Education

If you are considering enrolling in 2012 sailing lessons at the Ephraim Yacht Club, first please read all of this page, below.  After you have read this entire page, you can enroll online by clicking here.

The Sport of Sailing.  Sailing is a lifetime sport which is athletic but does not require unusual coordination, size or strength.  Girls and boys participate in lessons and compete in races together.  Sailing is social and at the same time rewards individual initiative and learning.  Sailing is low-impact and is very safe.  EYC students and parents consistently comment that the student completed lessons with a great feeling of accomplishment.  And, sailing is tremendous fun!

Lesson Overview.  The EYC offers sailing lessons during its summer season to junior and adult members of the EYC.  The EYC is one of the oldest and largest sailing schools in the Midwest.  In 2011, the EYC taught over 230 two-week student sessions.  The EYC has a staff of 16 instructors, trained and certified by US Sailing.  The EYC maintains a fleet of 38 sailboats (including Flying Scots, Flying Juniors, Lasers and Optimists) for use in its lesson program.  The EYC’s lessons include on-shore and on-the-water instruction, including nomenclature, sailing theory, safety, seamanship, boat handling, and boat care.

Enrollment.  Advance enrollment is required for group lessons.  For private lessons, online enrollment is not available; instead, wait until summer, then call or stop by the EYC to make an appointment.

Pricing.  Group lesson pricing varies by type of lesson; pricing is displayed later in the enrollment process, prior to payment.

New in 2012.  Some lessons which are offered in both morning and afternoon sessions are priced at a discount in the afternoon, to encourage more afternoon enrollment.  The EYC has added a new one-week lesson Session F beginning August 13.

EYC Membership Required.  Each student must be an EYC member.  Students under age 25 must be either the child of a Family member (a “Junior” member), or a Student member.  Students age 25 or older must be a Family or Senior member, or the spouse of a Family or Senior member, or a Single member.  To join the EYC as a Family, Senior or Single member, go to www.eyc.org/membership.  A student under age 25 who is not a Junior member (child of a Family member) and therefore needs to purchase a Student membership (only $50/year and no initiation fee) will do so during the online enrollment process.

Scholarships.  Scholarships for group lessons are available to year-round residents of Door County. You do not need to be a current EYC member to apply for a scholarship.  Any student under age 25 who is granted a scholarship will receive tuition at only 1/3 the regular rate, a free one-year Student membership and a free textbook.  Students seeking scholarships should not proceed with on-line registration.  To apply for a scholarship, please contact the EYC’s Scholarship chair at scholarships@eyc.org.

Schedule.  In 2012, junior group lessons will be taught in a single one-week session in June, in four two-week sessions from June through August, and in a final one-week session in August:

Adult group lessons will meet in the afternoons for one-week sessions from June 11 through August 17.

An adult Thursday evening class is offered in two four-week sessions, from June 28 through July 19, and again from July 26 through August 16.  Or, adults can sign up for the entire eight weeks of Thursday evening classes, from June 28 through August 16.

Classes Offered:

Sailing Camp – Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) and afternoon (1:30 to 4:30) 4 days a week (Monday-Thursday) in as an introductory course for students who have completed 1st grade but have not completed 3rd grade.  Students will learn the basics of sailing and safety on the water.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Sailing Camp.  This is a preparatory course for the remainder of the junior program, but is not a required prerequisite course.

Level 1 Sailing.  Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) and afternoon (1:30 to 4:30) 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for students who have completed 2nd grade.  Students will learn sailing vocabulary, parts of the boat, parts of the sail, basic rigging, safety, finding the wind, some right of way rules, some sailing knots and more.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Level 1.  A separate Level 1 class limited to teens (age 13 and up) is offered in the afternoons in Sessions B through E.  Sailing Camp is not a prerequisite for Level 1 Sailing.

Level 2 Sailing.  Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) and afternoon (1:30 to 4:30) 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for students who have completed 2nd grade and Level 1 (or by instructor approval). Students will expand their basic knowledge of sailing, tacking, jibing, three basic points of sail, safety, boat handling, additional sailing knots and more.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Level 2.  A separate Level 2 class limited to teens (age 13 and up) is offered in the afternoons in Sessions B through E.

Level 3 Sailing.  Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) and afternoon (1:30 to 4:30) 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for students who have completed Level 2. Students will learn advanced rigging, reading the water, six points of sail, controlled jibe, sail trim, capsizing and person overboard techniques, docking, right-of-way rules, basic weather, additional knots and more.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Level 3. 

Level 4 Sailing.  Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) and afternoon (1:30 to 4:30) 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for students who have completed Level 3. Students will learn the physics of sailing, use of cunningham and boom vang, snap jibing, anchoring, coiling and throwing lines, advanced boat handling, race course setting, sailing a race course, use of a spinnaker and more.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Level 4.  Passing the “Skipper’s Test” upon graduation from Level 4 entitles a student member to skipper a club-owned sailboat outside of supervised lessons and races.  Click here to see the checklist of “Skipper’s Test” skills.

Advanced Racing.  Offered in the morning (9:00 to 12:00) as an advanced racing course for any student who has completed Level 4, passed the Skipper’s test, and is approved by the head instructor. Students will learn advanced racing tactics and rules, racing sail trim, advanced boat speed techniques, upwind and downwind tactics, mark roundings, racing rules, starting strategies, race course strategies, team racing tactics and more.  Click here to see the list of skills and concepts taught in Advanced Racing.  Students with a serious interest in racing or who wish to develop advanced boat handling and sail trim skills should take this course.

Afternoon Adult Group Sailing. Offered in the afternoons (1:30 to 4:30) 5 days a week in 1 week sessions for adults 18 years or older. Students will learn the basics of sailing in a fun, social and comfortable environment. Emphasis is placed on safety and boat handling and management. The goal is for students to independently, comfortably and safely skipper a sailboat.

Evening Adult Group Sailing.  Offered Thursday evenings (5:00 to 8:00) for either eight weeks or four weeks, for adults 18 years or older.  Students will learn the basics of sailing in a fun, social and comfortable environment. Emphasis is placed on safety and boat handling and management. The goal is for students to independently, comfortably and safely skipper a sailboat.

Private Lessons.  Offered by appointment.  Online signup is not available for private lessons.  To schedule a private lesson, wait until summer, then call or stop by the EYC.  The instructor will assess and train the student(s) on sailing techniques needed.  This is a great way to get a lot of instruction in a short period of time. Private lessons can be taken as an individual or small group.

2012 Private lesson per-student per-hour rate, based on a single instructor:

-1 person – $30.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for a single student would be $90)
-2 people – $20.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for two students would be $120)
-3 people – $17.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for three students would be $153)
-4 people – $15.00 (example: 3-hour lesson for four students would be $180)

Click here to enroll now in 2012 group sailing lessons at the EYC.

If you have questions, comments, or feedback about sailing lessons at the EYC, please contact the chairman of the EYC’s Education Committee education@eyc.org

 

 

The Ephraim Yacht Club is a family oriented non-profit organization focused on forwarding sailing education and racing to students of all ages located in the town of Ephraim, in Door County, Wisconsin on beautiful Eagle Harbor.