Carolina Sailing Foundation

Make friends, have fun, build confidence and sail fast!

In CSF’s Junior Sailing Program, children between eight and 13 participate in small group, on-the-water camps and classes to learn basic sailing and racing skills. Classes and camps use Optimist (Opti) sailboats and emphasize safety, building confidence, having fun and improving skills. All CSF instructors are certified Small Boat Sailing Instructors by US Sailing.

CSF’s Opti Sailing Camp is now accepting pre-registrations. Contact Jay Smith with questions.

CSF Junior Sailing Camp Descriptions
Level 1 Opti Sailing
Participants learn the parts of a sailboat, how a sailboat works and how to properly rig and begin to sail an Opti. Students will be on the water sailing around marks. Camp is appropriate for a complete novice sailor age 8 - 11. Participant must know how to swim. Camp sessions run Monday – Thursday, four hours per day (morning or afternoon) at Wake County’s Lake Crabtree Park. The fee is $120 per participant for the four day session.

Level 2 Opti Sailing
Participants review all skills included in the Level 1 Opti class, plus learn upwind and downwind techniques. Students receive credit toward completion of a US Sailing “Red Book.” Camp is appropriate for a child age 9 – 13 that has some sailing experience and is comfortable alone in a boat. Participant must know how to swim. Camp sessions run Monday – Thursday, four hours per day (morning or afternoon) at Wake County’s Lake Crabtree Park. The fee is $120 per participant for the four day session.

Wake County Sailing Opportunities
Teen Sunfish Sailing
Wake County’s Lake Crabtree Park hosts TEEN Sunfish Sailing – a half-day camp – morning sessions for participants 12 years and older and who weigh a minimum of 90 pounds. Students learn basic sailing and boat handling with both shore instruction and on-the-water drills. Camp runs Monday – Thursday from either 8:30am – 12:30pm or 12:30pm – 4:30pm. The fee is $120 per participate per session. For more information, contact Wake County Parks and Recreation or call 460-2723.

Junior Sailing Events
Tiller Time
Ready for more now that sailing camp is over? Head out to Jordan Lake’s Vista Point to sail Optis with other sailboats during the Carolina Sailing Club’s Summer Coaching Series. Coaching and drills are provided along with sailing games.

Jolly Jordan Junior Regatta
This one-day, Opti-only regatta held at Vista Point on Jordan Lake is sponsored by the Carolina Sailing Club. The 2009 regatta is part of the Youth South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) circuit. In addition to local boats, sailors travel from other parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to participate. Sailors are grouped by age and experience into green, white, blue and red fleets with the most junior sailors racing separately. This fun-filled day offers lots of encouragement to beginning racers.

Governor’s Cup Regatta
The Governor’s Cup Regatta, sponsored by the Carolina Sailing Club, is a multi-class event held annually on the third weekend of June at Henderson Point on Kerr Lake. Optis race on a separate course from adults and are grouped in green, white, blue or red fleets based on age and experience. The weekend event is spent having fun, building confidence and improving racing skills.