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SOUTHERN YOUTH SAILING PROGRAMS
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida (Northeast/East, Southeast, Florida Keys, West Florida, Panhandle), Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana

2008 UPDATES COMING SOON

This list is from 2007 and has not been updated. The newest list will be available in the printed magazine on April 1. The April issue can be downloaded for viewing then. On May 1, the new list will replace the below one. Most of the links below are probably still good.

Southwinds magazine is pleased, for the first time (starting April 2007), to publish a list of youth sailing programs in the Southeast.

This is a list of youth sailing instruction for ages up through 18. We advise kids and parents to plan ahead as many programs require advanced enrollment as they are limited in size. Many programs, especially in Florida, are year around, but operate only during the weekends or evenings when school is in session.

The diversity of programs listed here is amazing. The usual summer camp lasting one or two weeks is well represented among our listings. Sailing camps are heavy on teaching basic sailing skills, and the larger programs have phased instruction to teach intermediate and racing skills to those with skills beyond the introductory level. Several camps and programs have added “adventure” or “exploration” sailing to let the kids explore areas such as Biscayne Bay on sailboats. It is a parallel path to racing for the intermediate and competent youth sailor. Other camps such as those at Rollins and Eckerd colleges offer sailing as one of a number of other customizable choices that students may spend time doing in a daily camp routine.

Those programs called “camps” generally do not mean a camp where a youth will go and live, but some do. Most of the “camps” listed here are not live-in.

Because of space limitations, we have listed the bare minimum of information to include them all. We will post more information on our Web site. Some programs have not yet been finalized, and they are not posted on their Web sites.

We have attempted to include only those programs open to the general public and not those open only to children of club members, which is the case at some yacht clubs.

More scholarships are available than those listed, and we recommend contacting the organization for more information.

We hope that all sailing programs listed here have certified instructors (the two certifying organizations are US SAILING and the American Sailing Association – ASA), insurance and established safety programs. The certifying organizations have safety standards that they require for certification. We urge everyone to verify these items for themselves.

This list was not intended to be a list of details but a list of opportunities available, and it is up to the parent, youth or friend to find out more information.

The following list includes programs in the seven Southern coastal states that Southwinds is distributed in: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. (We also distribute in east Texas but have not included that area at this time, but will at a later date as we learn about them.)

Add to This List

We have attempted to be complete but are certain that we missed many, and we are asking our readers to send us information about those programs that we missed, or correct or add information on those we have. Send information to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts of America Boating Programs

Sea Scouts is a co-ed organization, ages 14-20, with numerous boating programs throughout the country. Each location is called a “Ship” and some are sail, some power, some both. There are too many to list here, with over 50 listings in Florida alone. Every “Ship” in all the states is listed on the Web site, which is quite extensive. Go to www.seascout.org.

NORTH CAROLINA

Camp Seafarer and Camp Sea Gull, Arapahoe, NC

These are branches of the YMCA. Live-in resident camps. Sea Gull for boys, Seafarer for girls. Ages 6 and up with various programs April through October. Go to the Web site or contact for information. www.seagull-seafarer.org. E-mail: seagullinfo@seagull-seafarer.org, or seafarerinfo@seagull-seafarer.org.

Carolina Sailing Foundation, Lake Crabtree, Raleigh

Summer sailing programs. Ages 8 and up. Amy Grobin, (919) 968-4618, or chistina.grobin@alumni.duke.edu. www.carolinasailingfoundation.org.

Nor'Banks Youth Sailing Camp, Duck Yacht Club, Duck

Sailing classes and camp. Ages 10-14. $199 non-members, $149 members. Jon Britt, (252) 261-2900. www.norbanks.com.

Outer Banks Community Sailing Program - Summer Optimist and 420 program open to youth 8 - 16 years old. For information call (252) 475-1750, web site www.obxmaritime.org, or e-mail at obxmaritime@embarqmail.com

Cape Fear Yacht Club Beginner Sailing Camp, Cape Fear

Summer camps/classes for youth. Perry Hunt, (910) 454-8133. www.cfycnc.com.

