Jr Sailing Lessons - Westhampton Yacht Squadron, Ltd.

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Westhampton Yacht Squadron

Junior Sailing Lessons 2026

Sessions:

Lessons are broken up into two-4/week sessions. Please make sure you register for one or both sessions as soon as possible.
Session I – June 29 – July 24
Session II - July 27 – August 21
There is a waitlist if a class fills up.
With no exceptions - no refunds after the first week of lessons.
WYS reserves the right to cancel any class.
A WYS (Under 18) Medical Consent and Participant Waiver of Claims Form is required to be enrolled and participate in any WYS lesson program.

Contact Info:
For general questions, contact the Club Office at email@yachtsquadron.com or call 631-325-8321.
For specific Junior Sailing questions, contact wysjrsailing@gmail.com

Make-ups and Cancellation policy:
There are no make-ups, with the exception of the Friday Minnows class if it falls on the day of the WYS Junior Regatta. (date to be announced).
If there is inclement weather, lessons will take place indoors or on the lawn. Class times may also be shortened.

What does my child need to bring to sailing lessons?
Bathing suit, t-shirt, rash top.
Life jacket that fits correctly (this will be tested on the first day of lessons)
Close-toed shoes- sailing/water shoes or anything that can get wet and covers your child’s toes.
Towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses.
All personal sailing gear should be labeled with the sailor's name in permanent marker. Write the child's name on the outside of the life jacket to allow for easy identification if it is lost.

Swim Test: Your child must pass a swim test before they can take any sailing lessons. You can practice with your child before lessons begin.

Swim test procedure:
Jump into the water (pool or bay) with a life jacket and shoes on. Float with their life jacket.
Swim to the other end and float with a life jacket on for about 30 seconds.
Students will take off their life jackets in the water and tread water for about 1 minute.
Sailors will swim about 15 yds down and back without a life jacket.
Sailors will then put their lifejacket back on while in the water.

Parents are not permitted to be in the immediate vicinity of the lesson while lessons are being conducted:
Children under 12 must have an adult on club grounds during the lesson.
Drop your child off at the Andon Graham Sailing Center for their lesson.
When the students prepare their boats to go sailing, please allow the instructors to teach them how to set up the boats.
We understand you may want to help, but the sailors need to learn and be able to do it by themselves. The staff will teach them during the first week of lessons.
Please be on time to drop off and pick up your child. If you or your child will be late or picked up early, please give us a written note and remind us that day.

Boat Substitutions:
A different sailboat may be used for lessons at the instructor's discretion.

MINNOWS (Ages 5-6)

This class is a great introduction for our youngest sailors and to get them familiar with what it is like to be on a sailboat. Children will have an instructor with them at all times. We want our youngest sailors to become relaxed on sailboats while on the bay. Sailors will be introduced to basic boat safety while learning basic sailing terms and, most importantly, having fun!

Fee: $215 per session per child.

Schedule: Friday mornings from 9:00 - 10:00am and 10:00 - 11:00 am

JY I (Ages 6-8)

This class is for slightly older kids with at least some sailing experience. Children will have an instructor with them at all times, but they will be encouraged to take control of the boat while getting direct help from the instructor. Sailors will learn how to rig parts of the boat and how to steer and control the sails.

Fee: $415 per session per child

Schedule: Monday & Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 11:30 am

JY II (Ages 8-10)

This class is an introduction to the concepts of sailing, and the sailors will build upon the skills learned in the JYI class. It is recommended, but not required, that they take JY1 prior to JYII. Students will have an instructor with them at all times but will be encouraged to control the boat without direct assistance from the instructor. Sailors will learn; capsize recovery, finding the wind direction, how to adjust the sails for the different points of sail, how to steer, tack and gybe a sailboat.

Fee: $415 per session per child

Schedule: Tuesday & Thursday morning from 9:00 - 11:30am

Opti Beginner (Ages 6+):

This is an introduction to sailing an Opti in a fun, safe and controlled environment. Opti beginner will teach the skills necessary to sail their boat independently and safely. This class will have a variety of fun, and skill-building techniques teaching the sailors how to prepare, launch, sail, capsize, return and pack away their boats. Sailors will gain the confidence needed to sail a boat by themselves. You should have some level of prior sailing experience (1+ years in JY) to sail in Opti. It is important to note that if you use a club boat, you may have to share it.

Prerequisite Swim Test, JYI or JY II lessons.

Fee: $415 per session for privately owned boats

Fee: $490 per session for club owned boats. Club boats are limited to 10 students.

