San Francisco Bay Area Youth Sailing Programs
Looking for a new way to inspire and entertain your kids this year?
The Bay Area boasts dozens of youth sailing and sailing-related programs, listed below. Many offer scholarships, and with rare exceptions, you don’t need to have your own boat. Unless noted below, club membership is not necessary.
High school sailing for students in grades 9–12 takes place around Northern California in the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association. If your high school doesn’t have a team, or enough students to field a team, don’t fret. Most programs allow students from several schools to form a single team.
Alameda Community Sailing Center
Location: Encinal Boat Ramp in Alameda
Contact: Emily Zugnoni, ACSC Program Director
Phone: (510) 629-9282
Email: [email protected]
Description: ACSC is a nonprofit community sailing center. Scholarships are available for all programs, and extended care is offered. All sailors are welcome!
Programs:
After-School Sailing Club: Ages 7–17. All levels. Seven-week sessions in spring and fall.
Spring Break Camp: Ages 7–12. April 7-11, 2025
Two-Week Summer Camps: Ages 7–17. All levels. June-August. Staggered starts approximately 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Adult/Family Weekend Dinghy Courses: Ages 7–99. Beginner and intermediate. Offered in spring, summer, and fall. $350 for the first participant; $175 for subsequent guests.
Open Sailing Days: Every Saturday in spring, summer, and fall. $35 per boat.•
Bay View Boat Club and Mariposa Hunters Point YC (San Francisco)
Email [email protected]
Location: MHPYC, 405 Terry A. Francois Blvd, San Francisco, CA, 94158
Description: Entry-level youth sailing class designed for those who are getting used to being on the water. No experience is required. The class is for those who want to try sailing before signing up for a full program. $40 a day or $60 for a weekend. Classes are held once a quarter. •
Contact: Dan Carnahan
Phone: (707) 747-1808
Email: [email protected]
Location: Benicia Yacht Club, Benicia, CA
Description: Dates TBA in late March. YC member discounts, sibling and multiple-camp discounts, and scholarships are available for all programs.
Programs
-Half-Day Camps: Ages 8–12 with no sailing experience. Cost: $275.
-Full-Day: One-week camps, ages 10–18 or young sailors with experience. Cost: $375.
Blue Water Foundation (San Francisco)
Phone: (415) 392-2018
Programs
-Thursday Sails: Afternoon sail programs with San Francisco schools and SFPD to build relationships and provide experience to at-risk youth in the City.
-Ocean’s Gate Program: Working with Alameda County Probation Department; convicted youth are given the opportunity to make their way back to society; offering both daysails and a multi-month intensive sail-training program.
-Community Sail Programs: Community group sails, ranging from science programs and S.F. Rec and Park programs to Project Avery and Edgewood Kinship, organizations for children of incarcerated parents. Weekdays and weekends.
-Probation Dept. Sails: With various youth probation departments throughout the Bay Area and Nevada City/El Dorado County foothills, taking their incarcerated students and students on probation on repeat sails. Emphasis on building teamwork and self-confidence; mentor system is utilized. Sails are usually on weekends.
Call of the Sea (Sausalito) Youth Programs
Contact: Sylvia Stompe
Phone: (415) 331-3214
Email: [email protected]
Location: Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito. Access via Marinship Way
Description: Call of the Sea has two ships, the 132-ft brigantine Matthew Turner and the 82-ft schooner, Seaward. Summer Camps Activities for ages 8-13: Mon-Fri Sailing, Marine Science, Nautical Science, Crafts and Fun. Sailing and navigation three-day workshops for ages 14+ •
Email: [email protected]
Description: Coyote Point Yacht Club offers a year-round sailing program to children ages 8 and up wishing to learn how to sail or improve their skills.
Programs
In learn to Sail Qube, kids will learn the fundamentals of sailing in an easy-to-handle single-person boat called a Qube.
In intro to Race Qube, kids will review the basics of sailing and be introduced to the competitive side of the sport.
