Introduction to Sailing

Introduction to Sailing is TAYC’s introductory course for our youngest sailors.  The course is intended to make new sailors comfortable and confident with being on the water and basic boat handling.  Activities emphasize fun as well as building basic sailing skills.  Sailors will sail in Optimist dinghies and in small keelboats with instructors.  Basic sailing instruction and sailing in groups is combined with activities at the club.

Schedule:  Seven, one-week sessions, with half-day classes (9 am to 12 pm).  Sailors are welcome to sign-up for more than one session to continue to build their skills and confidence.  Curriculum for the intro program will be on a repetitive rather than cumulative basis.

Prerequisite:  Sailors should have completed kindergarten and pass required swim/float competencies.  Sailors must be comfortable floating in the water wearing an approved PFD and be able to enter the water, swim 25 yards and exit the water wearing an approved PFD.

Boats:  All boats required for Introduction to Sailing are included.

Beginner Optimist 

Beginner Optimist is a two-week class intended for younger sailors who are either complete beginners or who are continuing from Introduction to Sailing.  Beginner Optimist focuses on building the skills and independence necessary for sailors sailing their own boats. At the end of the two weeks, sailors should be able to rig, launch, and sail their own Optimist dinghies in a variety of conditions and should be ready to join the TAYC Club Team.

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by young people up to the age of 15. The Optimist is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 150,000 boats officially registered.

Schedule:  Three, two-week sessions, with full-day classes (9 am to 3 pm).  Sailors are welcome to sign-up for more than one session to continue to build their skills and confidence.

Prerequisite:  Sailors should EITHER have completed second grade OR have successfully completed Introduction to Sailingwith instructor’s recommendation to advance.  Must be able to pass required swim/float competencies. 

(The Optimist is generally intended for younger and smaller sailors.  Beginner sailors who are over 13 years old or who weigh more than 120 lbs. should consider signing up for the C420 Club Team.  Please contact juniorsail@tayc.com for more details.)

Optimist Club Team and C420/ILCA Club Team

Sailors on the Optimist Club Team and C420/Laser Club Team will continue to master sailing skills and grow as sailors in whichever direction they choose.  The Club Teams are intended to provide sailors and their families with as much flexibility as possible, and to let sailors sail as much as they want.

The Club Teams will offer the opportunity for some sailors to build on boat handling and tactics and participate in racing at the club or at regattas at other clubs.  Club Team members are welcome to travel with the Travel Teams to compete at any regatta that TAYC attends in the Chesapeake Bay region (subject to the availability of transportation and trailer space).  Optimist Club Team sailors will generally compete in the Green Fleet division at Regattas.  Coaching at a regatta that occurs in a week a Club Team sailor is registered for is included in the registration fee.

The Club Teams will also offer the opportunity for sailors to enjoy sailing and spending time on the water with friends.  Sailors who are not interested in competing will still build strong sailing and seamanship skills while having fun on the Tred Avon River with teammates.

The Club Teams have multiple coaches, and sailors on the Club Teams will be grouped according to their interests and skill levels.  For example, sailors interested in preparing for competition may sail with the Green Fleet coach while sailors interested in adventure sailing may sail with another group exploring the river.

Schedule:  Eight, one-week sessions.  Sailors must register for at least  two weeks of Club Team sailing.  However, the two weeks do not need to be consecutive (i.e., sailors can select any two weeks during the program).    Sailors are encouraged to sign-up for more than two weeks, particularly if they are interested in building their racing skills.

Club Teams practice from Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm.

Prerequisite:  Sailors should EITHER have successfully completed Beginner Optimist OR have prior sailing experience with a recommendation from their last instructor or the director. 

Boats:  Club Team sailors should bring their own boats or can charter boats from the club. Note that ILCA/Laser dinghies are not available to charter from the club – please contact juniorsailing@tayc.com if you need to charter an ILCA/Laser.