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 - 11:30 am

Adventure Sailing Lessons (ages 9 ½ + years old)

This class perfectly combines more advanced sailing skills with leisure sailing while exploring Moriches Bay. Adventure Sail puts emphasis on teaching the kids how to sail, anchor, and prepare the boat for their excursions. While sailing to their destination, sailors will be taught advanced sailing skills such as navigation, currents, and sailing tactics. Destination sails will be common in this class, as students will often sail to beaches, islands, sandbars, and other locations the bay has to offer.Adventure sail activities will include but are not limited to the following:

Scavenger hunt around the bay
Beach clean up’s
Bay/cove exploration
Sail to Great Gun beach (long sail day)
Marine biology crash course
Boat swap (sailors will learn to sail in an alternative boat for the day)
Back to the basics (Sailors will take a step back to revisit and master basic skills)
Racing made fun! (Sailors will be introduced to racing topics in a low stress environment)
Bridge Sail
Free swim day
Sailing Olympics!

Parents should understand that by signing up for this class, students will be allowed to sail to a destination and swim/explore while they are there (ie: Pikes beach). The type of boat sailed in may vary, although it will prominently be in JY’s or Flying Scots.

Prerequisite: JYI or JY II lessons.

Fee: $465 per session, per child

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 - 4:00 for ages 9 ½ and up

Adventure Sailing Lessons (ages 11 ½ + years old)

This class perfectly combines more advanced sailing skills with leisure sailing while exploring Moriches Bay. Adventure Sail puts emphasis on teaching the kids how to sail, anchor, and prepare the boat for their excursions. While sailing to their destination, sailors will be taught advanced sailing skills such as navigation, currents, and sailing tactics. Destination sails will be common in this class, as students will often sail to beaches, islands, sandbars, and other locations the bay has to offer. Adventure sail activities will include but are not limited to the following:

Scavenger hunt around the bay
Beach clean up’s
Bay/cove exploration
Sail to Great Gun beach (long sail day)
Marine biology crash course
Boat swap (sailors will learn to sail in an alternative boat for the day)
Back to the basics (Sailors will take a step back to revisit and master basic skills)
Racing made fun! (Sailors will be introduced to racing topics in a low stress environment)
Bridge Sail
Free swim day
Sailing Olympics!

Prerequisite: JYI or JY II lessons.

Fee: $465 per session, per child

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 - 4:00 for ages 11 ½ and up.

Opti Intermediate (Ages 7+):

Opti Intermediate will teach more advanced sailing skills, preparing them to sail the Opti competently and possibly join our race team. They will learn more advanced boat handling skills and be introduced to the basic skills of racing. Candidates must have successfully passed Opti Beginner or have instructor recommendation.

Fee: $415 per session for privately owned boats.

Fee: $490 per session for club owned boats. Club boats are limited to 10 students.

Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 - 11:30 am

Opti Race Team:

This class is designed for Opti sailors who are ready to race. Sailors will be taught advanced boat handling skills, racing tactics, and rules. This will prepare them to compete in weekly/seasonal local and regional regattas. The sailor should have multiple years of experience or instructor recommendation.

Fee: $565 per session.

Schedule: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 - 4:00 pm

Junior regattas take place on Fridays at other Yacht Clubs around Long Island (a schedule will be sent out before the start of the session.)

The parents of the sailors are responsible for transporting boats to and from regattas. One or two parents will be needed to drive the trailer(s) to and from each regatta. If parents can not transport the trailer, the sailors will be unable to race in that week's regatta unless special circumstances arise.

420 Beginner (Ages 11+)

The 420 class is a more advanced lesson designed for sailors with previous sailing skills. It serves as an introduction to the 420 sailboat. 420 beginners will be taught more advanced sailing skills, preparing them to sail the 420 competently and possibly join our race team in the near future. Students will learn more advanced boat handling skills and be introduced to the basic skills of racing a 420.

The 420-sailboats are for the accomplished JY and Opti graduates who would like to expand their skill set by using the high-performance Club 420 and progressing to our 420-Racing Team.

On days when the 420s are being used at racing events, the students will sail a JY15, Flying Scot, or other available boat.

Prerequisite: Swim Test, Opti, JY, or instructor recommendation.

Fee: $490 per session per child

Schedule: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 – 11:30

420 Intermediate (Ages 12+)

This class is for sailors who have successfully passed the 420 Beginner class. This is an introduction to racing the 420 for sailors who want to improve upon the foundation built from the 420 beginner class, learn advanced boat handling skills, and be taught the beginning skills of racing.

By the end of the summer, they will start practice racing at lessons.

On days when the 420s are being used at racing events, the students will sail a JY15, Flying Scot, or other available boat.

Prerequisite:Swim Test, 420 I, Opti racing, or instructor recommendation.

Fee: $490 per session per child

Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:00 – 11:30am

420 Racing Class:

This class is designed for 420 sailors who are ready to race. Sailors will be taught advanced boat handling skills, racing tactics, and rules. This will prepare them to compete in weekly local and regional regattas.

Prerequisite: Swim Test, 420 II, Opti racing, Sunfish intermediate or instructor recommendation

Fee: $565 per session per child

Parents are responsible for transporting their children's boat to and from regattas. If the boat can not be transported by the parents, the sailors cannot race in that week's regatta unless special circumstances arise.