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OCEAN CITY YACHT CLUB
ESTABLISHED IN 1901
39°17'34.4" N 74°33'54.0" W

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2024 Courses and Class Descriptions
 Junior Sailing Schedule June 17th until August 9th, 2024
Morning Classes:  9:15am until 12:30pm  ~  Afternoon Classes: 1:00pm until 4:30pm

Please be sure to visit the Registration Process and 2024 Program Information page

Information for New Sailors:  Children who are 8-10 years old by June 17, 2024 and have never sailed previously should enroll in Sea Squirts. 
Sea Squirts is an 8-week program.  (Minnows is a one-week program for 5–7-year-olds).

New sailors or sailors returning after a few years hiatus should contact one of the co-directors to discuss which class is appropriate.  

Please Note:  To be eligible for Junior Sailing,  a sailor must be part of a family membership or must have a junior membership.  Grandchildren of members are only eligible for the Seas and Seamanship Program and the Minnows Programs.  Find the junior membership tab to complete a junior membership.  The cost is only $250

Minnows Session 1 is July 8-12, Session 2 is August 5-9, 2024.  Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

5-day program for 5–7-year-olds to introduce them to sailing, the yacht club and the sea.  Activities may include:

  • Sailing lesson with adult on a small sailboat
  • Basic wind lessons, rigging, and knot tying
  • Ride on a power boat
  • Visit with the Coastguard and talk about maritime careers
  • Sailor etiquette lesson, pirate themed treasure hunt, crafts
  • Catch fish, crabs, hermit crabs, and who knows what else at Corson’s Inlet State Park

Children must be 5 years old by July 1, 2024 and no older than 7 years of age.

Registration will be open for one week to children who have not had the opportunity to enroll in this program, then registration will be open to all.  All participants must have their own appropriately sized US Coast Guard-approved life jacket 

Fee is $250 per child.  Children may be enrolled for one week only. Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

Parent, grandparent or guardian must accompany children for boating and park activities (2 days). Open to children and grandchildren of club members only. 

Sea Squirts - Sea Squirts - The Sea Squirts program is the starting point for our youngest sailors! The program is designed to introduce future junior sailors to the sailing environment. Instruction is done with 2 children in an Opti. Classes feature water games and play designed to prepare the future junior sailor for formal sailing instruction the following year. This course will teach the basics of rigging a boat, basic boat handling, sportsmanship, and water safety. Students will foster a love for the water while developing confidence in boat handling. Sea Squirts is designed for children ages 8 & 9 and will meet 4 mornings a week- M,T,W,F.  Fee is $960 lessons, add $475 boat rental if needed and $400 refundable damage deposit.

Bay Explorers -This class is designed for those who want to be on the water but aren’t not available for  racing. Bay Explorers will provide additional sailing instruction through the use of a recreational sailing/cruising format. The class will take sailboat trips to local points of interest and participate in water games to enhance boat handling skills. Students must demonstrate boat-handling skills equivalent to those required for Intermediate Opti. Ages 12 and up.

Bay Explorers feature two options. The first is for designated racers who are looking for a break in their racing schedule to unwind and try out a new type of boat. This is a 2 session per week option. Fee is $550.

Then we have a 4 session per week option for designated sailors as an alternative path to the racing curriculum. Fee is $960. Add $475 boat rental if needed and $400 refundable damage deposit.

Laser Racing-To participate in this class sailors must demonstrate the ability to control the boat single-handedly under various weather conditions.  Sailors should have successfully completed Optimist Racing and/or must demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge as determined by the instructors. In this class sailors will refine their racing skills while competing in weekly OCYC races as well as local regattas. Curriculum focuses on boat handling and racing skills, rules, and tactics. As with all of our programs, there will be a focus on the Corinthian Spirit and being positive role models on and off the water.  Fee is $1,200 lessons, add $475 boat rental if needed, $400 refundable damage deposit, add $200 regatta transportation if needed.

If you have questions prior to the June 15 parents meeting or you have questions specific to your child please reach out to the Co-Directors of the Junior Sailing Program, Bailey Hurst  and Brian Huntsman so they can address your individual questions and concerns.

We are looking forward to this summer's sailing season!

