Youth Sailing Lessons

TYC Class Descriptions

Opti Kids: Ages 8-10

This class is for sailors who are beginner optimist sailors. Students sail in TYC Optimist dinghies with club sails. Students in this class must be able to swim. The emphasis of this two-day per week class is the introduction to sailing and to help the participant become comfortable in a small boat. Skills that will be emphasized include: - safety on the water - the proper use of a life jacket -what to do if your boat capsizes or if someone falls overboard - how to recognize a dangerous situation. Skills that will be introduced are
boating terminology - boat handling and maneuvering skills - rigging and derigging a boat - basic boat care and maintenance. These skills are taught both on and off the water using a variety of fun activities. At the end of the program, each sailor should be able to steer a boat on his or her own. The groundwork in this program is important to building a high level of confidence in the beginning sailor.

Opti Skippers: Ages 10 and up

This class is for sailors who have completed 1 or two summers of the Opti Kids program and are eager for more sailing. Students sail in TYC optimist dinghies. Students in this class may participate in the TYC Optimist club series. Students signing up for this class should be able to rig an optimist independently and tack and gybe and sail upwind. This class will remain focused on safety and confidence in the boat. Students will also be introduced to more intermediate tacking and gybing techniques, racing rules, racing courses and seamanship. The focus will be on boat handling, proper terminology. At the end of this class students will be able to sail at all points ofsail and tack and gybe with confidence. They will also be familiar with racing terminology and seamanship skills.

Discover Sailing: ages 10 -16yrs

This class is for beginner and intermediate sailors. Students in this class must be able to swim. The emphasis of this class is the introduction to sailing for sailors of similar ages. This is our adventure sailing class where we emphasize seamanship, fun, and racing basics. This class will take place in a variety of boats based on the comfort and skill level. Sailors will sail Hunter 140’s and sometimes our Flying Scot.

Opti Racing and O’Pen Skiff & Laser Racing Ages 11 and up:

This is an all day class for experienced Optimist sailors ages 11 and up. You must provide your own boat to join this class. Regatta participation is a vital part of this class. Students in this class will sail Optimist Dinghies, Open Skiffs or Lasers that they own or charter. Sailors are eligible for this class per instructor recommendation and typically after completing 1 or 2 seasons in the Opti Skipper class or other equivalent. Optimist sailors will participate in the TYC Optimist club series. O’Pen Skiff & Laser racers will have a separate schedule for away regattas and have a separate class most of the time. Safety skills will still be covered. Racing rules will be introduced and studied along with race course tactics and boat speed and proper rigging
and sportsmanship. The focus of this class is fun, beginning racing and the camaraderie and fun that happens on the race course. Students will be encouraged to participate in NBYA sponsored regattas and other local regattas as schedules allow. Parental volunteers are vital to this program. Parents are needed to coordinate carpools, drive sailors to and from regatta sites and trailer boats. Opti Racing class is limited to 12 students and
O’Pen Skiff racing is limited to 13 students.

420 Academy: Advanced Sailors ages 13 and up

This is an all day class for sailors who have completed Opti Racing/OPen Skiff or Captains class and would like to learn more about racing and sail 420's. Sailors are eligible for this class per instructor recommendation after completing Opti Racing Open Skiff, Laser or Captains class. Individual sailors must weigh 110 lbs to meet the minimum crew weight requirements for the boat. This class will take place in 420 club boats owned by TYC. Students in this class will participate in the TYC 420 club series also known at TYC as the Fonseca trophy. Safety skills and proper capsizing drill for double handed sailing will be taught. In addition all students will learn the basics of skipper crew communication, racing rules, sportsmanship, spinnaker trim, tacking and gybing and proper rigging and boat maintenance. Students in this class will be able to participate in NBYA regattas and are encouraged to do when their skills are regatta ready. There will be a charter fee to use a TYC boat at away regattas. Parent volunteers are vital to this program. Parents are needed to coordinate carpools, drive sailors to and from regatta sites and trailer boats. This class is limited to 12 students.

Captains Class: Intermediate to advanced sailors ages 11 and up

This an all day class for sailors who have completed Opti Skippers or Discover Sailing and are not interested in competitive sailing but would like to expand their sailing skills and knowledge. This class will focus on seamanship skills, safety, navigation, chart reading, anchoring, rowing, weather and the adventure side of sailing. This class will take place in our Hunter 140's, and sometimes our Harpoon 4.6’s.

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58 Riverside Drive

Tiverton, RI

Tiverton Yacht Club P.O. Box 54