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Youth Summer Sailing Classes

LSC currently has 4 sessions of Youth Sailing Training scheduled this summer - each session runs 5 days, and will have parallel tracks for newer sailors, and for those who have some sailing experience. The final session is an introduction to the fun of racing. Each sessions goes from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm each day.

Start the adventure of a lifetime. Sailing teaches confidence, fun on the water, teamwork, safety, and a love of the outdoors. Young sailors in our summer sessions will learn how to sail a small boat by themselves. Those who already know how to sail will go into the Intermediate 1 or 2 Sessions to build on their skills and sailing confidence. Racing introduces youth to the fun of competitive sailing, increasing mastery of sailing and preparing them to join, if they want to continue, grade 7-12 Fall/Spring interscholastic racing teams at LSC, or Summer Fleet racing. We learn on a variety of boats for great summer fun! We emphasize safe sailing and having fun as well as developing good sailing skills.

Schedule

Levels

Intro to Sailing is for youth who are new to sailing, or need to review the basics - rigging and basic boat-handling, and basic rules of the road, and safety.

Intermediate Sailing 1 builds on the basics for more confident boat control and sailing skills.

Intermediate Sailing 2 challenges youth sailors with more sailing techniques, such as spinnaker, crew teamwork, decision making, and a taste of racing fun.

Racing Clinic is a training for youth sailors in the fun and challenging sport of racing, on Club420 Sailboats, the boats used by our Fall/Spring High School Racing Teams and the MSU Collegiate racing team.

All these classes may be repeated by a student, and instructors may switch a student to a less or more challenging concurrent class if more suitable. Intermediate classes are best for youth who have a basic understanding of sailing/have taken a previous week's class, or junior sailing classes before.

Minimum physical and language requirements to operate and move on a sailboat, and understand and respond to directions from instructors must be met by student.

Formatting, dates, and class sizes may change as Michigan and Federal Covid-19 guidelines are issued and updated.

Fees

Classes run M-F, 1-4pm.

Intro to Sailing - $250
Intermediate Sailing 1 - $250
Intermediate Sailing 2 - $250
Racing Clinic - $250

Optional - Learn to Sail Book & Class T-shirt - $20

Lansing Sailing Club Members get 30% off Youth Summer Classes!
You can add a Family Membership to enjoy this discount and family fun and learning on the water all season.
Family Membership - $225

Instructors

Instructor, Maribeth Fletcher - Maribeth competes in the Sunfish and Wayfarer classes and has sailed many kinds of boats over the years, from Flying Scots to Flying Dutchman and MC Scows, and has also taught K-12 science for decades. She also serves on the LSC Board of Directors. Maribeth is Level 1 US Sailing Instructor Certified and CPR Certified.

Instructor, Drew Kovalchick - Drew, currently at Ohio State, and a graduate from ELHS, has been sailing and racing for eight years. He started in the junior sailing program and sailed with the High School Sailing Team, races with LSC, has frequently served with the Race Committee, and has worked as an assistant instructor for the junior sail program for the past three years. He is completing his Level 1 US Sailing Instructor and is CPR Certified.

Instructor, Olivia Sowa - Olivia, currently at Michigan State University, and a graduate from ELHS, has been sailing for 3 years. She started racing Lightnings at LSC, and sailed with the High School Sailing Team, has frequently served with the Race Committee, and has worked as an assistant instructor for the junior sail program for the two years. She is completing her Level 1 US Sailing Instructor and CPR Certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a youth enroll for more than one session?

Yes - a young sailor can repeat all available weeks, either reinforcing skills at the same level, or advancing through levels of skill.

Who can enroll?

Youth going into grades 4-12 may be enrolled.
Minimum physical and language requirements to operate and move on a sailboat, be comfortable on the water, and understand and respond to directions from instructors must be met by student. Students cannot remain on shore while their class practices on the water.

Where do we teach?

The program is held at the Lansing Sailing Club and on the waters of Lake Lansing. The Lansing Sailing Club is at 6039 E. Lake Drive, Haslett, MI, on the east side of Lake Lansing.

Instructors and Coaches

Instruction and coaching is provided under the direction of US Sailing Certified Instructors. The instructors and coaches enjoy working with youth sailors, love to sail and have years of experience sailing a wide range of sailing craft and usually have extensive sailboat racing experience as well.

Boats

Sunfish, Lasers, 420s, Optis, and Bics, are sailboats we may employ in our Learn to Sail programs, with intermediate level opportunities to sail on Lightnings, Wayfarers, and RS Quests for those students who are ready for more challenge.

What to Bring

Here is a checklist of what to wear and bring daily:

Type III life jacket - must fit. We highly recommend sailors have their own life jacket in consideration of Covid-19 concerns (but the Lansing Sailing Club does have life jackets for those who do not have their own).
Youth sailors should wear submersible clothing (ex:swimming suits, surf-style clothing,etc) and expect to get wet in Lake. Among other things, we teach youths how to recover from a capsize.
Wear closed toed secure footwear with white or non-marking soles (dark soles often leave marks on the boats) - no spongy crocs. NO flip-flops on boats or grounds.
Anything from Keens to those $5 water shoes at the drug store work well.
A water bottle.
Sunscreen.
Eyeglass holders if the sailor wears glasses (glasses are very easily lost in the lake).
Cap clip if the sailor wears a cap (they only float for a short period of time).
Whistle with lanyard (attach to life jacket).
Towel and change of clothing so as to go home in dry clothes.
Remember to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and note that it is always cooler on the water. We sail in light rain and cool weather, but not during thunderstorms - so bring the appropriate rain gear if necessary.
Sailing gloves are strongly recommended.
Do label your belongings with name.
Do secure long loose hair down with hair tie and/or hat/cap/buff/etc- long loose hair can get caught in boat parts.
Do not bring valuables.
Do not wear dangly jewelry. Loose chains etc. easily hook and pull off into the deep of Lake Lansing.

Covid-19 Precautions

We will be observing a set of precautions in regards to Covid-19 concerns:

Daily form checked by parent to indicate child is healthy
No-contact temperature checks at drop-off check-in
Physical distancing, masks/face gaiters when in closer quarters unless medical reasons apply - students will need to bring a mask or face gaiter with them
Daily cleansing of boat hulls and assigning of same boat for the week to each student
Hand-sanitizing/washing pre and post class, and before snacks
Temperature checks of staff and volunteers, and daily attestation of wellness
Activities take place in open air -- only our bathrooms and storage sheds are enclosed
Parents will be asked to indicate if they are comfortable with their child crewing a 13-19ft sailboat with another child. If yes, and only with a specific child also enrolled in the same Level of class, then indicate that child by name. Those that are comfortable sailing with another child will be paired with that same sailing partner for the week.
We highly recommend sailors have their own life jacket (see "what to bring" list)

Students, staff and volunteers with measured high temps will need to stay at, or go home, until they are symptom free. Students, staff and volunteers who know they have a symptomatic contagious disease shall not attend classes.