Junior OptimistSingle Handed One Design Sailing for Ages 5-15

About the Optimist Dinghy & CYC Opti Summer Camps

The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15.  It is one of the most popular sailing dinghies in the world, with over 130,000 boats officially registered with the class and many more built but never registered.

CYC Seattle offers a complete program for young sailors beginning from age 5 which allows students to develop a strong sense of personal self reliance, ownership, and above all, sportsmanship and the corinthian ethic.

Younger lighter sailors begin in Optimists worldwide.  Although competitive sailors usually weigh between 30 and 60 kg, it takes years to gain expertise in the class and weight becomes less and less of an issue as young sailors gain experience.  Sailors staring as young as 5 may sail the Optimist for 10 years before moving up to classes like the Laser Radial or Club 420.

CYC Seattle Summer Sailing Camps

Classes range in difficulty from beginning sailors who have never sailed before to advanced, national caliber competitors.

CYC offers 4 different levels of sailing camps for kids of all ages from 5-1/2 to 15.

Learn to Sail programs are half day long spanning two weeks time. The morning session is typically sailed in lighter wind before the moderate breeze fills in the afternoon.

Intermediate and Advanced Opti Sailing are full day camps. Camps last for two weeks. Intermediate is open to all graduates of the Learn to Sail Camps while Advanced is limited to Intermediate graduates.

Learn to Race weekend clinics are open to all graduates of either Intermediate or Advanced camps.

 
Each camp will last for two weeks and provide complete instruction enabling each student to advance securely to the next level in the program. Classes incorporate a proven combination of fun classroom learning together with dockside and on the water instruction. Classes are limited to 8 students per instructor and one child per boat.  This allows for the best learning experience and provides the highest possible level of safety.

Free Opti Racing at Shilshole for Program Students

An additional benefit for students participating in the CYC Seattle Summer Learn to Sail Camps is the opportunity to race at no cost in the CYC One Design Shilshole program.

Optimists race on Thursday evenings in the Summer and Sundays during the Spring and Winter and will experience all the thrills of one-design sailing together with CYC’s numerous championship fleets, including Lasers, Stars, 505′s and International 14′s.   Four to ten races are typically completed each day.  Club owned Opti’s are available for active Junior Program Camp participants with an instructor approval.