Fall and Spring Opti Beginning and Intermediate Sailing

If you have always wanted to learn to sail, this is your chance!! 
​KHYF offers a great sailing program, and you don’t have to be a  KHYC club member to participate. That means your friends can learn to sail with you. Think how much fun you can have sailing in the King Harbor basin and on the ocean.

Sailing is a special interest, if not a passion, that lasts a lifetime, and there is no better way to start than with the King Harbor Youth Foundation Sailing program. You learn a lot more than sailing, you will learn responsibility, self-sufficiency, independence, and teamwork. 

The OPTI SAILING classes are intended for kids (7-12) who are new to little amount of sailing experience. Classes are taught in groups with classroom and on the water instruction. Children solo sail in one person 8' dinghy's. These classes are GREAT for children who want to learn and possibly race in the future.
​Sailors can improve at their own pace as they become comfortable and confident with themselves in the sport.
​
Opti Beginner
Prerequisites: 7 years old / Must pass swim test on the first day
Student Age Recommendation: 7-12 years old
The goal of the Opti Beginner class is for each student to have a positive early experience while sailing, comfort of sailing solo and understanding how to reach a windward destination. The class will be taught in the Plopti, which is a sturdy plastic version of the Opti. This is a true beginner class that teaches children the basics so that they can successfully sail and handle an Optimist (Opti). Optimists are 8-foot, single-sail boats, piloted by youth ages 7-15. Optimists are the largest "one-design" competition fleet in the world, with young sailors graduating to become the best high school, university and Olympic competitors. In the camp classes there is a strong emphasis on safety near and on the water, teamwork, and seamanship skills. Having fun is a priority for this class so sailing games and other skill-related activities are incorporated into the course along with a Fun Day at the end of each session. Some skills that will be taught; Parts of the boat and sail, points of sail, steering, rigging, capsize recovery,​​ and the basics on up wind sailing. It is common for sailors to participate in Opti Beginner more than once before moving to Opti 2.

Opti Intermediate
​Prerequisites: Meet the Move Up goals of Opti 1 / Must pass swim test on the first day​
Student Age Recommendation: 7-13 years old
The goal of Opti Intermediate is for each student to be able to execute racing starts, slow speed maneuvers, and efficiently sail upwind. Opti Intermediate brings together all of the skills learned from Opti Beginner and continues to develop confident sailors who have a strong foundation of sailing knowledge. Students work on refining boat handling, including steering to proper course, weight placement and body position, controlled tacks and gybes, and sail trim in order to sail the boat efficiently by themselves. The class will be taught in the Optimist, which is an 8’ single-sailboat. 
*SWIMTEST*
The first day will include a swim test for all and a capsize drill for Opti and FJ sailors. The swim test is swimming 20 yards within the dock (in the King Harbor basin) and back, without a lifejacket. Then each student, while treading water, must put on their lifejacket. We do not compare stroke, style or speed. Their comfort the while in the water is what is important. This is cold ocean water. If your sailor has concerns it is an idea to practice in the ocean at the beach. If the student does NOT want to take the swim test, he or she cannot participate in the class curriculum and get on the boats. Aside from the swim test, sailors must always have their life jacket on (zipped and clipped) whenever on the dock, on a boat, or in the water.

Gear Checklist

1. Coast Guard Approved Life Jacket (Type III PFD) - These can be purchased at West Marine, REI, Dive n' Surf, or most sporting goods stores and should be based on the sailor’s weight.
2. Closed-toed shoes - Anything that protects the feet/toes and can get wet (sneakers, crocs).
3. Clothes to sail/swim and plus potentially a change of clothes.
4. Sun protection - Hat, sunglasses, sun-screen, buff, rash guard, etc.
5. Refillable water bottle! Sailors should be drinking lots of water.
6. Towel - Expect to be wet everyday!
7. Bag to hold all of your stuff!
8. Please have the online waivers done before the start of the session.​​ 

2024 Fall SCHEDULE 
Dates to remain the same. Exact format subject to change.

Opti Classes ​	OPTI Sailing Fridays & Saturdays
​DATES: TIME  AGES: ​TUITION:	Sept 20 - Nov 2* Fridays 3.30PM-6.30PM, Saturdays 12:30-3:30 7-14 $ 540
10 Classes	* NO SAILING on Sept 27,28/Oct 11,12

2024 SPRING SCHEDULE

Opti Classes	Opti Beginner  ​Fridays (3:30-6:30) and                  Saturdays (12:30-3:30)	Opti Intermediate  Fridays (3:30-6:30) and                      Saturdays (12:30-3:30)​
DATES: TIME  AGES: PRACTICE DAYS: ​TUITION:	​March 15 - May 18 ** 3.30PM-6.30PM 7-12 Friday and Saturdays** $ 900 ​	​March 15 - May 18 ** 3.30PM-6.30PM 7-12 Friday and Saturdays** $ 900 ​

** Please note the below schedule for breaks during the season. Schedule is around our coaches own sailing schedules​​
** Spring Break observed NO SAILING week April 1st - 5th.
**Practice days: March 15/March 22, 23/March 29, 30/Gap week/April 12,13/April 19/Gap week/May 3/May 10/May 17,18

Registration

To apply for scholarships, download the scholarship application form. 
***Scholarships forms are to be received 30 days prior to the course date***

                                               King Harbor Youth Foundation Scholarship Application form.pdf

Scholarship 2025 Deadlines:
Spring

• Race/HS: December 21st
• LTS: February 12th

Summer

• Session 0: May 9th
• Session 1: May 16th
• Session 2: May 30th
• Session 3: June 14th
• Session 4: June 28th

Fall

• Race/HS: TBD
• LTS: TBD