2024 Season IS NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

We have a great season planned for our 2024 Junior Sailors! As usual, classes will run three hours (see class schedule below). We engage kids age 7 to 17 and of all experience levels. From beginners to competitive racers, you’ll find a class that fits your child’s comfort level. The first session will run from June 17th to July 12th, the second session will run from July 15th to August 9th. Students can take one or both sessions.

Tips for Registration:

  1. NBYC Members: You will need your NBSA Member Number to receive the member-only prices. Login to ClubSpot through the NBYC site and follow this link. You will see your four-character (one letter and three numbers) Member Number in the top left under your name. This must be entered when registering for NBSA sailing classes to receive your member discount.

  2. If you will be registering multiple children in NBSA Junior Sailing classes, you must register and pay for each child one at a time. To take advantage of the 10% discount at checkout, please respond 'Yes' to the corresponding question during checkout for each child.

  3. Opti Yellow, Orange, and Purple are all different Opti Beginner Morning Classes.  If a class is full you must choose a different colored class.

  4. A “Full Season” is the combination of the first and second sessions of eight weeks at a discounted price.  Don’t sign up for the “First Session” and the “Second Session” or you’ll pay a higher fee.

  5. Personal Boat Owners: If you are supplying your own boat for ALL classes, please indicate so at checkout to receive the discount. This is not a class level discount. It can only be applied once per sailor during checkout. Please note, you must complete the Dinghy Storage Application, located here.  Please fill this out ASAP to reserve a spot for your boat before the dry sail lot fills up. Dinghy Storage Regulations are located here.

  6. Each time you complete the checkout process, you will receive 3 emails. (1) an e-signature request for waivers, etc.; (2) class registration confirmation email; and (3) NBSA receipt email. Please make sure to review and sign the mandatory waiver as soon as possible.

  7. Sign up for Junior Sailing by May 31st! After May 31st, prices will include a late fee of $50 for full-season and $25 for half-season.

REGISTER NOW

Registration is now open!

Important Dates and Fees:

Registration is Currently Open
Late Fee Applied after May 31, 2024
First Session Starts: June 17, 2024
First Session Ends: July 12, 2024
Second Session Starts: July 15, 2024
Second Session Ends: August 9, 2024

Adventure Sailing Full Season

Full Season Regular Price: $820.00
NBYC Member Full Season Price: $665.00

420 Race/Opti Race/Opti Green/Double-Handed Beginner/Intermediate Full Season

Full Season Regular Price: $960.00
NBYC Member Full Season Price: $805.00
Boat owner deduct $140*

420 Race/Opti Race/Opti Green/Double-Handed Beginner/Intermediate Half Season

Half Season Regular Price: $630.00
NBYC Member Half Season Price: $530.00
Boat owner deducts $140*

Opti Beginner (Orange/Purple/Yellow) Full Season

Full Season Regular Price: $850
NBYC Member Full Season Price: $695
Boat owner deducts $140*

Opti Beginner (Orange/Purple/Yellow) Half Season

Half Season Regular Price: $570
NBYC Member Half Season Price: $470
Boat owner deducts $140*

*If you are supplying your own boat for ALL classes, please indicate so at checkout to receive the discount. This is not a class level discount. It can only be applied once per sailor during checkout.
10% sibling discount is applied for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. child (you will need to register/pay for each child one at a time)

Adventure Sailing

This course focuses on navigation and seamanship for a life on the water. Rather than an emphasis on dinghy racing, the goal is to give students a well-rounded experience on larger cruising boats, including the skills to be either skipper or crew. Students will learn these skills through a combination of shorter instructional days and a full day on the water on a larger boat. On the full day cruises, students will practice their skills and participate in STEM activities to deepen their understanding of the “why” beyond the “how”. The 8-week course is thematic in nature and each week will have a different focus. Come join us on the water! Participants must be 11 years old by July 1st of this year.

Class meets Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Beginner Opti

An introduction or reintroduction to sailing. This class is for the young student who has no prior sailing experience. Beginner students will have fun and learn skills in both small group and whole class lessons. The basics of sailing – wind directions, parts of the boat, rigging, steering, sail trim, tacking, jibing, knots, towing, and docking, capsize and recovery, bailing as well as basic boat care. Swimming, games, and knot tying will all be part of this fun-focused introduction to sailing class. This class will be taught primarily in Optimists though students will cross train in RS Feva's and Ensigns.


