Olcott Yacht Club
Youth Boating & Sailing Program
The Olcott Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing program is a summer sailing camp which began in the mid 1940’s and today is still an important part of the Club and community. Over the years we have served many families and children as they enjoyed learning to sail and taking with them lifetime skills and friendships. Our program provides general sailing instruction for both boys and girls ages 7 to 18, non-members and members alike. Our training is done in Optimist dinghies, 420's and Lasers providing an ample fleet of boats for both beginner sailors and returning veterans. We also train in a fleet of kayaks, providing additional water instruction on days when the lake is too rough to sail. Our advanced racers are known around the lake to be great competitors and true sportsmen.
Several levels of instruction are taught with an emphasis on safety, fun, sportsmanship, cooperation and competition. The curriculum follows the US Sailing Association format and our instructional staff (many of whom went through the program themselves) are all US Sailing and American Red Cross certified. Teaching will be separated by "Adventure Sail/Learn to Sail" or "Racing". ("Racing" will require coach approval.) Classes are kept small with a student/teacher ratio of less than 10:1 and acceptance into the program is on a first come/first serve basis.
We continue to do our best to provide an instructional experience that is reasonable in cost to each family. In order to be able to provide & maintain all of our boats & equipment used, beyond the income from camp tuition, we rely on generous financial support and fundraising from The Olcott Mantel Club, our past commodores organization which is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization. Through their annual fundraiser and tax-deductible donations we continue to keep our program a success.
2025 Sailing Session Dates & Fees:
Program Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Session 1: July 7 to July 18 $702 ($200 Deposit)
Session 2: July 21 to August 1 $702 ($200 Deposit)
Session 3: August 4 to August 15 $702 ($200 Deposit)
Weekly Rate: $378 ($100 Deposit)
(Fees include applicable NYS sales tax.)
Parent/Guardian an Olcott Yacht Club member? Receive 10% discount
Deposits are due at time of registration. Payments are due in full by the first day of the registered session.
For further information and questions, email or call:
Elisa Schwarzkopf – Fleet Captain: elisajschwarzkopf@gmail.com 716-957-0218
Mark Cassidy – Junior Committee Chairman: rappareems@aol.com or 716-778-9028
Beginner Opti
(Ages 7 - 10)
This course is geared toward fun and learning! We will teach the basics of rigging an Optimist, basic boat handling, sailing fundamentals, seamanship, sportsmanship, and water safety. Instruction is done in Optimists with 2 sailors per boat.
Beginner 420
This course is for older and larger sailors who are new to sailing, or younger sailors with some experience but who are new to the 420. Course includes basics of rigging a 420, basic boat handling, seamanship, sportsmanship, and water safety.
Intermediate Opti
(Ages 9 - 12)
Designed for sailors who have completed Beginner Optimist. This course focuses on more advanced boat handling skills. Sailors will sail 1 person/ boat. By completion, sailors will be able to sail on all points of sail in most wind speeds, know all parts of the boat, and basic knots.
Intermediate 420
This class will introduce and refine racing skills, advanced boat handling, introduction to trapeze and spinnaker, tactics and strategy and sportsmanship. This is meant to be a developmental course that bridges the gap between Beginner 420 and the 420 Travel Race Team.
Opti Race Team
Sailors on the Opti Race Team will refine their racing skills and represent OYC in local interclub regattas around Lake Ontario. This team wil l constantly refine racing skills, strategy and advanced boat handling. Prerequisite: Under 15 years old with Coach approval
420 Race Team
The 420 Race Team will work to perfect advanced boat handling, tactics, and racing strategy. The Team will travel to local events around the lake representing the OYC. Some weekend travel may be involved. Prerequisite: Coach approval
Have Questions? Download our 2025 OYC JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM Q&A.
Interested in racing as program preference? Download the RACING TEAM INFO.
To register by mail or in person, please complete and submit a separate registration form AND a health and medical information form with deposit for each child to be registered.
