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OCEAN CITY YACHT CLUB
ESTABLISHED IN 1901
39°17'34.4" N 74°33'54.0" W

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2025 Courses and Class Descriptions
 Junior Sailing Schedule June 16th until August 7th, 2025
Morning Classes:  9:15am until 12:30pm  ~  Afternoon Classes: 1:00pm until 4:30pm

Please be sure to visit the Registration Process and 2025 Program Information page

Information for New Sailors

Children who are 8-10 years old by June 16, 2025 and have never sailed previously should enroll in Sea Squirts. 
Sea Squirts is an 8-week program.  (Minnows is a one-week program for 5–7-year-olds).

New sailors or sailors returning after a few years hiatus should contact one of the co-directors to discuss which class is appropriate.  

Please Note:  To be eligible for Junior Sailing,  a sailor must be part of a family membership or must have a junior membership.  Grandchildren of members are only eligible for the Seas and Seamanship Program and the Minnows Programs.  Find the junior membership tab to complete a junior membership.  The cost is only $250

Minnows Session 1 is July 7-13, Session 2 is July 28- Aug 1, 2025. Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

5-day program for 5–7-year-olds to introduce them to sailing, the yacht club and the sea.  Activities may include:

  • Sailing lesson with adult on a small sailboat
  • Basic wind lessons, rigging, and knot tying
  • Ride on a power boat
  • Visit with the Coast Guard and talk about maritime careers
  • Sailor etiquette lesson, pirate themed treasure hunt, crafts
  • Catch fish, crabs, hermit crabs, and who knows what else at Corson’s Inlet State Park

Children must be 5 years old by July 1, 2025 and no older than 7 years of age.

Registration will be open for one week to children who have not had the opportunity to enroll in this program, then registration will be open to all.  All participants must have their own appropriately sized US Coast Guard-approved life jacket 

Fee is $300 per child.  Children may be enrolled for one week only. Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

Parent, grandparent or guardian must accompany children for boating and park activities (2 days). Open to children and grandchildren of club members only. The student/sailor maximum is 12 for each session.

Sea Squirts - Sea Squirts - The Sea Squirts program is the starting point for our youngest sailors! The program is designed to introduce future junior sailors to the sailing environment. Instruction is done with 2 children in an Opti. Classes feature water games and play designed to prepare the future junior sailor for formal sailing instruction the following year. This course will teach the basics of rigging a boat, basic boat handling, sportsmanship, and water safety. Students will foster a love for the water while developing confidence in boat handling. Sea Squirts is designed for children ages 8 & 9 and will meet 4 mornings a week- M,T,W,F.  Fee is $1,100 for lessons, add $550 boat rental if needed and $275 refundable damage deposit.

Bay Explorers -This class is designed for those who want to be on the water but are not available for  racing. Bay Explorers will provide additional sailing instruction through the use of a recreational sailing/cruising format. The class will take sailboat trips to local points of interest and participate in water games to enhance boat handling skills. Students must demonstrate boat-handling skills equivalent to those required for Intermediate Opti. Ages 12 and up.

There is a three-boat minimum for this program. The two-sessions per week program is $650.  The four-sessions per week program is $1,200. This is an afternoon program over the eight-week session.

Laser Racing-To participate in this class, sailors must demonstrate the ability to control the boat single-handedly under various weather conditions. Sailors should have successfully completed Optimist Racing and/or must demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge as determined by the instructors. In this class, sailors will refine their racing skills while competing in weekly OCYC races as well as local regattas. Curriculum focuses on boat handling and racing skills, rules, and tactics. As with all of our programs, there will be a focus on the Corinthian Spirit and being positive role models on and off the water.  Fee is $1,500 lessons, add $550 boat rental if needed, $400 refundable damage deposit, add $200 regatta transportation if needed (applies to personal and club-owned boats).

If you have questions prior to the June 7 parents meeting or you have questions specific to your child, please reach out to the Director of the Junior Sailing Program, Brian Huntsman so he can address your individual questions and concerns.

We are looking forward to the summer sailing season!

Sincerely,

Brian Huntsman, Director of Junior Sailing  

E: manager@ocyc.org

Seas  One session only July 14- 18.  Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.

