FALL, WINTER & SPRING SAILING PROGRAM
Program is split into 5 sessions:- Early Fall and Late Fall - September to December
- Winter - January to Mid March
- Spring - Mid March to May
- Summer Program - 2 weeks long, June to Mid August
Classes:
- Sea Squirts
- Beginner Sailing
- Adventure Fun Sail
- Intermediate Sailing
- Youth Sailing Team
- Able to swim 50 yards and pass a swim test. .
- Provide a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type III Personal Flotation. Device (PFD) with a plastic whistle attached.
- Sailing gloves and sunglasses are recommended for all courses.
- Classes are taught by our Instructors and will be held at St. Croix Yacht Club for youth ages 8 to 18.
Non Members are welcome!
This program is a graduated program. We recommend that each sailor go through the designed progression of the program, for each class of boat. Every child is different and our instructors will assess your child’s skill and comfort with the level at which he/she is sailing. Instructors may recommend that some students may need to repeat one of the classes if they have not successfully mastered each skill required in that class.
Our program strives to create a fun and safe environment where kids can learn and come to love the sport of sailing. We emphasize the importance of teamwork, respect, and safety in daily lessons. Our number one goal is to pass on our passion for the sport to the next generation of St. Croix Sailors.
Further information:
Meg Deegan (Waterfront Director) - WaterFront@StCroixYC.com
Class Descriptions:
Sea Squirts:
The Sea Squirt program is designed to introduce young sailors to fun and safety in, around and on the water. The goal of this course is to build young sailor's love for sailing in a controlled and safe environment. The class is designed to work with the children at the level that they are comfortable with. Activities build confidence and include sailing, knot tying, nautical terminology, crafts, songs, water activities and "messing about in boats". We emphasize the importance of teamwork, respect, and safety in daily lessons. Our number one goal is to pass on our passion for the sport to the next generation of St. Croix Sailors.
Beginner Sailing:
This class offers an opportunity for young beginner sailors to learn basic boat-handling, points of sail, sportsmanship, water safety and rigging while having fun and getting comfortable on the water. Sailors will learn with one or two sailors in each boat. Ages 7 - 15, recommended weight less than 130 lbs. Curriculum will include basic knots, parts of the boat, parts of the sail, rig/de-rig, launching and docking, points of sail, tacking and jibing, figure 8 course, triangle course, capsize recovery and more!
Intermediate Sailing:
The Optimist class is a stepping stone for sailors who want to become involved in more competitive, higher level racing. Sailors are required to already know and understand proper sailing upwind and downwind by themselves, wind direction, parts of the boat, knots, how to rig and derig by themselves, and towing behind a motorboat. Sailors will learn racing, rigging and advanced boat handling techniques.
Adventure Fun Sail:
This fun program explores the waters of the East End of St Croix from a variety of watercraft, including, Opti's, Sunfish and 420's. Sailors enjoy sailing games, sailing excursions to nearby destinations like Smugglers Cove, Buck Island and adventures around Teague Bay and neighboring bays. Sailors will also increase sailing experience and improve on sailing and nautical skills! We emphasize the importance of teamwork, respect, and safety in daily lessons. Our number one goal is to pass on our passion for the sport of sailing to the next generation of St. Croix Sailors. Required Prerequisite: Ages 9-16, Completed SCYC Intro Sailing course or instructor approval.
Youth Sailing Team:
The Youth Sailing Team will be primarily 420's and will include "trap and spin". Other boats that are offered through our youth sailing program include Lasers, Sunfish, and Rhodes 19's. The Fall will be primarily fleet racing while the winter and spring transition into team racing. The Spring Session will also include an introduction to keelboat racing in the Rhodes 19.
The South Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association’s (SAISA) allows public and private schools to create sailing teams under the auspices of the schools and parents. The St Croix Yacht Club is committed to working with interested schools.
We offer many opportunities to compete and travel to regattas throughout the season. We practice Wednesday, Friday and Sunday each week.
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