The Junior Sailing Program is a basic through advanced sailing program open to youth ages 8 and older. The program sessions are taught by instructors certified by the U.S. Sailing Association as Small Boat Sailing Instructors and certified by the American Red Cross in First Aid and CPR. The Junior Sailing Program is sponsored by the Friends of the N.C. Maritime Museum. Instruction takes place at the Junior Sailing classroom just beyond Town Creek Marina on Gallants Channel in Beaufort.

The Junior Sailing Program uses the fun of sailing and the competition of racing to teach rigging, sailing, seamanship, navigational skills, and maritime traditions and history to young sailors. 

The program helps participants develop self-reliance, self-regulation, sportsmanship, knowledge and respect for the forces of nature while ensuring boating safety awareness. With a combination of classroom time and on-the-water time, the classes are designed to teach the basic skills of sailing to beginners and to help hone the skills of more advanced students. The Junior Sailing Program uses two types of boats-the International Optimist Dinghy and the Flying Junior.

Boating and water safety concerns are of utmost importance and are taught and implemented in all of the JSP classes both in the classroom and on the water.

• International Optimist Dinghy (IOD)
• Flying Junior
• JSP Sessions
• Regatta Week

• Advanced One Design Sessions

• Enrollment and Fees
• Requirements
• Junior Sailing Handbook (43k PDF File)
• Download 2008 Application

International Optimist Dinghy (IOD)
The IOD is recognized worldwide as the sail training and competition boat for youth ages 8-15 and is the ideal craft for teaching sailing, beginner to advanced. It is an 8' one-person single sail dinghy used not only to teach basic sailing but also advanced sailing and racing techniques. The Junior Sailing Program uses fourteen IODs, all built and maintained by the staff and volunteers of the N.C. Maritime Museum's Watercraft Center. Maximum weight limit for the IOD for each student is 130 lbs.

Flying Junior
The Flying Junior is larger, has two sails (a jib and a mainsail) and uses a two-person crew. The Flying Junior sessions introduce students to this sloop-rigged two-person racing dinghy. Each crew will learn to rig, launch and sail this fun and fast day sailer. Racing fundamentals, tuning techniques and proper boat handling will be covered.

Students wishing to participate in the Flying Junior class must have sailing experience and knowledge, preferably in at least one session of the Museum Junior Sailing Program. Preferable weight is at least 100 lbs, but instructors may make exceptions based on skill, knowledge and pairing with a heavier student.

JSP Sessions

Two-week sessions (Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4) for both Optis and FJs are offered beginning June 9, June 23, July 7 and July 21 with one group meeting in the morning from 8:30 AM until 12 noon and another different group of students in the afternoon from 1 PM until 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. In addition, in the morning period of Session 2, beginning on June 23, a Sunfish class is offered.

Regatta Week
In addition to the regular sessions a one-week session, Regatta Week, is held in August. Students who have completed at least one session in the Junior Sailing Program are welcome to participate. Regatta Week is held in the afternoons from 12:30 PM until 5:00 PM, and concludes with participation on Saturday and Sunday in the annual Hoop Pole Regatta in Beaufort, North Carolina.

The Regatta Week session includes instruction for five days, coaching for the two days of the regatta, the regatta registration fee, lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. It is suggested that a parent or guardian accompany the participant on Saturday and Sunday. The fee for Regatta Week is $200 (Friends of the Museum Members at the Family level and above receive a $20 per student discount).

Advanced One Design Sessions
An Advanced One Design session, all day from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM will begin on August 11. The objective of this session is to expose students to several types of one design sailboats (Sunfish, Flying Junior, Flying Scot, etc.) and to improve their sailing skills. Entrants must be at least 11 years old and have participated in at least one basic session of the Junior Sailing Program. Students should bring their own lunches, and may, with permission, bring a one design sailboat.

Enrollment and Fees
Sessions I through VI are limited to 24 students, 16 in the Optimist Dinghies and 8 in the Flying Juniors. Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of students in the Advanced One Design session will be limited to 12.

The fee for all sessions of the 2008 Junior Sailing Program is $200 per session. Join the Friends of the Museum and receive a $20 discount per family. Tuition assistance is available on a case by case basis.

PARTICIPANTS IN ALL OF THESE SESSIONS MUST:

• Be at least 8 years old when or before classes begin (NO EXCEPTIONS)
• Be able to successfully demonstrate his or her ability to swim
• Have parent complete and return the Student Medical and Liability Release Forms
• Own or purchase a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket (PFD)