The Seas Program is open to 8–12-year-olds to introduce them to fishing, marine biology, and seamanship. Activities may include: 

  • Learning how to navigate the inland waterway in a powerboat including understanding channel markers, boating courtesy, tying up a powerboat to a dock
  • Fishing in the inland waterway including where to fish and casting 
  • Catching fish, crabs, hermit crabs, and other creatures at Corson’s Inlet State Park 
  • How tides and currents are created

All participants must have their own appropriately sized US Coast Guard-approved life jacket 

Fee is $300 per child.  Children may not be enrolled in junior sailing because the programs overlap. Meets Monday through Friday, 9am to noon.  Open to children and grandchildren of club members only. The student/sailor maximum is 12 for each session.

Intermediate Opti (Optimist) - This class is for sailors who have completed Sea Squirts and want to continue their progression. Instruction is done with 1 sailor per boat. Students will start lessons with land instruction before practicing their skills. Students and families will receive regular feedback from instructors as well as a midsummer benchmark assessment to track the sailors' progress. In August sailors will show off their skills to family and friends with participation in the Green Fleet “mini” races. These mini races are held right off the club docks so instructors can support and encourage the sailors while they have fun and gain confidence. By the end of summer, sailors will be able to sail on all points of sail and in most wind speeds, know the parts of the boat, and tie basic knots. Fee is $1500 lessons, add $550 boat rental if needed and $275 refundable damage deposit.

Optimist Race Team Sailors will refine their racing skills and represent OCYC in multiple regattas on the MAYRA circuit. Coaches will cover all aspects of racing on and off the water. The team will travel to and compete in several local regattas, and sailors will have the option to travel to regional competitions. Sailors must have completed Intermediate Opti and have been recommended for this class by their previous instructor. As with all of our programs, there will be a focus on the Corinthian Spirit and being positive role models on and off the water. Fee is $1,500 lessons, add $550 boat rental if needed, $275 refundable damage deposit, add $200 regatta transportation if needed.

Club 420 & Club 420 Racing- C420 classes are scheduled to allow sailors to sail C420s as well as a Laser Radial or Laser 4.7.  To participate in this class sailors should (1) demonstrate the ability to work as a part of a team: (2) have successfully completed Advanced Opti Racing as determined by the instructors or be able to demonstrate the equivalent skills and knowledge; and (3) demonstrate the ability to capsize and recover the boat with a partner without outside assistance. This course will teach the basics of rigging a C420, an introduction to sailing as a team, basic C420 boat handling and sailing fundamentals. 

C420 racing classes are scheduled to allow sailors to sail C420s as well as a Laser Radial or Laser 4.7. The Club 420 Race Team is geared for those who have graduated from the Opti and want to focus on racing and local regatta participation. Members will learn how to sail with a spinnaker and trapeze on C420s. Fee is $1,500 lessons, add $600 boat rental if needed, and $400 refundable damage deposit. For regatta transportation on OCYC trailers, the cost is $100. Parents/skippers are responsible for driving personal vehicles.  

2025 Course and Class Fees

Minnows: $300

Seas Program: $300

Sea Squirts: $1,100 lessons
Add $550 boat rental + $275 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own an opti.

Bay Explorers - 2 sessions per week: $650

Bay Explorers - 4 sessions per week: $1200

Intermediate Opti: $1,500 lessons
Add $550 boat rental + $275 refundable damage if sailor does not own an opti.
Add $200 if sailor need Opti transported to regattas.

Opti Racing: $1,500 lessons
Add $550 boat rental and $275 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own opti.
Add $200 regatta transportation if sailor needs Opti transported to regattas.

Laser: $1,500 lessons
Add $550 boat rental + $400 refundable damage deposit if sailor does not own laser.
Add $200 regatta transportation if sailor needs laser transported to regattas.

420: $1,500 lessons
Add $600 boat rental (per sailor) + $400 refundable damage deposit (per sailor) if sailor and partner do not own a 420.
Add $100 regatta transportation if sailors need 420 transported to regattas.

Regatta Transport Costs

Add $200 regatta transportation of the sailor needs Opti or Laser transported to Regattas. 

$100 Regatta transportation fee if sailors need a 420 transported to regatta. This is for the usage of the OCYC-owned trailer. Parenst are responsbile for tranporting the Club 420.

Boat owners: Please remember to pay the separate boatyard summer storage fee. A $125 fee is assessed on registrations received after May 1st.



© 2025 Ocean City Yacht Club | 100 Bay Road | Ocean City, NJ  08226-4420

39°17'34.4" N 74°33'54.0" W

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