NEW FOR 2024! A girls’ doublehanded sailing class! For newcomers and those transitioning from Optis, this program emphasizes the development of fundamental sailing skills with a primary focus on cooperation and team building. Participants will engage in both on and off-water activities, fostering essential sailing and life skills. The camp provides a structured environment for individuals to enhance their sailing abilities within a socially supportive atmosphere. 

On “capsize day,” kids learn in a controlled setting that they are capable of capsizing their boat and getting it upright again. Prior to the capsize drill, students will participate in a water comfort assessment to gauge their overall comfort and the ability to stay calm in the water. This will include entering the water while wearing a wetsuit and a lifejacket, briefly treading water, swimming a minimum of 20 feet, and exiting the water.

Classes will be taught in C420s and FJs, and no prior experience is required. Join us for a journey that strikes a balance between earnest learning and the shared joys of sailing. This class is repeatable to help your student further develop their skills! 

Women and Girls’ programs at Northwest Maritime Center welcome those who identify as women and girls regardless of assignment at birth. These programs also welcome people who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming and want to be in a female-centered environment.

To ensure comfort and control in their boat, sailors over 5 feet tall or 110 lbs should take this class. If your child is smaller or lighter, check out our Opti classes! If you’re unsure about which class would best suit your child, please call our registrar at 360-385-3628 x1.

Course Details:
July 22-26
9 AM–3 PM | Cost: $450 non-member, $405 member

• Prerequisites: None
• For Ages: 12–17. Our doublehanded classes are best suited for sailors over 5 feet tall or 110 lbs.
• Audience: Women and Girls’ programs at Northwest Maritime Center welcome those who identify as women and girls regardless of assignment at birth. These programs also welcome people who identify as non-binary or gender nonconforming and want to be in a female-centered environment.
• Duration: 6 hours daily, Monday–Friday
• Class Size: 4–16 students, 4 instructors
• What to bring each day:
  • Snack, lunch, and a water bottle
  • Sunhat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
  • Rain jacket
  • Towel and change of clothes
  • Water-friendly shoes or sandals (no flip-flops please, sneakers are not ideal)
  • Wednesday is capsize day (weather permitting)! Please have your child arrive wearing their swimsuit on capsize day. If they own a wetsuit, please bring it. If not, instructors will issue wetsuits.
  • Optional: a mask, for the short time each day that your child will be inside. 

Note to prior Youth Learn to Sail participants: If you’ve been part of our Youth Learn to Sail classes before, we’ve made some changes! Instead of calling them Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, we now have Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 classes. If your child has completed our “Beginner Sailing” camp in the past, they are eligible to register for either “Opti Levels 2 & 3” or “Doublehanded Levels 2 & 3” camps. Which camp they should join depends on their age and size. You can find more details about the specific ages and sizes for each camp in the class information.

Youth Classes / Youth Summer Programs