Youth Learn to Sail Classes

*Parent/Guardian Attendance is Mandatory

Ages: 5‐8
Prerequisite: None. No sailing experience necessary.

Introduce young prospective sailors to the wonders of sailing in a safe and fun environment! This is NOT a “learn to sail” class, but rather a program designed to encourage a child’s comfort and confidence around water. Each student must have an adult (parent, grandparent, nanny, etc.) accompany them during the entire class. Adults are expected and encouraged to participate in all aspects of the class, assisting with rigging, learning knots, and getting wet in a boat alongside the children. Adults can be novice sailors or have previous experience. The goal of this class is to become comfortable with the boats, docks, and water as they are exposed to the sport in a fun environment. Through fun games and activities, Minnows will be introduced to basic sailing concepts, such as water safety, knot tying, wind direction, and boat parts. Children will have opportunities to sail 8ft Optimist dinghies with the assistance of junior instructors, their parents, or a buddy. Please understand this class is meant to give children a fun and positive basic introduction to sailing. Students are not expected to come away with the ability to sail an Opti independently. Participants are NOT required to do the swim check, however students are encouraged to do a “life jacket float test” in the water alongside the dock. Classes are held within the confines of the Hood River Marina.

Age: 8‐12, Weight range: 60 to 130lbs
Prerequisite: Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill. No sailing experience necessary.

Open to sailors with little or no previous sailing experience. Through fun and games, basic sailing skills and safety will be taught, enabling a child to feel confident sailing an 8-foot Optimist dinghy (designed for small children and very stable in all wind conditions). Instruction will include capsize recovery, rigging, terminology, knot tying, tacking, jibing, and safety, with an overall emphasis on FUN and becoming comfortable on the water. New sailors will have opportunities to sail with a buddy, giving them a chance to share the fun and meet new friends. Classes are held within the confines of the Hood River Marina unless conditions allow a river sail. Students will practice capsizing and swimming while wearing life jackets. Most students take this course at least twice before moving up to intermediate classes.

Age: 11‐17
Weight range: 65 to 140 lbs
Prerequisite: Previous Beginner class and/or instructor approval. Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill.

Only offered Week 2 [Jun 22-26] & Week 4 [July 6-10]

This empowering sailing class offers an emphasis on helming, as well as crewing skills in a positive, inclusive environment for girls ages 11 to 17. Classes are taught in the Club 420, an entry-level, two‐person dinghy that is rigged with a mainsail, and a jib.

Open to beginning and intermediate sailors, teens new to sailing, sailors who have outgrown Optis or Bics, and sailors with previous double-handed experience. Instructor may pair sailors of varied experience levels and learning styles. Instruction includes basic sailing skills, rigging, knot tying, safety, and boat handling. With an emphasis on teamwork and fun, the class will work towards short course racing. Classes are generally held within the confines of the Hood River Marina, but classes may sail outside the marina when conditions permit. Students will practice capsizing and swimming while wearing life jackets.

Age: 8‐14 
Weight range: 65 to 140lbs
Prerequisite:  Intermediate sailing experience. Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill.

Open to sailors who have successfully completed beginning sailing and wish to expand their skills. Classes are taught in the O'pen skiff. Instruction will include rigging, boat handling, sail trim, safety, and an introduction to racing. Sailors should be comfortable in all wind conditions and must be able to demonstrate safe capsize recovery unassisted. Classes are generally held within the confines of the Hood River Marina, but may sail outside the marina when conditions permit. 

Age: 8‐14
Weight range: 65 to 140lbs
Prerequisite:  Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill. No sailing experience necessary.

Open to both experienced and inexperienced sailors, students of different abilities will  learn the basics of small boat sailing through hands-on instruction and fun games that are designed to practice boat handling and water safety. Instruction will include capsize recovery, rigging, terminology, knot tying, tacking, jibing, and safety, with an overall emphasis on FUN and becoming comfortable on the water.  Classes are generally held within the confines of the Hood River Marina, but may sail outside the marina when sailor ability and conditions permit.  Sailors learn to rig and sail the Opti or O'pen Skiff.  All classes are taught by US Sailing-certified instructors and follow the US Sailing curriculum.

Age: 11-16
Weight range: 65+ lbs
Prerequisite:  Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill.

Teens will learn the basics of small boat sailing while doing drills and fun games designed to practice boat handling skills. Using either the O'pen Skiff or the Club 420, sailors will learn how to rig, and safely launch and return to the dock. Fundamental sailing skills to be taught: tiller control, jib and mainsheet trim, tack, jibe, capsize recovery. Intermediate skills: upwind/downwind sailing, mark roundings, 360s. Most instruction will take place within the Hood River Marina but, if conditions permit, sailors will go out into the Columbia River. All classes are taught by US Sailing-certified instructors and follow the US Sailing recommended curriculum.

Age: 8‐14, Weight range: 60 to 130lbs
Prerequisite: Ability to swim, pass swim check and capsize drill. No sailing experience necessary.

Add the Open Youth class in the same week and receive 50% off the afternoon class by using discount code “FULLDAY2026” at checkout. Sailors will be supervised during the lunch hour, water will be provided. Please send your sailor with a packed lunch, or plan to deliver or pick them up for lunch. Suited best for “Youth” sailors, this class will start the morning session in the Opti or O’pen Skiff, and will continue skill-building in the afternoon, older, larger, more competent sailors might sail the Club 420 in the afternoons.

Age: 7th to 12th grades

This class is for those going into 7th-12th grades and want to join the Gorge Sailing Team. The race team practices in the fall - Sept - Oct. and again in March, April, and part of May. The team has the chance to travel to 1 or more regattas each season. The Gorge Sailing Team is unique opportunity to gain expert-level coaching in expert-level conditions. Team members volunteer Monday nights for community open sail, and has priority to become junior instructors and gain their US Sailing Level 1 Small Boat Instructor certification.

Objectives:

• Understanding points of sail, hull speed, displacement, boat balance.

• Basic racing rules

• Windward/Leeward Racing

• STARTS!

• Puff and lull identification, tactics

Age: 13-18 
Weight range: 90+ lbs

Prerequisite: Intermediate sailing experience required.

Taught in 420s and/or FJs. This is a high-performance race clinic for aspiring sailors. If conditions permit, spinnaker and trapeze will be introduced. Expect to train roll tacks, jibes, mark roundings, start techniques and high-wind sailing.

Age: 13-18 
Weight range: 90+ lbs

Prerequisite: Intermediate sailing experience required.

This is a weekly high-school race clinic that will start with 1-hour of coached practice and end with a mini-regatta of 2-3 races. Meant to keep high school sailors current with skills, this is also a fun opportunity for adults who know how to race the C-420 or FJ. More information can be found here: https://scoreyc.com/regatta/1CBgB57fg96