Youth Programs

Clearwater Yacht Club’s Youth Sailing team offers competitive sailing instruction to youngsters aged 8-18. From teaching our youngest sailor how to stay upright to supporting and encouraging our collegiate sailors and Olympic hopefuls, our program focuses on learning to compete within the sprit of Corinthian Yachting. It is a wonderful place for children to build self confidence, learn perseverance and make lifelong friends.

Our youngest sailors start off in the 8ft long box of a boat called the Optimist Dinghy. The Opti, as it is often referred to, is a direct descendent of Clark Mill’s “Clearwater Pram”. Mill’s design was commissioned by the local Optimist Club when Pinellas County proved too flat for soap box derby cars. Now the tiny boat is the largest one design class with over 400,000 boats and is sailed all over the world.

CYC’s Optimist sailors spend much time learning how to sight a start line, how to keep their telltales flying and how to duck when tacking. Under the careful supervision of our experienced coaches they overcome their fears of wind, water and losing.

As these kids progress through the program, flawless roll tacks, dead on starts and perfectly executed mark roundings become the goals. They learn to win with humility because as a sport sailing is a great equalizer. The tiny sailor that skips along in 5 knots of wind struggles to keep the boat upright in a blow. Girls and boys compete together and neither has the advantage.

More significant than learning to win at this young age is the opportunity to learn to lose. In a carefully controlled environment with caring and knowledgeable coaches your young skippers are encouraged to set for themselves very high goals. Despite many hours of hard practice eventually every one of them will feel the pain of failure. It is only then that we can begin the task of teaching the perseverance and dedication that will allow them to be champions on the race course and successes in the classroom.

As a sailor ages out (15 years) or sizes out of the Optimist they step up to our Laser Program. Here we sail the Laser full rig, the Olympic boat for men, and the Laser Radial, the same boat with a slightly smaller sail. Home to two of the five National Laser Team members and the 2003 ISAF Youth Female World Champion, ours is without a doubt one the best programs in the nation.

Not all our sailors have the special dedication, desire and talent required to have international success. Our program is structured to encourage each participant to push themselves to excel at the level that is most comfortable for them. They have many opportunities to test and improve their skills in local and regional events.

Youth sailing regattas run by the club are fun events. Club members get to know their team and take great pride in the integral part they play in each of these children’s success. So if you have children who want to take part and learn the joys and pleasures of sailing, there is no better place for you to join than Clearwater Yacht Club. It is a real family club with opportunities for enjoyment and friendship for all ages.

Click on the "Why I should join CYC" link on the left for information on our various classes of membership and how to join.