Camp Don Lee, Arapahoe

Summer sailing camp. Ages: by grades completed: Third grade through 12th. (800) 535-5475. E-mail: info@DonLeeCenter.org. www.donleecenter.org.

Lake Norman Yacht Club Sailing Camp, Mooresville

Summer sailing camp and youth program. Contact Bob Quinn at smitaquinn@yahoo.com or (704) 782-5665. www.lakenormanyachtclub.com.

Carolina Yacht Club, Wrightsville Beach

Summers sailing classes. Numerous and varied classes. Ages 8 and up. (910) 256-3396. www.carolinayachtclub.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina Yacht Club, Hilton Head Island

Summer classes. Ages 8 and up. Cost $375 members, $495 non-members. Debbie Baldridge at (843) 342-2628. www.scyachtclub.com.

Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Beaufort

Summer sailing sessions. Ages 8 and up. $200 members, $300 non-member. Contact (843) 522 8216, www.byscnet.com.

Charleston Community Sailing, Inc., Carolina Yacht Club, Charleston

Summer sailing sessions, camps. Ages 11 and up. (843) 607-4890. www.charlestoncommunitysailing.org.

GEORGIA

Savannah Sailing Center Catch the Wind Camp, Savannah

Summer sailing sessions taught at Chatham County Recreation Department’s Lake Mayer Boathouse. Members: $75 for one youth, $100 for two. Non-members: $100 for one $150 for two. (912) 231-9996. http://savannahsailingcenter.org.

Augusta Sailing Club, Lake Strom Thurmond, Augusta

Six summer sessions for youth. $175 for one week, $150 for second week. $25discount for members. Jim Holder, (706) 651-0587, cv.jholder@mainsheet.net. www.augustasailingclub.com.

Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Flowery Branch

Summer sailing camp. Ages 6 and up. Martine Zurinskas, Jr. (770) 674-3992. mar_rawlings@yahoo.com. www.llsc.com.

FLORIDA

NORTHEAST/EAST FLORIDA: Jacksonville to Stuart

The Rudder Club, Jacksonville

Joel Shannon Summers Sailing Camp. Daily sessions 8:30-4:30 June and July. Ages 8-15. $200 per session. (904) 264-4094. www.rudderclub.com.

Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville

Sailing programs throughout the year for youngsters and adults. Ages 3-17. Skip Miller at (904) 387-9683 #6. www.thefloridayachtclub.org/sailing.php.

Epping Forest Yacht Club, Jacksonville

Active youth sailing club year round with beginning, advanced courses and a youth racing team. The yacht club is also home for the Bolles High School Sailing Club and Regatta Team. Spring programs are in progress through. Summer youth sailing programs will be announced after April 1. Contact Harbormaster Steve Nichols (904) 739-7150, or snichols@efyc.com. www.efyc.com/kids_jr_sailing.html.

Sailors, Paddlers and Rowers of St. Augustine (SPARS), St. Augustine

Youth sailing program with summer sessions. $125 per session plus $25 to join SPAR (family membership). Ages 9-15. For further information, go to www.spars.us >classes > youth camps.

Halifax Sailing Center, Daytona Beach

Sail Camp held weekly throughout June and July. Ages 9-15. $150 for HSA members, $200 for nonmembers. Daily programs 9 am to 4 pm, June and July. Christopher Baker (386) 290-3452 or the Sailing Center at (386) 238-7245. www.HalifaxSailing.org.

Tom Edward Sailing School for Adults and Teenagers at Halifax Sailing Center.

Year classes for adults and teenagers. $80 for HSA members, $100 for non-members. (386) 238-7245. www.HalifaxSailing.org.

