Junior Sailing

Junior Sailing Program

The Junior Sailing Program aims to teach the art of sailing to juniors and, for those who are interested, introduce them to the sport of sailboat racing. The junior sailors learn on the club-owned fleet of Optimist Prams, Club 420s and Lasers.
Highlights of the program include:

  • Day camp at the club in June
  • Monthly practice sessions
  • Participation in local, regional and national regattas, most of which have special fleets for beginning racers.
  • Rock Paper Scissors Junior Regatta which is held at Birmingham Sailing Club in August.

If you have any questions or you would like to participate please Contact the Junior Sailing Program.

Junior Summer Camp

BSC JUNIOR SAILING CAMP 2024

Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

FEE: $450 / $375 for BSC members

Additional family members receive $50 discount

Extended day pickup is available until 6:30 pm for $50, additional family members are $35.

Click here for CAMP REGISTRATION

NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 1, 2023

Click here to sign up to receive an email reminder for non-member registration

CAMP FEES INCLUDE:

use of club sailboats

instructors’ fees

daily lunches

snacks

t-shirt

option to stay and participate in Wednesday night club races

Please note that families (including siblings) are encouraged to stick around and enjoy our facilities while their camper is in session.

Limited camping space available as well.

BSC Junior Sailing Camp offers beginner (learn to sail), intermediate (learn to sail better), advanced (learn to race), and extreme (learn to race better) levels for kids looking to advance their sailing skills in Optimists, Lasers, and Club 420 sailboats. Sailing Camp is designed to allow sailors ages 8 to 19 to become acquainted with sailing and the basics of racing. Beginning sailors will get hands-on experience rigging, steering, maneuvering around docks and around a course, tying knots, and learning about weather and boating safety.

The program is very flexible as to which group the Juniors begin in. As skill levels progress, the Junior will be offered a chance to move to or visit another level. Each level will review skills of prior levels and focus on developing skills through games, demonstrations, and drills both on and off the water.

Prerequisite skills needed for each level:

LEVEL 1 BEGINNER (learn to sail)

No Prior boating experience required.

Must be able to swim unassisted for 25 yards and tread water for 1 minute.

LEVEL 2 INTERMEDIATE (learn to sail better)

In addition to the above: Should know basic names of boat parts. Be able to steer boat away from and back to the dock under sail alone.

LEVEL 3 ADVANCED (learn to race)

In addition to the above: Should know the basic right of way rules. Should know how to get out of the NO GO ZONE (irons). Should be able to sail to a location upwind. Should have a desire to learn more about sailing through racing.

LEVEL 4 EXTREME (learn to race better)

Must have some experience racing sailboats.

Each participant must wear a US Coast Guard Approved life jacket that fits well and shoes or strap-on sandals which can be worn in and around the water. Each day, please bring a water bottle filled with water. We will honor whatever Covid precautions the CDC has in place at the time of camp. To make this the best camp ever, we need parent involvement. We require that parents of all campers work a 2-3 hour shift at camp (sign up will be emailed to you after registration). Contact information for participants/families will be sent to all parents prior to camp to facilitate carpooling.

PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY

Payment is due at the time of registration. Our web host requires a small payment fee which will be added at checkout. In case of cancellation, the payment fee cannot be refunded but the full camp fee will be refunded until 14 days before the first day of camp. For cancellations made 2-13 days before camp, a $50 cancellation fee will be applied. No refunds for cancellations made less than 2 days before your week of camp begins. NOTE: When registering for the waitlist, payment will not be required until an opening is available for your child.

REGISTRATION CLOSES SUNDAY, JUNE 2.

If you have any questions or you would like to participate, please contact the Junior Sailing Program.

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