| Port Madison Yacht Club |
Sailing School
Week 1 (June 24-27, 2025) & Week 2 (June 30 - July 3, 2025)
PMYC Members Registration Opens: April 1 at 8:00pm
Non-member Registration Opens: April 15 at 8:00pm (pending availability)
Port Madison Yacht Club Sailing School has been training the next generation of sailors since 1981 with a focus on safety, fun, and structured learning. We’re excited to welcome a new class for our 2025 session.
What to expect in 2025
PMYC Sailing School program is for youth ages 8-15 that utilizes level- and age-appropriate instruction to help new sailors gain confidence on the water. The session is eight days over two weeks. “Skills Week” is about growing the knowledge and boat handling skills of each sailor whether they’re new to the sport or a seasoned skipper. Sailors put their skills into practice during “Adventure Week,” participating in boat races, scavenger hunts, Sail-The-Seas Adventure Day, and closing-day BBQ and awards ceremony. Sailing School is $350 for PMYC members and $400 for non-members (if space allows).
How do I register for PMYC Sailing School?
Registration is by class. Please use the chart below to determine the best fit for your sailor based on their current abilities and skills development goals or refer to the detailed class descriptions. Class size is limited to maintain a minimum 5:1 student to instructor ratio. Sailors will be automatically placed on a waitlist if the class is full and have the option to register for a different level-appropriate class while on another class waitlist.
| Boat Type | Experience | Age Range | Weight | Handed | Focus | Skills Development |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Opti Beginner Register (Limit 10) |
0-1 yr. |
8-13 yrs. |
50-115 lbs. |
Single |
Cruising |
Parts of the boat, rigging, points of sail, safe boat handling. |
|
Opti Intermediate Register (Limit 10) |
1-2 yrs. |
8-13 yrs. |
50-115 lbs. |
Single |
Cruising |
Tiller control, solo sailing, upwind and downwind boat handling. |
|
Opti Advance Register (Limit 10) |
2-3 yrs. |
10-13 yrs. |
50-115 lbs. |
Single |
Cruising |
Advanced tacking and gybing, racing concepts, regatta prep. |
|
Vanguard Beginner |
0.5-1 yrs. |
12+ yrs. |
110+ lbs. |
Double |
Cruising |
Sailing basics, safety, boat parts, boat-handling, seamanship. |
|
Vanguard Register (Limit 10) |
2+ yrs. |
12+ yrs. |
110+ lbs. |
Double |
Cruising |
Boat-handling, seamanship, sailing theory, wind/water/land nuances. |
|
Laser Register (Limit 6) |
4+ yrs. |
12+ yrs. |
100+ lbs. |
Single |
Racing |
Single-handed tacking and gybing; expand racing skills, regatta prep. |
Is attendance required for all eight days over two weeks?
Sailing School hours are 9:00a – 3:00p every day except the last day, which ends around 2:00p. To get the most out of the experience, we request that all participants attend the full session and minimize vacations and non-essential appointments during that time. Please note: The dates for sailing school have changed to June 24 – July 3 (excluding the weekend) to account for the 2024-2025 school year make-up days.
Need a boat or have an Opti, V-15, or Laser to loan?
Don’t panic! We have boats available to rent ($100 fee collected during registration). If you have an Opti, Vanguard, or Laser to loan, please email sailingschool@portmadisonyc.org.
Become an instructor!
We are accepting applications for PMYC Sailing School instructors. These are paid positions with additional perks for instructors with a Sailing Level 1 Certification or above. Please contact sailingschool@portmadisonyc.org to learn more.
Questions?
Please direct all questions to sailingschool@portmadisonyc.org.
Summer Sail Camps
PMYC Sailing School is our only summer youth session. If your youth sailor wants more time on the water, consider becoming a PMYC Junior Member or check out Bainbridge Island Parks summer sailing youth camps. Contact the Bainbridge Parks Dept. at: https://biparks.org/
