Junior Sailing
Sailing on Monterey Bay, all school year long. Our fall program runs from August through December in two sessions, for kids and teens of every experience level — from first-timers to racers.
Every sailor joins one of two programs, based on age:
Which program is right for your sailor?
Small Boat — ages 8–13
Single-handed sailing in Optimists. This is where most young sailors start. Complete beginners learn to sail from scratch; those ready for more move into our Optimist Green Fleet and start racing. No experience needed.
Explore the Small Boat program
Scholastic — ages 14–18
Double-handed sailing in FJs and C420s, for middle and high schoolers. Everyone starts with Club Sailing, our foundation class, and can grow from there into high school racing, the Racing Team, or Advanced Sailing.
Not sure where your sailor fits? Just reach out - we'll help you find the right starting point.
How registration works
Every sailor registers once per session for their program - Small Boat or Scholastic. One fee of $390 covers their weekly class for the full session. In addition, all sailors need the annual Junior Membership ($75).
For Small Boat sailors, that's everything. Scholastic sailors can add optional extras - extra practice during the week ("Drop-ins"), the Racing Team, or Advanced Sailing - but the one class is all many sailors need to start.
Start with Fall I. Ready to commit to the whole season? You can register for Fall II at the same time.
Two fall sessions
Fall I: August 22 – October 11
Fall II: October 17 – December 13
You can sign up for one session or both. Each is a fresh start, so a sailor can join in the fall and continue through the school year, building on what they've learned rather than starting over.
See the full weekly schedule, including class times, regattas, and events, on our [Schedule page].
Good to know
- Boats are provided for all classes.
- Life jackets and helmets are required - we can lend them, but for regular sailors we recommend buying your own.
- A safety boat with a coach is on the water during every session.
- No experience needed for our entry classes. Comfort in the water while wearing a life jacket is a must.
Sailing should be for everyone
Scholarship note: Any junior who wishes to sail and is admitted to a sailing program should not be limited by financial resources. Full and/or partial scholarships may be available with the support from the The Santa Cruz Sailing Foundation. For more information, reach out to juniordirector@scyc.org.
Ready to start?
Questions?
Andreas Kesting, Junior Program Director
juniordirector@scyc.org · 831-295-3893