Our youth boat - called an Optimist or Opti - is an eight foot boat designed for youth under 115lbs to sail solo. However, with small kids, two people can often fit in the boat!

These are stable boats with a flat bottom, wide cockpit (seating area), and single sail. Optis do not capsize (tip over) easily, but it is possible, and sailors should always be prepared to go for a swim. On Day One of class Instructors teach students how to capsize and turn the boat upright, including a practical “test.” See “Swim & Capsize Test” below for more information.

At the beginner level, sailors may sail alone or with a partner depending on comfort level, but are working towards sailing the boats solo all the time!

At the intermediate and advanced level, youth are always solo.

Our week-long summer camps are designed to be sequential. The classes are designed to prepare sailors for the next class after taking only one, meaning sailor’s don’t need to repeat multiple beginner classes before moving onto intermediate, etc.

Sailors that took a beginner class the year before should consider retaking the beginner class this summer before moving on to Intermediate. This will help refresh basic skills and ensure they are prepared for the Intermediate class.

In class, sailors will have a combination of shore learning and on the water sailing. Our program utilizes techniques that engage all learning styles, including “chalk talks” with whiteboard drawings, land drills, and Instructor demos leading up to on-the-water drills. This results in a high rate of success for sailors, as well as increases confidence in their ability to sail.

On the water sailors will do water activities and games designed to help them learn to control the boat and steer it where they want to go!

Sailors always have a shore lunch break where they can eat and play games.

All students must complete a Swim & Capsize test on day one to continue with the class.

Optis are stable boats designed for youth, but as with any boat it is possible to tip them over. While unlikely to happen in class, it is always a possibility, so we begin class by empowering students with the knowledge and skill to “right” a capsize if it happens. All sailors, regardless of size, are able to right a capsized Opti!

Instructors always start with a lesson on shore about the boats and how to “right” them in case of a capsize. Then, students will perform a controlled capsize next to the dock under Instructor supervision. This does involve going swimming! Instructors will also have students complete a swim test while in the water. Lifejackets are always worn during the Swim & Capsize Test, while on the docks, and while in boats.

OCS runs an after-school and summer-long program called Opti Green Team. If your sailor has completed the Youth Advanced class, then they have all the skills necessary to join the Opti Green team and sail! Motivated sailors that have completed Youth Beginner and/or Youth Intermediate classes are also welcome to join, space permitted.

The Opti Green Team is designed for sailors that have “graduated” from summer learn-to-sail camps but still want to learn more and be a part of a fun, inclusive community. It is a model that is found at many sailing programs around the country and is designed to help ease budding sailors into the sport and life-long activity of sailing. The team focuses on building up foundational sailing knowledge and skills that will carry forward to the rest of their sailing career: The Opti Green Team aims to:

• Build confidence in the boat and challenge comfort zones in a safe and healthy way

• Build up basic seamanship and sailing skills to promote independence

• Introduce racing and support sailors in forming a healthy relationship with recreational competition