In Learn to Sail FJ, kids will learn the fundamentals of sailing in a team setting.
In Intro to Race FJ, kids will review the basics of sailing and be introduced to the competitive side of the sport.
Up-to-date calendar schedules and pricing can be found at cpyc.com.
Phone: (510) 769-0221
Email: [email protected]
Location: Encinal Yacht Club, Alameda, CA
Programs
Summer Sailing Program: ages 5–18, all skill levels. Three-week summer sessions Monday – Thursday from June 9– August 7.
Learn to Sail in Optis and FJs.
Advanced Race Team: ages 9-18 by application only.
High School Program: grades 8-12. Weekends and after school September–April. .
Scholarships are available through the Encinal Sailing Foundation. •
Half Moon Bay Yacht Club (Pillar Point Harbor)
Phone: (650) 728-2120
Email: [email protected]
Location: Pillar Point Harbor, 214 Princeton Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA
Description: Award winning youth sailing program located on the protected waters of Pillar Point Harbor. Our summer sailing camps are available to members and non-members 8–16 years old. No experience is necessary; beginners are welcome! You can find more details about summer camp as well as our other youth sailing opportunities at •
Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development
Contact: Gabriel Gipson
Phone: (510) 238-2196
Email: [email protected]
Location: Lake Merritt Boating Center, Oakland, CA
Programs
Basic and Intermediate summer programs: ages 10–17. One-week sessions, June–August. $250/Oakland residents; $300/nonresidents. Scholarships available for Oakland residents.
Phone: (510) 717-4439
Description: The mission of the Pegasus Project is to enable youth to become productive members of a sustainable society through positive outdoor environmental education and by reinforcing life skills.
Objectives: Life skills sails aboard Pegasus for youth including youth at risk; to provide youth participants (and adult crew) with a basic environmental understanding and appreciation of the San Francisco Bay; to provide a multi-year track for underprivileged youth that will enable them to experience their backyard Bay through on-the-water activities. •
Contact: Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer, Executive Director
Email: [email protected]
Location: 1200 Chesapeake Dr, Redwood City, CA and 101 Westpoint Harbor Drive,
Redwood City, CA
Programs: Check in for more information!
Contact: Will Paulsen
Phone: (510) 237-4100
Email: [email protected]
Location: Richmond Yacht Club, Richmond, CA.
Description: Located in Point Richmond, RYC offers classes to sailors and non-sailors alike. Boats available for use: Optis, Teras, Fevas, 420s, ILCA (Lasers), 29ers, and J/22s. Ages 8+
More info online: https://www.richmondyc.org/sailing •
Sailing Education Adventures (San Rafael)
Contact: Kif Scheuer
Phone: (415) 717-4809
Email: [email protected]
Location: Loch Lomond Marina, San Rafael, CA
Description: SEA is a nonprofit community sailing center. SEA has been delivering quality sailing education for over forty years. Scholarships available for all programs.
Programs:
Summer Camps (scholarships available!)
Mini (ages 8-10): 1 week, half-day. 4 sessions every other week in June and July. For campers new to sailing.
Mini Advanced (ages 8-10): 1 week, full-day. 3 sessions every other week in July and August. For campers with some sailing experience.
Basic/Intermediate(ages 11-16): 2 weeks, all-day. 4 sessions every two weeks June through August. For new and experienced campers.
Advanced (ages 11-18): 1 week, half-day. 1 session in August. For campers looking for more advanced sailing and racing skills.
Fall and Spring Youth Sailing (ages 11-14): Sundays over 6 weeks, Ages 11-14, 4 hours, select from 1-6 sessions.
Adult/Family Sailing
Beginning Small Boat Sailing: Schedule varies. 4 days (1 dockside, 3 on the water). ~5 hrs each day. Up to 6 students.
Private Lessons: scheduled on demand (and pending instructor availability). 3 hours. $250 for up to 2 people, $100pp for additional (up to 4 total).