Lake Eustis Sailing Association, Lake Eustis

Summer sessions last one week running all summer. Weekend sessions all year. Ages 8-15. $175

Adult and youth. Includes Optis, High School sail training and more. www.lakeeustissailingclub.org/

Rollins College Summer Camp, Winter Park

Extensive summer camp program. www.rolling.edu/sps/camp

Titusville Sailing Center, Titusville

Ages 16 and up through adult instruction. Younger students eligible with adult. $100. April through July. http://sailtitusville.org/classes/SpringClasses2007.htm

“One With the Water” Water Sports Camp, South and Central Brevard County

Sponsored by the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department, conducted by Performance Sail & Sport, Melbourne. Ages 10-16, June 25-28. $195. www.brevardparks.com/camps/index.htm.

Melbourne Yacht Club Sailing Program, Melbourne

MYC offers adult and youth sailing programs as a public service. Open to the public on a space available basis. Saturdays. Adult and youth sailing classes, May through July. $45.

Contact Marlene Sassman at sass4sail@cfl.rr.com, or (321) 768-0046. www.melbourneyachtclub.com.

Sea Scouts, Ft. Pierce Chapter, Ft. Pierce

This sailing group is based in Pelican Yacht Club in Ft. Pierce. Youth sailing programs occur throughout the year. Skipper Jerry at (772) 971-6562. www.pelicanyachtclub.com > sea scouts.

US SAILING Center, Martin County, Stuart/Jensen Beach

Weekly classes. Ages 7-17. $225 (as low as $100 per child in some classes). 10 sessions, June through August. Peter at (772) 334-8085. www.usscmc.org.

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA: Palm Beach County to Miami

Miami Yacht Club, Miami

Extensive year-round youth sailing program of which the summer programs are only a part. Ages 7-14. MYC Members: $375; Non-members: $415 per two-week session. Weekly cost prorated at $235/week. Contact the MYC office at (305) 377-9877, or mycoffice1@aol.com. Go to “Sailing Programs at the Web site at www.miamiyachtclub.net.

Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Coconut Grove

Summer and year around youth sailing programs open to all. $400 for club members, $500 for non-members. Contact CGSA sailing director at (305) 444-4571, or go to www.cgsc.org.

Coral Reef Yacht Club, Miami

Summer youth sailing programs. Ages 8-17. $395 members, $520 non-members. Contact Marek Valasek at (786) 302-7540, or sailing@coralreefyachtclub.org. www.coralreefyachtclub.org.

FLORIDA KEYS

Boy Scouts of America–Florida High Adventure Sea Base, Florida Keys and Bahamas

This is a diverse and extensive sailing/boating/diving program on keelboats, with overnight trips on boats. $620 up, depending. Ages 14-21. Rich Beliveau (305) 394-0365. Extensive information at www.bsaseabase.org.

Founder’s Park Sailing Program, Plantation Key

This is a new program in its first year. The schedule and other information will be posted on the web before the summer. (866) 610-9682. Go to www.the-helm.com.

Key West Sailing Club, Key West

The club has both year round sailing and a summer program. 225 for one child, $400 for two, $510 for three. Sailing instructor Celine Peccatte at (305) 849-8168. www.keywestsailingclub.org.

WEST FLORIDA: Naples to Cedar Key (listed from south to north)

Collier County Sailing Center, Naples

Year-round sailing programs for children and adults. The summer schedule was not available at the time of writing. Go to www.colliergov.net/ > Program Recreation Guide (left table) > Recreation Guide for sailing and Skiing Programs.

Naples Sailing Center, Naples

This organization offers sail training and instruction, although no summer camps or courses are currently scheduled. It does have an active, year round high school sailing program. www.naplessailingcenter.com/.

Edison Sailing Center, Ft. Myers

Community center offering sailing courses. Families may combine different programs including sail, power, fishing, kayaking. $175. Ages 6-24. Stephanie Webb at (239) 454-5114.

www.edisonsailingcenter.org.

Venice Youth Boating Association, Venice

VYBA has a year-round sailing program. Summer Youth Sailing camps are held during the summer. $200 per session, scholarships available. Char Sims at veniceyouthboating@verizon.net, or call (941) 488-4341. www.veniceyouthboating.us.

