Clinics

OCS is home to the Fitzgerald High Performance Women’s Clinic and the Capital Bootcamp. In addition to these two annual clinics, OCS hosts a variety of other clinics designed to improve the sailing abilities of youth in Thurston County and the greater PNW. Read more below to learn about our annual clinics, or scroll down to see the current clinic schedule.

Clinic Schedule

Fitzgerald High Performance Women’s Clinic

July 26-28, 2024

Focus: This ILCA and c420 clinic is designed to promote high performance skills among women-identifying sailors in the PNW. With an all-women coaching crew, this clinic strives to build up junior women sailors in the region of all skill levels.

Skill Requirements: none!

Details: July 26-28

Clinic fees cover the cost of coaching at the event and overnight boat storage in Olympia. Sailors must provide their own race-ready ILCA (with upgraded/advanced control lines) or c420. Charter c420s might be available from OCS, and charter ILCAs might be available from local sailors - contact OCS staff to inquire further.

Focus: This ILCA and c420 clinic is designed for beginner sailors looking to tune their boats and get prepared for the Summer Sailing season. Expert coaches will cover the fundamentals of each class including boat setup, tuning, basic boat handling, and strategies/tactics unique to each class. NW Local and accomplished ILCA, College, and Tasar sailor Ellie Ungar, and Argentinian ILCA Champion Sailor and Coach Juan Videla will be working with the Capital Clinic beginner ILCA group. c420 beginners in the Capital Clinic will be taught by current Tufts Sailor, and local NW c420 champion Ella Hubbard along with other c420 NW Alumni, and possibly Nick Kaschak the program Director from Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation.

Skill Requirements: Beginner to Intermediate

Details: June 1-2

Clinic fees cover the cost of coaching at the event and overnight boat storage in Olympia. Sailors must provide their own race-ready ILCA (with upgraded/advanced control lines) or c420. Charter c420s might be available from OCS, and charter ILCAs might be available from local sailors - contact OCS staff to inquire further.

Focus: Come learn how to race in the swell at the Northwest’s first ocean based clinic! The purpose of the SWELL Youth Sailing Clinic is to offer high level coaching to youth ILCA 6 & 7 sailors in an ocean setting where exposure to a regular swell period can be used as a training aid. Sailors must have sailed at WIND Clinic or have similar/equal experiences.

Skill Requirements: Advanced. Must have participated in at least one WIND clinic.

Details: June 1-2

Clinic fees cover the cost of meals, coaching at the event and overnight boat storage in Westport. Sailors must provide their own race-ready ILCA (with upgraded/advanced control lines).

2024 SWELL Youth Sailing Clinic Coaching Staff

  • Mike Visser

  • This clinic will be led by renowned laser coaches, Mike Visser and Ellie Meopham.

    Mike sailed the ILCA as a youth and young adult throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the US and Canada competing in multiple Laser North Americans, Midwinters East /West, CISA and Youth Champs events. Mike was on the winning 1994 Sears Cup and 1998 US Men's National Championship Mallory Cup team. Additionally, Mike campaigned in the Olympic Finn class and co-created the WIND clinic.

    Ellie sailed the ILCA 6 dinghy throughout her youth career, represented Great Britain at Youth Worlds, and had several top 10 finishes in World and European Championships. Ellie transitioned into the senior ILCA 6 Olympic Development Squad before deciding to step away from the class. After that , Ellie joined the British Keelboat Academy, competed at Youth Match Racing World Championships, did a year of foiling Nacra sailing before a brief entanglement with Formula Kiting. Despite her varied experience of the world of sailing, however, Ellie will always consider herself an ILCA sailor at heart.

  • Ellie Meopham

Are you visiting Olympia to attend one of OCS’s regattas or clinics? Check out this guide to find out more about the wonderful amenities in downtown Olympia. See our favorite restaurants, activities for everyone in the family (free ones too!), and places to stay.