However, the team and the coach will be traveling to the EVENTS mentioned above, if your sailor cannot attend the events they will be placed with another appropriate class at Hampton Yacht Club for that day(s).
Dinghy 2/Dinghy Development Team: Ages 13-18
Offered: June 27-July 1, July 18-22, August 1-5, August 15-19
Prerequisites: Dinghy 1 or Opti 2
One Week, full-day class with lunch included. 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 an asymmetrical spinnaker. This course will introduce the most basic concepts of sailboat racing and promote fun competition and sportsmanship. Regatta opportunities will be offered but not mandatory.
Veteran – Train & Compete
Opti Travel Team (Red, White, Blue): Ages 8-15
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered: Full Summer or By Session
Session 1, June 20-July 1 EVENTS: Fishing Bay Yacht Club June 25-26, Hampton Yacht Club June 28-29, Norfolk Yacht & Country Club July 1.
Session 2, July 5-15 EVENTS: Annapolis Yacht Club July 6, Severn Sailing Association July 7 Maryland Yacht Club July 12, BCSC July 13, Gibson Island Yacht Club, July 15
Session 3, July 18-29 EVENTS: Columbia Gorge Racing Assoc. USODA Fleet Race Nationals July 18-24
Session 4, August 1-12 EVENTS: Rock Hall Yacht Club August 8-9, Miles River Yacht Club August 11
Sail Newport New England Championships August 9-11
Session 5, Aug. 13-21 EVENTS: Oxford Regatta at Tred Avon Yacht Club Aug. 13-14, New Jersey State Champs August 15-16, USODA Team Race National Championship hosted by Hampton Yacht Club August 19-21
Prerequisites: Opti 2
Summer Team, full day 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 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.
ILCA 4/6 (Laser) Travel Team: Ages 13-18
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
2022 Elite Laser Training Program
Purpose: Provide professional instruction, race training, and coaching in ILCA (4, 6, or 7) for dedicated and experienced youth sailors in the Chesapeake Bay region utilizing the facilities and expertise of Hampton Yacht Club and Old Dominion University Sailing Team. The joint program will be conducted and managed by Big Blue Sailing Academy, LLC in partnership with Hampton Yacht Club, for alternating sessions.
Entrants should purchase session hosted by HYC through HYC’s Club Spot account and sessions hosted by Big Blue at https://www.bigbluesailingacademy.com/elitelaserracingprogram.html
Offered:
Session 1, June 20-July 1 EVENTS: Fishing Bay Yacht Club June 25-26, Hampton Yacht Club June 28-29, *Norfolk Yacht and Country Club July 1, ILCA North American Championship CORK/Sail Kingston, Ontario June 30-July 4
Session 2, July 5-15 EVENTS: Annapolis Yacht Club July 6, Severn Sailing Association July 7, ILCA Atlantic Coast Championship, Larchmont Yacht Club July 8-10, Maryland Yacht Club July 12, BCSC July 13, Gibson Island Yacht Club, July 15
Session 3, July 18-29 EVENTS: US Champs Brant Beach Yacht Club, July 15-17
Session 4, August 1-12 EVENTS: Rock Hall Yacht Club August 8-9, Miles River Yacht Club August 11, Oxford Regatta at Tred Avon Yacht Club Aug. 13-14
The ILCA 4/6 Program at HYC is a bring your own boat program. If you are interested but do not own a boat please contact sailingdirector@hamptonyc.com and I will be happy to assist you in finding a good boat. Big Blue Sailing Academy does have a limited amount of charter boats available.
The 4/6 team plans to travel and there may be costs (regatta fees, lodging, etc.) that are not accounted for in the weekly program fees. Any questions regarding the regatta schedule may be directed to the Sailing Director.
Prerequisite: Opti Travel Team or Dinghy 2 DDT or High School Sailing Experience
Summer Team, the Laser is the single-handed Olympic dinghy in the United States. The 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.
C420 Travel Team: Ages 13-18
*Additional Regatta and Travel Fees May Apply
Offered: Full Summer or By Session
Session 1, June 20-July 1 EVENTS: Fishing Bay Yacht Club June 25-26, Hampton Yacht Club June 28-29, Norfolk Yacht & Country Club July 1.
Session 2, July 5-15 EVENTS: Annapolis Yacht Club July 6, Severn Sailing Association July 7
*Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, c420 National Championship Maryland Yacht Club July 12, BCSC July 13, Gibson Island Yacht Club, July 15
Session 3, July 18-29 EVENTS: *Buffalo Canoe Club c420 North American Championship July 26-29
Session 4, August 1-12 EVENTS: Rock Hall Yacht Club August 8-9, Miles River Yacht Club August 11, Oxford Regatta at Tred Avon Yacht Club Aug. 13-14
Prerequisite: Opti Travel Team or Dinghy 2 DDT or High School Sailing Experience
Summer Team, full day 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.
