Summer Sailing Program — Members

2026 Session Dates

  • Session 1: June 15– June 26
  • Session 2: June 29 – July 10
  • Session 3: July 13 – July 24
  • Session 4: July 27 – August 7
  • All classes and sessions run 5 days per week, Monday-Friday

2026 Pricing

SFYC Member — Full Day: $1,200
Non-Member — Full Day: $1,780
A limited number of needs based scholarships are available through the Belvedere Cove Foundation. Apply HERE. 

2026 Registration Link: click here to register


Attention: SFYC Members
Registration is running through "Active Network." The link above will require your Member name and number at registration to register early and/or to receive the Member rate. If you fail to fill this out correctly, your registration is at risk of getting delayed.

Please note that Junior Members are NOT eligible for the Member rate as it only applies to children or grandchildren of Regular Members in good standing. Junior Members are eligible to register early. 

Membership from non-SFYC clubs will not be transferable and does not qualify a person for the Member rate or early registration for our SFYC Summer Sailing Program. Members will have the option to register and pay via credit card (an additional 4% fee) or they can register without payment and will receive the bill on their next monthly statement. Check is also an accepted form of payment.


Payment and Refund Policy

Registration for the 2026 Summer Sailing Program is online only, through Active's services and becomes available on January 30 to the public and January 12 to SFYC Members. All refunds are subject to a $75 non-refundable fee. If you paid via credit card, that processing fee is also non-refundable. All cancelations will only be accepted via email to the Youth Sailing Director at [email protected] prior to the refund deadline. Payment is accepted in the form of SFYC Member charge, check or credit card, but there is an additional $60 fee for credit card charges. Checks may be made out to The San Francisco Yacht Club. If a session is showing as full ("waitlist only") please put your name on that waitlist, there is a lot of movement weekly.

If you cancel, the following refund deadlines will apply:

  • ALL sessions: full refund until April 1, 50% until May 1, no refunds thereafter
 

Class Descriptions

Harbor Mice

  • Ages: 6-8 / Boat: JY Trainer / Prerequisite: Pass the swim test on the first day.
  • These classes are offered as full-day (9:00am-3:00pm) or half-day: (9:00am-12:00pm or 12:00pm-3:00pm)

We recommend the younger sailors in this class to be swimmers and comfortable in the water.  Email [email protected] to discuss 6-year-olds' abilities. Entry-level students 8 and younger begin with the stable Opti Cube, which is a simplified Optimist pram. These classes stay in the harbor at first, and place 2 sailors in each boat. This class covers safety, rigging, basic boat handling, and knots. Sailors advance to the Optimist class after successfully completing the Harbor Mice class.

Optimist (Level 1, 2, 3/Race)

  • Ages: 9-13 / Prerequisite: Harbor Mice class, previous sailing experience, or age 9.
  • These classes are offered as full-day only (9:00am-3:00pm).

The 8-foot Optimist is the international standard in youth sail training. The "Opti" is specifically designed for junior sailors under 5'4" and 105 lbs. We offer Optimist classes for beginners (Level 1), intermediates (Level 2, typically once a sailor completes two summer sessions), and racers (Level 3, fall/spring sailing or our SFYC Race Team). At the beginning of each session, the class will be broken up into these three groups based on skill level and experience. Boat ownership is encouraged but not required for participation.

Double-handed (2 groups: Beginner and Racing)

  • Ages: 12-16 / Boat: CFJ / Prerequisite: >110 lbs, ability to lift your own body weight out of the water.
  • These classes are offered as full-day only (11:00am-4:00pm).

CFJs are the standard in high school and are used widely in collegiate sailing; this 2-person boat will be used to teach safety and good seamanship in a social setting. This course will focus on intermediate skills, but a beginner group will be available for those without experience.

Cruising (keelboat)

  • Ages: 10-16 / Boat: J/24.
  • This class is offered as full-day only (9:00am-3:00pm).

With two J/24's ready to go, the Bay will be your playground. In this class there will be 4-6 students per boat and 1 instructor. Safety, seamanship skills and fun will be the focal point of this class. Navigation, anchoring, knots, and becoming a better helmsperson will also be introduced in this class. Last summer this was the class to be in and this summer is no different!

Important Summer Sailing Information

What To Bring/What To Wear:

  1. US Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket)
  2. Closed-toed shoes (soft-soled and able to get wet)
  3. Water bottle
  4. Non-cotton clothing
  5. Hat
  6. Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
  7. Towel
  8. Complete change of clothes
  9. Fleece garments, wet suits, and foul weather gear*
  10. Duffle/Backpack to keep all of your belongings together

*Recommended for cool weather, cold water conditions, and wind protection.

IMPORTANT: WRITE YOUR NAME ON ALL YOUR GEAR!

Lunch

A BBQ will be available for purchase each day..