This summer’s junior sailing program is underway with the first session of the Beginner, Intermediate, and Intro to Opti classes already finishing up their classes and the Novice Navigators just getting started. Enrollment in our program is at an all-time high with almost 120 kids learning to sail at the CYC this year!
The fleets have been busy with swim tests, capsize drills, and getting used to being back on the water but they have also been involved in several extracurricular activities. The Beginners and Intermediates enjoyed Ice Cream Day on Wednesday June 25th and Pirate Day on Wednesday July 9th. The Beginners were again involved in Big Boat Sailing learning the ropes from Stuart Tubbs and Charlie Loutrel onboard their Hinckley’s Glide and Impulse while the Intermediate class took a tour of the North Sails loft at Dion’s Yacht Yard.
The junior sailors in our newest offering, the Advanced Opti class, have been very busy over the first few weeks getting ready for Marblehead Junior Race Week. To this end, our staff has been running Junior Fleet races every Friday morning from 10AM to noon and hope to have the kids participate in several interclub events over the course of the summer.
In fact, on Tuesday July 8th, they sailed in an Opti Green Fleet Invitational hosted by Manchester Sailing Association. Considering that they had just been exposed to racing for a couple weeks leading into the event, the CYC Junior Fleet had a magnificent showing in their first regatta ever. Out of the fleet of 26 junior sailors, Maxx Trotsky placed 4th overall, Keelin Fallon placed 8th overall with a first place finish in her second race, and Jen Casey placed 10th overall. Also participating for the CYC in the MSA regatta were Johnny Carollo and Conor Fallon.
In addition to their time on the water, the Advanced Opti sailors are all also learning the ins and outs of Race Committee work by helping with the Thursday evening twilight racing series. This addition to our curriculum strives to bridge the gap for the kids between sailing knowledge and race management skills– and maybe even groom the next generation of Race Committee volunteers!
If you have any questions regarding the program, feel free to contact the Junior Sailing Office via phone at ext. 220 or by email pstier@corinthianyc.org. You are also welcome to stop by the office anytime.
