Youth Sailing Program

The Ithaca Yacht Club Youth Sailing program provides sailing instruction for youth from 8 to 17 years of age.  The program is discounted for IYC family members.

The Youth Sailing program is a racing oriented sport, training beginner sailors the basics of sailing working up to the IYC Youth Sailing Racing Team. As the program is small and focused toward small boat dinghy racing, priority will be to enroll youth sailors with previous experience with youth sailing programs or a strong interest in working toward racing.

Youth Sailing participants are required to be competent swimmers.  They must demonstrate the ability to swim 50 yards before engaging in the program. Swim tests are given on the first day of each program week at IYC.

Younger youth begin to sail single-handed Optimist dinghies then graduate to two-person 420's and single-handed ILCA dinghy (Laser), however competitive regattas occur for all classes.  All training is done on Cayuga Lake within view of the Ithaca Yacht Club. Racing competition occurs at IYC and nearby sailing clubs with similar programs.

• To register for the program, go to the Youth Sailing Registration page.
• For additional information about the program see the Additional Information.