Open Sail for SEA Members: 2nd and 4th Saturdays throughout the year. $15 for adults, $10 for youth. •
Contact: Abby Featherstone, Youth Sailing Director
Phone: (415) 435-9525
Email: [email protected]
Location: 98 Beach Road, Belvedere, CA
Description: Pricing listed on website, subject to change. Scholarships available through the Belvedere Cove Foundation.Programs
Summer Learn-to-Sail Program: ages 6–16. Two-week full-day sessions, June 16 through August 8
Session 1 (June 16–27), Session 2 (June 30–July 11), Session 3 (July 14–25), Session 4 (July 28–August 8) Monday–Friday 9:00am–3:00pm
Boats: Optis, Opti Cubes, CFJs, J/24s (provided). Registration opens to the public on January 31, 2025
Race Teams: ages 8–18, all levels. Offered year-round
Boats: Optis, C420s, 29ers and RS-21s •
S.F. Sea Scouts (Aquatic Park)
Contact: Tamara Sokolov
Phone: (415) 517-3943
Email: [email protected]
Programs
Sea Scouts is a club for ages 14–21. The club meets Saturdays and Tuesday evenings in person. Our youth members learn to maintain and sail a fleet of traditional wooden boats. Sea Scouts also have weekend overnight trips, competitions with other scout groups, and a 2-week-long summer sailing trip. Cost is $375 annually.
Makani is our junior boating club for ages 11–13. They meet every other Saturday to learn the basics of outrigger canoeing, sailing, rowing, and more. Our members also go on day trips throughout the year to explore the many nautical sites around the Bay. A great intro for those who can’t wait to join Sea Scouts. Cost is $150 Annually
Summer day camps available. Please see the website for more detailed information. •
St. Francis YC (San Francisco)
Contact: Brent Harrill
Phone: (415) 820-3729
Email: [email protected]
Location: StFYC, San Francisco, CA
Programs
St. Francis teaches kids as young as 8 years old, in boats sized just for them. For the older and more accomplished, the club offers trapeze sailing with spinnakers, keelboat sailing, and anything that pops up when opportunity strikes. You do not have to be a St. Francis Yacht Club member for your child to participate in these programs.
New sailors start with the Learn to Sail program and grow into Learn to Race. Sailors ages 8 – 11 sail the club’s very manageable RS Teras. At about age 12, students grow into the RS Feva and C420, a two-person dinghy that more ambitious teenagers race in national championships. The J/22 programs are popular for teens who want to sail with friends, friends and more friends and get a grip on handling keelboats. All of these are excellent training vessels, provided and maintained by the Club.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (831) 425-0690
Programs
Summer Sailing Program: ages 8–18, Beg-Int., Week-long sessions June–August
School Year Program: ages 8–18, Beg-Int., Weekly sessions Sept–May
Boats: Optimists, CFJs, Lasers, El Toros, C420s
Scholarships possible through Santa Cruz Sailing Foundation
Contact: Caitie Bryson, Youth Sailing Director
Phone: (415) 332-7400 x 114
Email: [email protected]
Location: 100 Humboldt Ave., Sausalito (next to the ferry terminal)
Programs: Ages 5–18. Summer camp and fall/spring after-school programs for beginner and intermediate sailors. Year-round race teams. Tamalpais and Marin Catholic high school sailing teams. Visit sausalitoyachtclub.org for more information. •
Email: [email protected]
Location: Redwood Creek
Description: Sequoia Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing program has been active for over 30 years. Run by dedicated volunteers, the program includes spring and fall sessions with Saturday classes for youths aged 8-18, of any skill level from beginner to Laser sailors.
The Program takes place in the calm and protected waters of the Port of Redwood City. Close monitoring, instruction, and guidance are provided on the water by our Sailing Instructors riding on safety boats. The classes emphasize safety-conscious FUN sailing, taking into consideration the weather, tides, and traffic. The junior sailors are under constant supervision. Our motto is “if in doubt, don’t go out”. This is emphasized during our on-shore “chalk talks” where safety and seamanship are discussed.
