Junior Sailing
The nonprofit Arizona Sailing Foundation takes kids the next step in building sailing skills by offering O’pen Bic performance boats, Optimist dinghies and Lasers. It’s MORE Junior Sailing.
Spring classes are 60 minutes and begin 90 minutes before Sunday afternoon races at Tempe Town Lake. Then the kids can race that day. The scheduled class days and times are 12:30pm on January 12 & 26, February 16 & 23, and 1:30 on March 8 & 22, April 5, April 26, and May 3.
O’Pen Bic racers you may use. Also available: Optis and Lasers. Photo: Mike Ferring
What it’s about: MORE fun sailing, and maybe even a little racing. This class is for kids who already have a good handle on making a boat move and are ready to make their boat move faster.
The kids can use the appropriately sized boat for body size and weight. Smaller kids can continue in the Opti. A little bigger ones can take out an O’Pen Bic or even a 4.7 or Radial Laser.
We focus on developing good small boat habits such as balance, hand/tiller coordination, and attention to sail trim.
For those interested, the class also introduces racing concepts such as starting, mark rounding, and position on the racecourse. Kids are invited to get involved in Arizona Yacht Club racing (held on the same days as the class). Boats are provided on first-come basis, but if there’s a conflict, we rotate boats so everyone gets the experience they are looking for.
Who should attend: Any junior between the ages of 10 and 15 who’s completed the Kids Sailing programs or has passed a sailing skills test. Small class size means personal attention and rapid learning.
Instructors: Highly-experienced, US Sailing-certified sailors
How much: $210 per student.
All boats and costs are included. You must provide your own PFD and helmet (bicycle or skateboard helmet is suggested).
Here’s a fun promotional video for the Bic.
Contact: Rob Gibbs
Student Colin Gibbs on a Bic, trailed by coach (and dad) Rob Gibbs. Photo: Mike Ferring