Sincerely,

Bailey Hurst, Youth Sailing Program Director

E: jrsailingdirector@ocyc.org

Brian Huntsman, Co-Director of Junior Sailing  

E: manager@ocyc.org

OCYC Junior Sailing Instructors: 

Katie Bowman
Nicholas Hark
Alex Yurgin

Ryan Stedman - Intern
Matt Hark - Intern
Anthony Valentino - Intern

Office Administrative Assistant and Minnows Coordinator: 

Haley Rudolph 

Administration: 

Rear Commodore Debbie Stedman dmasinos@gmail.com 

PC Kate Doms kgoddard@ursinus.edu

Seas  One session only July 29- Aug 2.  Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

The Seas Program is open to 8–12-year-olds to introduce them to fishing, marine biology, and seamanship. Activities may include: 

  • Learning how to navigate the inland waterway in a powerboat including understanding channel markers, boating courtesy, tying up a powerboat to a dock
  • Fishing in the inland waterway including where to fish and casting 
  • Catching fish, crabs, hermit crabs, and other creatures at Corson’s Inlet State Park 
  • How tides and currents are created

All participants must have their own appropriately sized US Coast Guard-approved life jacket 

Fee is $250 per child.  Children may not be enrolled in junior sailing because the programs overlap. Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.  Open to children and grandchildren of club members only.

Intermediate Opti (Optimist) - This class is for sailors who have completed Sea Squirts and want to continue their progression. Instruction is done with 1 sailor per boat. Students will start lessons with land instruction before practicing their skills. Students and families will receive regular feedback from instructors as well as a midsummer benchmark assessment to track the sailor’s progress. In August sailors will show off their skills to family and friends with participation in the Green Fleet “mini” races. These mini races are held right off the club docks so instructors can support and encourage the sailors while they have fun and gain confidence. By the end of summer, sailors will be able to sail on all points of sail and in most wind speeds, know the parts of the boat, and tie basic knots. Fee is $960 lessons, add $475 boat rental if needed and $400 refundable damage deposit

Optimist Race Team-Sailors will refine their racing skills and represent OCYC in multiple regattas on the MAYRA circuit. Coaches will cover all aspects of racing on and off the water. The team will travel to and compete in several local regattas, and sailors will have the option to travel to regional competitions. Sailors MUST have completed Intermediate Opti and have been recommended for this class by their previous instructor.  As with all of our programs, there will be a focus on the Corinthian Spirit and being positive role models on and off the water. Fee is $1,200 lessons, add $475 boat rental if needed, $400 refundable damage deposit, add $200 regatta transportation if needed.

Club 420 & Club 420 Racing- C420 classes are scheduled to allow sailors to sail C420s as well as a Laser Radial or Laser 4.7.  To participate in this class sailors should (1) demonstrate the ability to work as a part of a team: (2) have successfully completed Advanced Opti Racing as determined by the instructors or be able to demonstrate the equivalent skills and knowledge; and (3) demonstrate the ability to capsize and recover the boat with a partner without outside assistance. This course will teach the basics of rigging a C420, an introduction to sailing as a team, basic C420 boat handling and sailing fundamentals. 

C420 racing classes are scheduled to allow sailors to sail C420s as well as a Laser Radial or Laser 4.7. The Club 420 Race Team is geared for those who have graduated from the Opti and want to focus on racing and local regatta participation. Members will learn how to sail with a spinnaker and trapeze on C420s.Fee is $1,200 lessons, add $575 boat rental if needed, $400 refundable damage deposit, add $100 regatta transportation if needed.  

2024 Course and Class Fees

Minnows: $250

Seas Program: $250

Sea Squirts: $960 lessons
Add $475 boat rental + $400 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own an opti.

Bay Explorers - 2 sessions per week: $550

Bay Explorers - 4 sessions per week: $960

Intermediate Opti: $960 lessons
Add $475 boat rental + $400 refundable damage if sailor does not own an opti.
Add $200 if sailor need opti transported to regattas.

Opti Racing: $1,200 lessons
Add $475 boat rental and $400 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own opti.
Add $200 regatta transportation if sailor needs opti transported to regattas.

Laser: $1,200 lessons
Add $475 boat rental +$400 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own laser.
Add $200 regatta transportation if sailor needs laser transported to regattas.

420: $1,200 lessons
Add $575 boat rental (per sailor) +$400 refundable damage deposit (per sailor) if sailor and partner do not own a 420.
Add $100 regatta transportation if sailors need 420 transported to regattas.

Boat owners: Please remember to pay the separate boat yard fee for the summer!



© 2022 Ocean City Yacht Club | 100 Bay Road | Ocean City, NJ  08226-4420
39°17'34.4" N 74°33'54.0" W

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