Students learn boat nomenclature and handling, racing tactics, and sportsmanship, as well as general skills such as knot-tying and equipment maintenance. Tuition includes US Sailing Level One Logbook sign-off, a Diploma, a Beery’s Basic Sailing instruction book, and the use of our club boats.
Space is limited to seven students per class to ensure individualized attention to the young sailors. •
Contact: Chris Nicol, Boathouse Manager
Phone: (650) 965-7474
Email: [email protected]
Location: Shoreline Lake Boathouse, Mountain View, CA
Description: Shoreline Lake offers a variety of dedicated sailing programs, from Beginner to Advanced, for Kids and Teens (ages 7–16). Located in a nature preserve within the heart of Silicon Valley, kids can have a great time learning to sail (according to US Sailing standards), without the risk of the actual Bay. Besides a focus on learning new skills, pushing existing ones, and safety, experienced instructors ensure each program is suited to the interests, skills and age level of every participant. •
Programs
Kids summer camps (7–16 years old): https://shorelinelake.com/summer-camps.html
Bug Sailing
Beginner Sailing
Intermediate Sailing
Beginner Windsurfing and Sailing
Intermediate Windsurfing and Sailing
Advanced Sailing
Performance Sailing
Counselor-In-Training Sailing Instructor Program
Group weekend classes (14+ years old, held Feb–Nov): https://shorelinelake.com/sailing.html
Introductory Sailing
Intermediate Sailing
Advanced Sailing
Intro to Racing •
Contact: Wendy Hanrahan
Email: [email protected]
Location: Pier 40 on the Embarcadero directly north of Oracle Park (use 899 2nd Street on google map)
South Beach Yacht Club offers summer sailing camp for kids 8-16. We offer weeklong beginner and advanced lessons for kids Monday through Thursdays 9am to 4pm, but on Fridays we have shorter class time from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (we can extend to 4 p.m. for those who need an extension because of parent’s work schedule) Fridays we have the kids racing then come in for an awards ceremony and a luncheon that we provide to your sailor. Registration is open to all, no club membership required. Please go to southbeachyachtclub.org/youth-sailing for more detailed information.
Programs
Beginner classes for ages 8-16 years using RS Teras and Lasers.Advance classes for ages 11-16 using Lasers and doublehanded RS Fevas. For kids who have had 1-2 years sailing experience who want to expand their skills and to prepare kids for high school sailing tryouts. Weekend sailing throughout the year is available to those who already know how to sail. No classroom time, just hit the water!
We offer small class size with an instructor/camper ratio of 1:5 for beginner sessions and 1:8 for advance class.
Wetsuits and PFDs are available in limited sizes at no extra charge. We also provide scholarships dependent on household size and family income. •
Spaulding Marine Center (Sausalito) Youth Programs
Contact: Lili Jeske
Phone: (415) 332-3179
Email: [email protected]
Location: Spaulding Marine Center, Sausalito, CA
Description: Spaulding Marine Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Students will learn to sail on a fleet of S.F. Pelican sailing dinghies built and maintained in-house by our staff, volunteers and youth. All other boatbuilding programs and marine-servicing classes can be found on the Spaulding website.
Programs
Youth summer programs run through June – July – August and offer experiences in Sailing, Exploring, Kayaking, Hands-on Woodworking and Boatbuilding, Navigation, Weather, Tides and Currents, and Marine Science. Our programs are a week long and operate out of our facility here on the working waterfront of Sausalito. Discounts for multiple weeks, referrals, and full and partial scholarships are available. •
Tahoe Community Sailing Foundation
Contacts:
-Bryce Griffith, Sailing Director, (775) 772-2428
-Kurt Williams,Recreation Superintendent, TCPUD (530) 583-3796
Programs
The programs provide comprehensive sailing training and water safety from June-Aug. All levels from Novice to advanced racing are offered. Jr. Race Team trains and races with Tahoe Yacht club’s Laser fleet regattas on Mon. afternoons and evenings. JR Instructor training and leadership development are part of our youth development Program.
