Classes
Summer 2026 Schedule
Session 1: June 22 to July 3
Session 2: July 6 to July 17
Session 3: July 20 to July 31
Session 4: August 3 to August 15
All classes are offered as a two-week session. Opti and 420 Race Teams are offered weekly (weeks 1-8).
Morning Classes
9:00am —11:30am
Harbor Seals (Rowing)
Opti A
Opti B
Beginner 420s
Sailing 101 - Bull’s Eye
Afternoon Classes
12:30pm —3:30pm
Opti Adventurers
Opti Race Team
Cruising 420s
420 Race Team
Intermediate Adult Sailing - Bull’s Eye (select sessions)
Morning Classes
Harbor Seals (Rowing)
Our introductory class for 6- and 7-year-olds is designed to build comfort and confidence on the water. Each day, the class will head out in row boats on adventures that focus on the fundamentals of seamanship and water safety, basic nautical terms, and fun!
Prerequisites: Participants must be 6 years old on the first day of class.
Monday through Friday: 0900 - 1130
Fee: $395 per 2-week session
OPTIMIST A
Opti A is a beginner class for sailors 8-years-old and up with little or no experience in a single-handed boat. Sailors are taught basic knots, parts of the boat, rigging and de-rigging, boat handling and basic seamanship. Classes are held in the inner harbor.
Prerequisites: Sailors must be 8 years old on the first day of class.
Monday through Friday: 0900 - 1130
Fee: $440 per 2-week session
OPTIMIST B
Opti B is the ideal class for young sailors who have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of sailing and are ready to single-hand their boat. They will learn to rig their boat without assistance, sail on all points of sail in different weather conditions, and to single-hand their Opti independently and with confidence. Most classes will be held in the harbor and may sail out to the bay, weather depending.
Prerequisites: Sailors move from Opti A to Opti B at the recommendation of instructors. To enter Opti B, sailors must be able to sail alone.
Monday through Friday: 0900 - 1130
Fee: $440 per 2-week session
BEGINNER 420s
Our Beginner 420 class is ideal for beginner youth sailors who will not comfortably fit in an Opti (commonly 13yo+ and/or over 100 pounds). Each day, the class will head out on a 420 to learn the basics of boat handling, safety and seamanship. Sailors will learn both to skipper and crew and sail independently to destinations in and out of the harbor.
Prerequisites: Ages 13-18, at least 100 pounds.
Monday through Friday: 0900 - 1130
Fee: $465 per 2-week session
SAILING 101 - BULLSEYES
Our morning Bull’s Eye class is ideal for older teen and adult beginners. Participating sailors will learn the fundamentals of sailing, including boat handling, safety and seamanship. Bull’s Eyes are sturdy 15-foot keel boats, perfect for first-time sailors or sailors looking to build their confidence on the water.
Prerequisites: Older Teens and Adult beginners
Monday through Friday: 0900 - 1130
Fee: $465 per 2-week session
Afternoon Classes
OPTI ADVENTURE
Opti Adventurers is ideal for confident independent sailors who are more interested in exploring than in racing. This class meets in the afternoon, meaning sailors will have the opportunity to learn boat handling in moderate to heavy wind. The class will focus on destination-sailing, basic navigation, boat maintenance and safety. This class introduces some racing rules and tactics, with the option to participate in weekly race days.
Prerequisites: Sailors move from Opti B to Opti Adventurers at the recommendation of instructors. Sailors must be able to rig, tack, jibe, and go on all points of sail independently.
Monday through Friday: 1230 - 1530
Fee: $465 per 2-week session
OPTIMIST RACE TEAM
The Opti Race Team is open to both first-time (Green Fleet) and experienced racers, eager to build on their racing skills. Team members will practice together at KSEA and participate in weekly KSEA Race Day regattas. Team travel for "away" regattas is based upon capacity and is at the coach's discretion. Boats are provided. When committing to the race team, sailors are strongly encouraged to sign up for as many weeks as possible to maximize skill development and team cohesion.
Desired parent/caregiver involvement: 1) contributions to weekly KSEA Race Day Tea provisions; 2) driving and/or chaperoning to ensure safe and fun travel regattas
Travel regatta dates: (KSEA participation is tbc and at the discretion of the race coach and program director.)
