The Summer 2013 Program
Our summer of fun-based instruction begins Monday, June 24th and lasts for eight weeks. All groups are taught in school-owned Widgeons and 420's, and a combination of school-owned and privately-owned International Optimist Dinghies. Class sizes are limited in order to guarantee safety and the quality of instruction necessary to teach solid sailing skills. All Senior staff have Red Cross certification in first aid and CPR.
YES, Classes meet July 4th!
Not sure which class to select? See our class selection flowchart.
Learn-to-Sail Widgeons
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
A beginning class for students with no or little previous experience. Instruction starts with the fundamentals and progresses through sailing upwind, tacking, sailing downwind, jibing and landing at a dock. Beginning sailors are always in a Widgeon with an instructor who gives the small crew focused attention. In addition to the physical skills of sailing, students learn the parts of the boat and sails, the maritime rules of the road and how to determine wind direction. Fun and laughter are second only to safety, as much of the learning is accomplished through games.
$165 per week.
Learn-to-Sail Optimists
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
A beginning class for students with no or little previous experience. Instruction starts with the fundamentals and progresses through sailing upwind, tacking, sailing downwind, jibing and landing at a dock. Two students per boat share steering and controlling the sail so they can learn first from the instructor, then from each other. Recommended enrollment is two consecutive weeks.
$165 per week.
Learn-to-Sail 420s
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 12:00pm
This is an introductory class, but is not a course for beginning sailors. To sign up for the course, sailors must have previously sailed in Intermediate and Racing Widgeons or Intermediate and Racing Optimists. Sailors who have not yet sailed at BSS should contact the registrar with their experience before signing up.
The course is an introduction to 420s, which are high-performance racing boats. This course is held in the mornings when the winds are typically lighter. Sailors should have an understanding of all basic terminology and be capable of sailing the boat through all points of sail. The course builds on these basic sailing skills, and focuses on the specific demands of sailing a 420, not the more technical aspects of successfully racing one. Sailors will become capable enough to progress to afternoon sailing, when the winds are stronger. Learn-to-Sail 420s is a prerequisite to Intermediate and Racing 420s.
$165 per week.
Intermediate and Racing Widgeons
Monday - Thursday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Intermediate and Racing Widgeons is open to all sailors who have mastered the skills in our morning Learn-to-Sail programs. It is ideal for older students who are not interested in racing or for students who want to transition from an Optimist into a boat with a crew. Sailors not only take their basic skills to a higher level, but also learn new sailing skills. The instruction is pitched at a more sophisticated level than learn-to-sail classes, encouraging a greater understanding of how and why sailing works. Students will learn specific racing skills as well. This program encourages sailors to participate in the Friday morning Junior Racing Series.
The Friday racing fee is included in tuition.
$175 per week.
Intermediate and Racing Optimists
Monday - Thursday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is for sailors who have gained confidence in the skills they learned in the morning programs. Students will learn how to sail solo as captain and crew of their own vessels and handle both tiller and mainsheet effectively. Sailors gain confidence by learning how to control boat speed and how to respond to increasingly challenging circumstances. Instruction under the guidance of our Optimist racing coach seeks to improve the ability to sail upwind and down, refine techniques of sail and boat trim, start a race, and learn basic racing rules and tactics. Emphasis is on expanding sailing knowledge and boat handling, with an emphasis on the basics of racing. No previous racing experience is needed, but sailors must have mastered basic sailing skills in either our Learn-to-Sail Widgeon or Learn-to-Sail Optimist programs.
Those sailors who exhibit the required degree of skill and enthusiasm will be chosen to represent the Buzzards Sailing School team. At the discretion of the racing coach, and in accordance with specific guidelines, selected teams will participate in weekly regattas. Team members may vary weekly, depending on student enrollment, skill and interest. We do not guarantee that every student will attend regattas, and some students may be selected to participate in multiple or all regattas. BSS coaches will accompany race members and racers will use BSS boats and equipment. All parents must be available to transport students and boats / equipment. Regatta fees are the responsibility of the student and / or their parent. Please refer to our calendar to see dates for the 2013 regattas. For sailors who prefer to just sail and not race, class instruction will offer advanced skills with no regatta requirement.
The Friday racing fee is included in tuition.
$185 per week.
Intermediate and Racing 420s
Monday - Thursday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This class is for the sailor who has successfully completed at least 4 weeks of Learn-to-Sail 420s and is ready to progress to the afternoon breeze. The class is for intermediate and advanced 420 sailors who are looking to improve their sailing and racing skills. Under the instruction of our 420 racing coach, students will continue to expand their knowledge about sailing 420s and hone their racing skills, with an increased focus on understanding the subtleties of boat handling. Learning also focuses on safe competent movement of the boat, tacking, jibing, points of sail, hiking, and an introduction to spinnakers. Team participation is emphasized, and instruction includes skills needed for both skipper and crew positions.
Those sailors who exhibit the requierd degree of skill and enthusiasm will be chosen to represent the Buzzards Sailing School team. At the discretion of the racing coach, and in accordance with specific guidelines, selected teams will participate in weekly regattas. Team members may vary weekly, depending on student enrollment, skill and interest. We do not guarantee that every student will attend regattas, and some students may be selected to participate in multiple or all regattas. BSS coaches will accompany race members and racers will use BSS boats and equipment. All parents must be available to transport students and boats / equipment. Regatta fees are the responsibility of the student and / or their parent. Please refer to our calendar to see dates for the 2013 regattas. For sailors who prefer to just sail and not race, class instruction will offer advanced skills with no regatta requirement. This program encourages students to race in the Friday morning Junior Racing Series. The Friday racing fee is included in tuition.
$185 per week.
Private Lessons
Monday - Thursday, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
In unique situations, BSS offers private instruction. Private lessons are not meant to replace regular BSS classes. All lessons are held in our Widgeons, and class content will be determined based on a student's past experience and desired level of instruction. Scheduling for private lessons depends on staff and fleet availability and will vary weekly. For that reason, BSS cannot confirm availability until the season begins. Fees are 180 for a single session with up to two students and 200 for a single session with three students. Please contact BSS directly to discuss needs and to book space. sailinginfo@buzzardssailing.org, or during the summer season at (508) 563-9757.
$ per week.
Buzzards Yacht Club Junior Membership
Annual Membership
The BYC is committed to promoting junior sailing/racing and is excited to offer a new BYC Junior Membership for 12 to 21 year olds whose parents are not already members of the BYC. Junior membership includes:
- An invitation to age appropriate BYC events including the Chowder Race and the Fun Race
- Inclusion on crew lists for the PHRF and Senior Series races
- BYC Junior membership t-shirt
$0 per week.