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Southport Junior Yacht Club

Sailing Foundation



2024 Summer Sailing Program


About the Southport Yacht Club Sailing Program

The Southport Yacht Club located in Cosy Harbor, Maine offers sailing instruction to young sailors on the mouth of the Sheepscot River.  For almost 100 years our sailing program has grown to provide its participants exceptional instruction and the opportunity to share with friends the pleasures of sailing the Maine Coast. The Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation has an eight week summer program that provides opportunities to develop sailing skills at all ability levels. In addition to providing a unique sailing experience on the Coast of Maine, the program fosters a love, appreciation, and respect for the ocean and emphasizes seamanship and sportsmanship at all levels.  Our sailing program is open to any young person turning 7 years old this calendar year to 18 years old, with or without prior experience on the water. We offer weekly sessions, though we strongly encourage students to participate for two weeks or more. Membership at Southport Yacht Club is not necessary, though warmly encouraged.  Registration is online via CampDoc. We welcome any child who desires exposure to the joys of sailing.




Summer Sailing Registration is Open!


Registration for our 2024 sailing program is open!  We made a few adjustments to our selections, so please take a peak before registering your child - thanks!

Morning Class:

  • Turnabouts: Beginner sailors take part in an instructional program that teaches basic sailing skills, terminology, and seamanship. Sailors crew with more experienced sailors in Turnabouts for sailing drills, exploring the coast, and fun racing.  Sailors will begin as “Boatswains” and advance to “Mates” and then to “Skippers” as they acquire and master sailing skills and concepts.  Progress is monitored through the use of the Star Chart.

  • Beginner Optis: Beginner sailors take part in an instructional program that teaches basic sailing skills, terminology, and seamanship.  Sailors registering for this class should have already completed "Mates" in the Beginner Turnabout class as the expectation in optis is that you are in a boat alone.  There is an additional Star Chart to track the progress of sailors in this class.  We have some club-owned optis available for use or you may provide your own.  *If your child started beginner optis, but hasn’t done any formal racing with us yet, please register again for this class and we will watch to see when we feel they are ready to transition to our afternoon opti group.*

Afternoon Class:

  • Turnabouts: Intermediate sailors learn to fly a spinnaker, compete in weekly racing amongst their peers on the Sheepscot and use their skills in a wide variety of activities.  There is a greater focus on learning to race at this level. * To register for this class, sailors should have completed all levels of the Beginner Turnabout class (Boatswains, Mates, and Skippers) and gotten approval from Shannon to make the move up.*

  • Afternoon Optis: Intermediate sailors compete in weekly racing amongst their peers on the Sheepscot and use their skills in a wide variety of activities.  Many will compete with other yacht clubs and represent the Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation in regional sailing competitions.  There is a greater focus on racing tactics at this level.  *Sailors registering for this class should have already participated in our “Beginner Opti” program in the morning class and gotten approval from Shannon to make the move up.*

  • Recreational 420s: This is a group of intermediate/advanced sailors who want to participate in a mix of racing and recreational sailing fun.  Sailors will spend some time doing drills to prepare for racing and the other portion of their time will be spent playing games and going for cruises.  They will participate in weekly racing amongst their peers on the Sheepscot with the “Racing 420” class and be given the opportunity to race in Boothbay’s Battle of the Bay Regatta.  They may also meet up with Boothbay for friendly competitions and adventure day sails.  *Sailors registering for this class should have completed either “Afternoon Turnabouts” or “Afternoon Optis” and be at least 13 years of age.*

  • Racing 420s: Advanced sailors will develop their seamanship and racing skills.  Sailors will compete in weekly racing amongst their peers on the Sheepscot and use their skills in a wide variety of activities.  Many will compete with other yacht clubs and represent the Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation in regional sailing competitions (Harraseeket Youth Regatta & Maine State 420s). Team racing, advanced tactics, and tuning techniques are included.  *This class will be limited to 4 boats (8 sailors) total.  This group will be geared completely toward racing, so 4 boats is what we can safely send to a regatta for ample supervision from the coachboat.  If you are wondering if this group is the right fit for your child, please reach out to Shannon and she can provide guidance.*

  • Afternoon Beginner Program: This is designed to be a program for older sailors who may have done some or no beginner sailing with us.  Lessons may be in a variety of boats depending on availability (turnabouts, 420s, Rhodes 19s, J80) and will focus on the basics of sailing while cruising around the beautiful Sheepscot River.  We hope to be able to provide our older, more inexperienced sailors an opportunity to learn to sail in an environment with more similar aged peers.  *Sailors aged 13+ with little to no sailing experience should register for this class.*

Please direct any questions about registration to Program Director, Shannon Killian!

shannonkillian3@gmail.com 



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