Boats used: RS Zests, RS Ventures, 420’s, FJ’s and ILCAS (Lasers) This joint venture partnership provides Youth Sailing Programs June–August at Obexers Marina and Lake Forest Boat Ramp on Tahoe. •
Treasure Island Sailing Center
Phone: (415) 421-2225
Programs
Fall programs offer an exciting opportunity for children ages 8 to 17 to either begin their journey on the water, or develop their existing sailing skills in our intermediate and advanced classes.
TISC’s summer camps are a wonderful way for children to learn about sailing, water safety and the environment. Everyone who sails on our little gem in the Bay, Clipper Cove, leaves with a renewed self-confidence and a big smile.
MORE – looking again I see that SEA is listed but it’s mixed in with RICHMOND YACHT CLUB. Scroll Down 16 lines to
Sailing Education Adventures (not in bold, blue or set apart). The dates are posted on the website and camps are filling up fast.
Alice – thanks for catching our mistake. Now fixed. Happy sailing.
I don’t see Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation listed. Based in Redwood City, they have kids and youth sailing and racing programs: pysf.us
How could we miss that? Molly runs a fantastic program in the South Bay and we know hundreds of enthusiastic new and skilled sailors emerge from the program every year. We’ll make sure it’s updated.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Sausalito Yacht Club has a active youth Sailing program which is not listed ?
Once again we thank you for the ‘heads up’ and we’ll make sure to correct our omission.
Hi John,
Here is another camp!
Call of the Sea (Sausalito) Youth Programs
https://callofthesea.org/sail-with-us/youth-day-camp/
Youth Summer Camps
Where: Bay Model Visitors Center, Sausalito
When: June 14th – July 2nd / July 5th – July 23rd / July 26 – August 13th, 2021
Time: M – F 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Activities: Sailing, Exploring, Kayaking, Crafts and building projects
Boat: 82′ schooner Seaward
Contact: (415) 331-3214, [email protected]
Thank you Sylvia and everyone who’s pointed out what we’ve missed. We’re practically neighbors of Call of the Sea in Sausalito but somehow didn’t have their information. It’s now posted: https://www.latitude38.com/feature/san-francisco-youth-sailing/
More kids sailing is a good thing. Thanks to Call of the Sea and all the programs, instructors and volunteers who make youth sailing happen.
I have a MacGregor 26C (center board with water ballast) with trailer, engine, new main, etc. I am interested in donating to any youth sailing programs that might be interested. As with most boats, it can use some work but she will do fine as is. Please reply if your organization might be interested. The original owner used her on the bay for nearly 30 years. She has never been named officially.
Also check out Cal Adventures sailing camps and Cal Sailing Club (CSC), both at the Berkeley Marina. Cal Adventures runs kids summer camps while CSC allows kids to sail year-round, solo, as long as they can pass the rating tests. The club is also free if you volunteer enough hours, making it very accessible. If one member of a family is a member, then the other members of the family can sail with them for free. It’s all very kid and family-friendly.
Tahoe Community Sailing Foundation
Contacts:
-Bryce Griffith, Sailing Director, (775) 772-2428
-Kurt Williams, Recreation Superintendent, TCPUD (530) 608-2020
Tahoe Community Sailing Foundation , Lake Tahoe CA ( up date for Lat 38)
Contacts:
-Bryce Griffith, Sailing Director,TCSF (775) 772-2428
– Kurt Williams,Recreation Superintendent, TCPUD (530) 583-3796
The programs provide comprehensive sailing training and water safety from June-Aug. All levels from Novice to advanced racing are offered. Jr. Race Team trains and races with Tahoe Yacht club’s Laser fleet regattas on Mon. afternoons and evenings. JR Instructor training and leadership development are part of our youth development Program.
Boats used: RS Zests, RS Ventures, 420’s, FJ’s and ILCAS (Lasers) This joint venture partnership provides Youth Sailing Programs June–August at Obexers Marina and Lake Forest Boat Ramp on Tahoe.