The Port Washington Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program has been part of our club for over 50 years. The Junior Sailing program starts on Monday, June 25 and ends on Friday, August 17th. Supported by the membership it is intended to introduce young people to the enjoyment and hard work involved in sailing. Competitive racing is encouraged for those interested in testing their skills against Junior Sailors in other yacht clubs around the Sound. This program is open to anyone 8 years and older with enthusiasm for learning about boats and the possibilities this knowledge will open to them.
The program is 8 weeks in duration with morning and afternoon sessions of 3 hours each. We will be offering a Full Day Racing Program (Racers must own a boat) and the half day Recreational Sailing Program as well. Traditionally, the beginner sailor attends morning classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and afternoon sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. Those children with higher levels of experience attend in the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with morning sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. Junior Activities children are ½ day on the water and ½ day other activities including Kayaking, Pool Activities and Tennis.
The Junior Sailing instructors will be under direction of Mike Benchimoll. All of our sailing instructors are US Sailing Instructor certified, have completed Power Boat Safety courses and are CPR trained and certified. In addition to the above-mentioned certifications they are required by our sailing program to attend seminars and courses that add to their ability to provide a safe and fun sailing program for our club. Children who participate in the program become members of the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound -JSA- (part of the program fees pay for this), and are therefore eligible to participate in the regattas the association sponsors. PWYC junior sailors have been frequent visitors to various winner circles on the Sound. Many have also gone on to become instructors and to compete in sailing at the colleger level. Many of our adult members came to love the sport through their experience as a child in this program.
Thomas F. Egan, Jr. Co-Chairperson
Gene D’alessandro, Co-Chairperson
Chuck McCarthy, J.S.A. Delegate
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