Sarasota Youth Sailing Program, Sarasota

2007 program has expanded to include an increase in the racing classes, and “adventure sailing,” for older students who want to continue sailing experience in a non-racing environment. Ages 8-18. Programs running all summer and year around. Or Stu Gilfillen at (941) 504-4236. www.sarasotaysp.com.

Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Clearwater

Youth sailing programs year around and expanded courses all summer. $200/week. Scholarships available. Ages 8-16. (727) 517-7776. www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org/.

Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater

Extensive youth program year around and summer. Ages 8-18. David Billing (727) 442-3430. Www.clwyc.org.

Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa

Extensive youth sailing program year around. $100-$150 per week plus $25 family registration in the Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation. Ages 8-18. Contact diysf@diyc.org, or Janet Maurillo at (813) 250-6278. www.diyc.org.

St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg

Active year round youth program, in cooperation with the city of St. Petersburg. High school youth sailing. www.spyc.org .

Eckerd College–Waterfront Program, St. Petersburg

Year around extensive programs, going on for 37 years. Instruction in a variety of water sports, including sailing. (800) 456-9009 or (727) 867-1166.

www.eckerd.edu/waterfront/watersportscamp/index.php.

Boca Ciega Yacht Club, Gulfport

Youth sailing program, but current information for 2007 is not yet posted on the Web site.

Ages 8-18. (727) 345-5760. . www.sailbcyc.org/BCYC/html/Youth_Sailing.html.

Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Sailing, Apollo Beach, Tampa Bay

Summer Youth sailing programs, beginning, intermediate and advanced. Ages 7-14. Adult programs year around. US Sailing instructors. Scholarships available for under privileged.

Richard White at youthsailing@yahoo.com, or (863) 712-0071. http://www.tampasailing.org/youthsailing.html.

FLORIDA PANHANDLE: Apalachicola to Pensacola

Emerald Coast Sailing Association, Ft. Walton Beach

This organization raises money to train young sailors in the panhandle and cover their expenses at regattas. (850) 862-2801. www.fwyc.org/ecsa.htm.

Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola

Junior Sailing Program. $150 for members, $325 non-members. Ages 5 and up. Linda Thompson, (850) 293-7434 or Josh Klein, (850) 292-2701. www.pensacolayachtclub.org.

Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach

This club offers both beginning and advanced sailing lessons during the summer. Information for 2007 was not updated at the time of writing. www.pensacolabeach-yc.org > jr sail.

ALABAMA

Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope

This club’s web site has information about its youth program, but the 2007 program is not posted yet. www.fairhopeyachtclub.com/

Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile

This club’s web site has information about its youth program, but the 2007 program is not posted yet. www.mobileyachtclub.com.

Orange Beach Sail Camp for Kids, Orange Beach, FL
Orange Beach Waterfront Park. $75 for Orange Beach residents, $100 for non-residents. Ages 8-14. Summer sailing sessions. Applications are available at Orange Beach City Hall, Orange Beach Recreation Center or online. (251) 981-6039. www.obparksandrec.com.

MISSISSIPPI

Gulf Port Yacht Club, Gulfport

This club offers two sessions on small boats, and at three levels. $355 for full day sailing course; $200 for half day. $75 credit for using own boat. www.gulfportyachtclub.org

LOUISIANA

Southern Yacht Club Junior Program, New Orleans

Year-round youth sailing program. Spring clinics, summer camps. Ages 7 and up. All levels. $475 members, $575 sponsored guests. (504) 288-4200. www.southernyachtclub.org.

New Orleans Yacht Club Junior Program, New Orleans

Summer clinic. Ages 7 and up. (504) 283-2581. www.noyc.org.

Pontchartrain Yacht Club Junior Sailing, Mandeville

Sailing camp. Ages 8-17. $350. Juniors@pontyc.org. (985) 626-3192. www.pontyc.org.

Shreveport Yacht Club Junior Program, Shreveport

Summer clinics. Ages 7 and up. syacht@sport.rr.com. (318) 631-7414. www.shreveyacht.com.