Kids Set Sail®

What is Kids Set Sail?

Kids Set Sail offers beginner and intermediate programs for 7-15 year old children over the course of 8 one-week sessions throughout the summer. Youth sailors with a broad range of experience from never having been on a boat to more advanced returning Sailors  will participate in the same sessions. In 2021, we added differing "Levels" for registration. The descriptions are posted below.

The Kids Set Sail Director and Instructors will evaluate your Sailor's age, sailing skills and knowledge and will assign them to the proper area on the first day of programming for the week. 

Kids Set Sail Curriculum Includes:
P Health and Boating Safety
P Parts of the Boat
P Rigging & Furling a Flying Scot
P Identify Wind Direction
P Steering
P Weather and Electricity Talk
P Learn how to Tack and Jibe
P Safety Position
P Currents & Tides
P Nautical Charts
P Learn Points of Sail and Math       P Knots
P Learn the Rules of the Road
P Burgees
P Introduce Launching and Landing
P Person Overboard Drills Demonstrated by Camp Instructors
P Learn how to Navigate a Race Course

Registration Levels:

Beginner/Novice students ages 7-15, will be on our 18-foot Flying Scot fleet with four or five Sailors and their Instructor on the boat with them. This level is appropriate for Sailors who have little to no sailing experience as well as returning Sailors. Each week, the curriculum is the same, however, the weather and other factors make each day different. We see many of our Kids Set Sail participants return several times a summer - without complaints of boredom! 

They will learn basic small boat sailing skills such as parts of the boat, knots, upwind/downwind sailing, dockside person-overboard demonstrations by Instructors on the water, and more!

Intermediate/Advanced students ages 12-15 and weigh at least 75 pounds is appropriate for Sailors who have completed at least three sessions of Kids Set Sail or sail training experience (documented) from another facility. Instruction will include learn race techniques and build upon their navigational skills, with the opportunity to engage in higher levels of the science of sailing.

Sailors at the Intermediate/Advanced Level will be sailing double-handed (with another Kids Set Sail Sailor) on our two-person Olympic Flying Junior Fleet or RS Fevas, which can capsize.

Sailors will receive Capsize Recovery training on the first day of programming. Sailors at this level are required to have strong swimming skills while wearing a life jacket in addition to applicable sailing knowledge.

Instructors will not be on the boats with the Sailors at this level, but will be close by in motorized power boats for coaching and safety.

Staff: US SAILING certified Instructors are on site during our program and all are highly trained with a week-long intensive training schedule prior to the start of programming. They are fully background checked and have also completed US Sailing's Safe Sport program along with certification in American Red Cross training.

Instructors while on board the boats with younger, less experienced Sailors as coaching staff, but the Sailors work together to run the boat.

Both on land and on the water, our energetic Instructors use a fun combination of games and drills to teach sailing concepts. At Kids Set Sail, fun is an integral part of our program. By the end of the week, your child will be well versed in sailing techniques and maneuvering a small boat.