Our curriculum was developed with three things in mind - learning, fun and safety.

 

Tailored to NYC waters, we have come up with an ideal program to support growth and adventure in an environment in which children can feel secure and confident. The camp is designed as a two-week program, however participants can join for as little as one week and as much as an entire summer.

While we have tailored the program to those campers that are still relatively new to sailing, we welcome and encourage more advanced sailors to join. Because sailing is a team effort, both novice and seasoned sailors will advance their sailing skills under the trained guidance of our excellent staff.

Two Week Session

Our two-week program is designed to cover the fundamentals of sailing. By the end of their time with us, your child will be able to confidently rig a boat for sailing, safely navigate away from the dock and out of the marina, sail to a destination taking into account the tide current, and then return to the dock and correctly secure everything for the next day.

In the first week, we will cover

  • Sailing nomenclature and terminology

  • Sailboat care and maintenance

  • Basic outboard engine operation

  • Essential sailing knots

  • Rigging/De-rigging

  • Steering with the tiller

  • Basic sail trim

  • Basic maneuvering (tacking, jibing, heaving-to)

  • Basic rules of the road

In the second week, we will cover

  • Advanced rules of the road/racing tactics

  • Intermediate sail trim (sail trim by telltales)

  • Advanced sailing skills (steering with sails, sailing backwards, etc.)

  • Crew-overboard procedures

On the final day of our two-week session campers have the opportunity to plan an extended voyage - from reading tide schedules to commanding the navigation, managing sail trim and steering the course - campers are in charge the entire day proving their newfound skills and challenging themselves while building their self-confidence and leadership abilities.

Experienced youth sailors, or sailors joining for multiple weeks, will enjoy the opportunity to become leaders in the program. Our instructors will not only push them with advanced skills and challenges, but also help them become effective leaders.

Our Goal

Regardless of whether you choose a one-week, two-week or intermediate session, it’s our goal to share our love of the water with your children and introduce them to a skill that can create a lifetime of memories. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. See you on the water!

* While we do our best to meet our curriculum goals, we are at the mercy of mother nature. If weather conditions do not cooperate, campers head indoors to a variety of venues, including the South Street Seaport, the Museum of Natural History, and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum to learn about the history and science of sailing.