Battle of the Bay, Boothbay Harbor - (travel day 7/7) July 8-9
Harraseeket Junior Regatta - (travel day 7/14) July 15-16
Marblehead Junior Race Week - dates to be confirmed, July 21-23, with 7/20 travel day
Opti Maine State Championships, Southport YC - tba
Prerequisites: Racing experience (Opti Adventurers sailors may gain experience by participating in weekly KSEA race days) and instructor approval. No older than age 15 through Dec. 31, 2025.
Monday through Friday: 1230 - 1530
Fee: $265 per week
CRUISING 420s
This class is for older, experienced Opti sailors, for teen sailors who have successfully progressed out of the Sailing 101 or Beginning 420s class, and for 420 sailors who prefer not to focus on racing. Each day will be a new adventure out on the Bay with an emphasis on basic boat handling, seamanship, and safety. Sailors will also be introduced to racing rules and tactics and have the option to participate in weekly race days.
Prerequisites: Age 13-18, at least 100 pounds. At least one session of Opti Adventurers, Sailing 101 or Beginner 420s.
Monday through Friday: 1230 - 1530
Fee: $465 per 2-week session
420 RACE TEAM
420 Race Team emphasizes having fun in a competitive atmosphere while building racing and teamwork skills, and preparing for regattas. Team members will practice together at KSEA and participate in weekly KSEA Race Day regattas. Team travel for "away" regattas is based upon capacity and is at the coach's discretion. Boats are provided. When committing to the race team, sailors are strongly encouraged to sign up for as many weeks as possible to maximize skill development and team cohesion.
Travel regatta dates: (KSEA participation is tbc and at the discretion of the race coach and program director.)
Battle of the Bay, Boothbay Harbor - (travel day 7/7) July 8-9
Harraseeket Junior Regatta - (travel day 7/14) July 15-16
Marblehead Junior Race Week - dates to be confirmed, July 21-23, with 7/20 travel day
Maine State C420 Championships, Portland YC - (travel day 7/28) July 29-30
Note regarding travel regattas: Additional expenses for travel regattas include regatta registration fees, plus food, lodging and travel that are shared between the families of sailors who travel each particular event. Travel expense support may be available.
Expected parent/caregiver involvement: 1) contributions to weekly KSEA Race Day Tea provisions; 2) driving and/or chaperoning to ensure safe and fun travel regattas.
Prerequisites: Cruising 420s (or equivalent), a desire to improve as a racer, and coach approval. Maturity of ability to work as one member of a two-person boat is included in the assessment of readiness for race team. Sailors who have 420 or other double-handed dinghy racing experience, but who have not sailed in the KSEA program, please email your sailing resume to kseaprogramdirector@gmail.com.
Monday through Friday: 1230 - 1530
Fee: $265 per week
INTERMEDIATE ADULT SAILING - BULLSEYES
Select Sessions. Please join the waitlist to stay informed or email kseaprogramdirector@gmail.com.
Our afternoon Bull’s Eye class is ideal for intermediate adult sailors who have either taken the KSEA Sailing 101 class or have outside experience sailing at a basic level. Participating sailors will review the fundamentals of sailing, and learn intermediate skills such as sailing in medium to heavy wind, sailing with a spinnaker, basic charting and navigation, and learn to optimize boat handling skills. Bull’s Eyes are sturdy 15-foot keel boats, perfect for sailors looking to build skills and their confidence on the water.
Prerequisites: Sailing 101 or basic sailing experience outside of KSEA
Monday through Friday: 1230 - 1530
Fee: $465 per 2-week session
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are available. Depending on instructor availability, we are able to offer private lessons after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and anytime on weekends. For fee information and to schedule lessons, please email KSEA Program Director.
Fees & Scholarships
Junior Membership: In order to help offset costs of our program, a Junior Membership/Usage Fee to KYC is applied at registration.
As a Junior Member, the sailor is entitled to participate in race days and other KSEA-sponsored social events throughout the summer including movie nights, potluck dinners, Long Island Picnic, and Pirate Day. Junior membership also allow sailors to participate in these events even during weeks when the students are not enrolled in classes.
A Junior Membership fee of $25 per session is assessed for non-KYC member sailing students.
Non-KYC member adult sailing students, the junior membership shall be referred to as “usage fee,” and $25 per session is assessed.
KYC Family Membership includes adult children and/or grandchildren under age 35.
The maximum charge per family, per summer is $100.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available for all classes, at any level, throughout the whole summer. KSEA encourages those who are interested to apply. To request funds please complete this form and return it to the KSEA Program Director.