Explorers Session 1 & 3, 12:30pm-4:00pm

Ages 6-8, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This is an introductory sailing class is a two-week long, half day program with a dedicated instructor for every 6 sailors signed up for the course. The primary focus is having fun on the water while gaining confidence on the water. We have marine science days on every Wednesday. Time will be spent on Optimists and Sonars. 

Opti Level 1 Session 1 & 3, 8:30am-12:00pm. Session 2 & 4, 12:30pm-4:00pm.

Ages 8-12, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This entry-level class is a two-week long, half day program that introduces sailors to the basics of sailing. This class teaches sailors the basic rigging fundamentals, seamanship, water safety and confidence in sailing all points of sail. Every Wednesday, we have a marine science day. 

Sailors in Motion Session 3, 8:30am-4:00pm 

Ages 8-12, cost $580 nonmember, $530 member

This class is a two-week long, full day program where we partner with the Virginia Air & Space Center. Sailors will learn the basics of sailing in our Optimists in the morning with our Opti Level 1 group. This sailing portion teaches sailors the basic rigging fundamentals, seamanship,  water safety and confidence in sailing all points of sail. Sailors will then have lunch at the yacht club (lunch not provided). After lunch, sailors will conduct hands-on activities with the Air & Space educators in our Sailing Center. The sailors will be working (with the museum's staff) on hands-on engineering projects relating to the force of motion. Sailors will get to build and work on model aircraft, rockets, roller coasters and race cars.  We will schedule field trips to the Air & Space Center throughout the week. There is a minimum of 6 sailors in order for this class to occur.

Intro to Opti Racing Session 2 & 4, 8:30am-12:00pm 

Ages 8-12, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This class is for sailors who have already completed Opti Level 1 or Sailors in Motion and want to continue their progression. This is a two-week long, half day class that teaches sailors the introductory skills of racing. Sailors learn performance rigging, boat handling, how to start and rules of racing. This class allows coaching at two regattas at Hampton Yacht Club in the Opti Green Fleet. 

Messing About in Boats Session 1 & 3, 12:30pm-4:00pm 

Ages 8-12, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This is a two-week long, half day class that is designed for sailors who want to be on the water but aren’t necessarily interested in racing. This course centers on adventure, games and marine science while introducing sailors to a variety of boats including: Optis, c420s, O’Pen Bics, Sonars and canoes. 

420 Level 1 Session 1 & 3, 8:30am-12:00pm 

Ages 13-18, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This entry-level class is a two-week long, half day program that is for new sailors or for sailors graduating from the Optis. This class teaches sailors the basic rigging fundamentals, seamanship (knots and weather), water safety, sportsmanship and confidence in sailing all points of sail. 

Intro to c420 Racing Session 2 & 4, 8:30am-12:00pm 

Ages 13-18, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This class is for sailors who have already completed 420 Level 1 and want to continue their progression. This is a two-week long, half day class that teaches sailors the introductory skills of racing. Sailors learn performance rigging, boat handling, spinnaker, trapeze, how to start and rules of racing. We will have a home regatta that these sailors can participate in. 

Messing About in Boats Session 2 & 4, 12:30pm-4:00pm 

Ages 13-18, cost $330 nonmember, $280 member 

This is a two-week long, half day class that is designed for sailors who want to be on the water but aren’t necessarily interested in racing. This course centers on adventure, games and marine science while introducing sailors to a variety of boats including: c420s, O’Pen Bics, Sonars and canoes. Sailors will learn person in water, basic navigation and spinnaker on the c420. 

Chesapeake Opti Race Team & Opti Race Team Session 1-4 plus July 4th week, 12:30pm-4:00pm (starting the week of June 11th and ending the week of August 6th) 

Ages 8-15 (Red, White, Blue Fleet),cost for Chesapeake Opti Race Team: $1100 nonmember, $1000 member. Cost for Opti Race Team: $1400 nonmember, $1300 member

The Into to Opti Racing Summer sailors start out in the Opti Green Fleet.  In that program, they start out in the basics of racing and compete in 2 regattas during the summer. During those 2 regattas, the sailors will receive coaching from one of our experienced instructors. After they have gained some experience, they can advance onto our Opti Race team and compete in the White, Red, and Blue fleets (their age determines which fleet they go into).   A minimum of one season of Opti Level 1 training and Intro to Opti Racing is required. Team selection will be at the discretion of the Optimist Race Coach or Sailing Director.

The Chesapeake Race Team is a developmental race team for the sailors or for parents that only want their sailors to travel locally. That means they will still get the same expert coaching as the Opti Race Team, but the sailors will only travel to local smaller regattas to represent HYC. Once the sailors have bridged the gap from Intro to Opti Racing and the Opti Race Team, they will be ready to compete in the national level and join the Opti Race Team.

Chesapeake c420 Race Team & c420 Race Team Session 1-4 plus July 4th week, 3:00pm-6:30pm 

Ages 13-22, cost for Chesapeake c420 Race Team: $1100 nonmember, $1000 member. Cost for c420 Race Team: $1400 nonmember, $1300 member

HYC sponsors a club 420 Race team for the teenage members of our junior program.  The program requires some experience at regattas in the Summer Intro to 420 Racing class or Optimist Racing Team. The team focuses on serious racing skills and techniques including starting, strategy, tactics, spinnaker trim, trapezing and light and heavy weather sailing. HYC provides exceptional coaching and has a long term plan that will help your sailor advance in his or her sailing career. The Race team will have guest coaching appearances by Gary Bodie and Tyler Moore.

You may sign up as a team (skipper and crew) or individually. If you sign up as an individual, we will pair you up with someone that meets the competitive crew weight (260-270 pounds) and your skill set. We do have 4 new Zim c420s. These boats, with new sails, will only be used for regattas in order to meet quality race standards.

The Chesapeake Race Team is a developmental race team for the sailors or for parents that only want their sailors to travel locally. That means they will still get the same expert coaching as the c420 Race Team, but the sailors will only travel to local smaller regattas to represent HYC. Once the sailors have bridged the gap from Intro to c420 Racing and the c420 Race Team, they will be ready to compete in the national level and join the c420 Race Team.