Class Schedules:
Orange - Class meets Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Purple - Class meets Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Yellow - Class meets Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Intermediate Opti

Optimist Intermediate is intended for those sailors that have graduated from Opti Beginner who are looking to refine their boathandling skills as well as increase their knowledge of sailing rules. This class is a great segue to either Opti Green Fleet intro to racing or Doublehanded Intermediate. The class will also focus on refining skills required to sail a boat at its optimal performance and have fun!

Class meets Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Opti Green Fleet – Intro to Racing

This class is designed for the young sailor who has mastered the beginner class and is ready to learn some basic racing skills. These skills can be tested at local Eastern Connecticut Green Fleet Regattas. These fun low key regattas are for kids that want to begin and test competitive racing. Owning your own boat is a good idea and encouraged.

Class meets Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Opti Racing

This class is for the Opti Sailor who is eager and committed to learning racing skills. Opti racers will develop racing skills including rigging for optimum speed, race preparation, and strategy development, various starting tactics, upwind/downwind steering and strategy, and rules. Classes will be formatted to include both small group instruction focused on boat handling (mark rounding, roll tacking/gybing, starting, etc.) and whole class racing. Opti Racers will be encouraged to participate in Twilights, weekend racing, and regattas (for which coaching will be provided).

Class meets Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Double-handed Beginner (Feva)

This class is designed for sailors who are age appropriate and ready to move on from the Opti. While we recommend the sailors to have participated in two full seasons of sailing classes, beginners who are interested are welcome! Lessons will be primarily taught in Fevas and 420s. A combination of fun activities and skill-building drills will be incorporated into the class to develop a love of sailing and confidence in each child. Sailors will learn parts of the boat, rigging, sail trim, tacking, jibing, towing, docking, capsize/recovery, weight distribution, upwind steering, points of sail, introduction to spinnakers, etc. Seamanship and basic racing will also be introduced.

Class meets Monday, Tuesday, Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Double-handed Intermediate (Feva)

This class is recommended for sailors who have participated in two full seasons of sailing classes or one season in Double-Handed Beginner, who are age appropriate and ready to move on from the Optis and beginner Fevas. Lessons will be primarily taught in Fevas and 420s as well as some keelboating. Intermediate sailors will build upon the skills learned as beginners. A combination of fun activities and skill-building drills will be incorporated into the class to develop a love of sailing and confidence in each child. Sail trim (Main, Jib and Spinnaker), weight distribution, upwind steering, points of sail, sailing backwards, and introduction to spinnakers will all be covered in class. Seamanship and basic racing will also be introduced.

Class meets Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

420 Racing

This class is for the 420 Sailor who is eager and committed to learning racing skills. 420 racers will develop racing skills including rigging for optimum speed, race preparation and strategy development, various starting tactics, upwind/downwind steering, double handed sail trim, and rules. Classes will be formatted to include both small group instruction focused on boathandling (mark rounding, roll tacking/gybing, starting, spinnaker and trapeze etc.) and whole class racing. 420 racers will be expected to represent NBSA in the ECSA team races and are encouraged to participate in Twilights, Weekend Races, and regattas(for which coaching will be provided).

Class meets Monday, Tuesday, Friday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

NBSA Junior Sailing Handbook:

2024 NBSA Junior Sailing Handbook

 

REGISTER NOW

 

If you have questions, please contact us at NBSA@NianticSailing.org.

Junior Sailing 2023 RECAP

This season was full of success for NBSA’s youth sailors at all levels. Our beginner and intermediate groups continued to grow as young sailors expanding their skill sets and comfort level on the water. We hope to see them return next year as they continue to progress through our program!

The Adventure Sailing class was an outstanding success. The participating youth sailors learned a variety of sailing skills that we hope they will continue to use throughout their lifetimes. We want to sincerely thank Steve Marenakos, Pam Manthous and Rob Shook who volunteered their time and boats to help make this class successful. We look forward to continuing and expanding the Adventure Sailing class next season and NBSA’s focus on STEM and sustainability initiatives in the community!

Our race fleets saw many accomplishments this season, with NBSA youth sailors routinely taking top spots in regattas across the region and especially at the Larry White Regatta organized by Theresa Colantuono. It was extremely rewarding for the NBSA to see youth sailors who had come up through the program, enjoy such success this season. We want to not only thank the instructors for the amazing job they did, but also to the parents and volunteers who put so much of their time and energy into each regatta… whether helping with the logistics, or supporting our youth sailors on the water, we couldn’t have done this without your help. Thank you!