Poulsbo Yacht Club offers a unique way to get your kid out in the great outdoors this summer – sailing camp! PYC usually offers 6 one-week all-day youth programs in July and August. In 2020 our program will include week long ½ day sessions to remain in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions. Only Learn to Sail programs will be offered at this time.
Our "Learn to Sail" classes introduce basic sailing skills such as sail terminology, boat rigging, water safety, and knot tying. The advanced "Double-handed Sailing" class is designed for older children which builds on the beginner course’s foundation.
Learn to Sail Program:
The beginner class (Learn to Sail) is designed for children with little or no experience sailing a single-handed (single person) dinghy. Students learn basic dinghy sailing skills as well as basic seamanship. They learn common sailing knots, parts of the boat, and right-of-way rules. They also learn the points of sail, basic tacking and gybing, and basic sail trim. We emphasize proper boat handling and sail trimming techniques. We believe that our core introductory course thrives when students, parents, and instructors join to provide a safe and fun learning environment. The environment enables the kids to learn the importance of teamwork and camaraderie on the water. The introductory class is perfect for children looking to give sailing a try for the first time, as well as those younger sailors who want to reinforce their sailing skills.
On day one of the beginner’s class (Learn to Sail) all students learn how to recover from a capsize (that is, when the boats turn over in the water).Capsizing is a normal part of sailing small boats. The students' boats are “self-rescuing” which is a sailing term for floating without filling up with water, even when capsized. Students will be taught to stay with their boat, how to right it, re-board and sail away.
Double Handed Program:
This class is designed for children who have completed the “Learn to Sail" (or an equivalent) course. Students will learn how to sail larger and faster boats as both skipper and crew. The focus is on boat handling, sail trimming, and working as a team. This class works well for those kids that have become too big to comfortably sail a dinghy. The course provides skills and instills confidence for those students who want to continue their sailing experience with a middle or high school racing team.
Adventure Sailing Program:
The "Adventure Sailing" class offers your child the opportunity to sail and explore outside of Liberty Bay into more open waters such as Port Madison and Manzanita Bay on Bainbridge Island, and the Port of Brownsville. It offers an introduction to the cruising aspects of sailing.
All Course Programs:
We require that all students be swimmers before enrolling. Everyone (students, instructors and staff) is required to wear their life jackets at all times when on the water and the docks.
All PYC Junior Sailing courses are taught by instructors who are certified in First Aid, CPR, as well as Sailing Instruction by The American Red Cross and/or The U.S. Sailing Association. In most cases our instructors have spent at least some time as an Assistant Instructor in our program.
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