Confidence Begins at the Helm
Young sailors ages 8 and older learn rigging, sailing, seamanship, boating safety, teamwork, and respect for the coastal environment through classroom instruction and hands-on experience on the water.
Online Registration Is Now Closed
Junior Sailing is available exclusively to current members of the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
Learn to Sail in Historic Beaufort
From first launch to confident sailor, every student is encouraged to learn, participate, and grow.
The Junior Sailing Program offers instruction in basic through advanced sailing to youth ages 8 and older. Instruction takes place on the protected waters around Beaufort with instructors who are certified in First Aid and CPR.
Students learn the arts of rigging, sailing, and seamanship while being introduced to maritime traditions and history. Classroom instruction is combined with practical on-water training for both beginning and experienced sailors.
Learn Seamanship
Students learn how to rig, launch, sail, retrieve, and care for boats and equipment.
Build Confidence
Sailing encourages self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, resilience, and good sportsmanship.
Practice Safety
Boating safety, water awareness, proper equipment, and respect for the forces of nature are emphasized throughout the program.
Junior Sailing Is a Members-Only Program
A current Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum membership is required for each participating household. Membership must be completed before the student participates.
Membership supports the Museum and helps sustain educational programs, maritime preservation, exhibits, and community opportunities throughout the year.
Participant Requirements
Participants in every session must meet all program requirements before taking part in on-water instruction.
- Be at least 8 years old when classes begin. There are no exceptions to the minimum-age requirement.
- Demonstrate the ability to swim successfully during the first-day Water Comfort Test.
- Submit the required Medical Information and Consent Form and Statement of Understanding.
- Bring a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type II or Type III personal flotation device.
- Wear closed-toe boat shoes or tennis shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are not permitted on the dock or boats.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat, water bottle, towel, suitable clothing, and a change of clothes.
Three Classes of Sailboats
The program uses three sailboat classes commonly found in sailing and racing programs throughout the United States. Placement is based on age, size, experience, skill, and instructor assessment.
International Optimist Dinghy
The Optimist, commonly called an Opti, is recognized worldwide as a sail-training and competition boat for young sailors. Its size and single sprit-rigged sail make it an ideal boat for teaching beginners.
The program uses 20 Optis built at the Museum’s Watercraft Center and maintained by Museum staff and volunteers.
Best suited for- Beginning sailors
- Second-year Opti sailors
- Sailors weighing no more than 100 pounds
O’pen Skiff
The O’pen Skiff is designed specifically for junior sailors. It is open, responsive, and fast, helping students develop the skills and reflexes needed for high-performance sailing.
Skills learned in an O’pen Skiff can transfer to other boats as sailors gain experience and progress through the program.
Best suited for- Sailors with approximately two years of experience
- Sailors weighing between 65 and 100 pounds
- Students ready for a responsive performance boat
Club 420
The Club 420 is a two-person sailboat with a mainsail and jib. Crew members learn how to rig, launch, sail, and work together aboard this fast and versatile daysailer.
Instruction may include racing fundamentals, tuning techniques, teamwork, and proper boat handling.
Best suited for- Students with previous sailing experience
- Students who have completed at least one JSP session
- Sailors weighing at least 100 pounds
Need help selecting a boat class? Email [email protected] or call 252-728-2762 . Final placement is determined by program staff based on safety, experience, size, and skill.
2026 Junior Sailing Sessions
Traditional sessions are held for two weeks with separate morning and afternoon classes. Session 3 offers a one-week, full-day format.
Morning: 8:30 a.m.–noon
Afternoon: 1–4:30 p.m.
Morning: 8:30 a.m.–noon
Afternoon: 1–4:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Morning: 8:30 a.m.–noon
Afternoon: 1–4:30 p.m.
About the Full-Day Sessions
Families may register for either the week of July 6 or the week of July 13. Tuition for one week of full-day instruction is the same as tuition for a two-week half-day class.
Club 420 sailors may participate in day-long adventure sails with lunch while underway. Opti and O’pen Skiff sailors will take a midday lunch break of at least one hour.
Parents should consider whether their child has the endurance and readiness to participate in a full day of sailing instruction.
Important Program Documents
Review the handbook before your sailor’s session and complete all required forms as directed during registration.
2026 Program Handbook
Program procedures, schedules, safety rules, required gear, policies, and parent information.
Statement of Understanding
Student and parent acknowledgment of program expectations, equipment responsibilities, and safety requirements.
Medical and Consent Form
Medical information, emergency contacts, health considerations, and treatment authorization.
Registration Policies and Assistance
Please review the cancellation policy before completing registration. Need-based scholarship assistance is available.
Registration and Cancellations
Reservations cannot be made by email. A registration is confirmed only after payment has been successfully processed.
Registration costs, less a 10% administrative fee, are refunded when cancellation notice is received at least two weeks before the session begins.
Refunds are not available for cancellations received within two weeks of the session start date.
Junior Sailing Scholarships
Need-based financial assistance is available. Typical scholarship awards provide a 50% reduction in program tuition.
Applicants should provide a letter from the student explaining their desire to participate and a letter from the parent or guardian explaining the family’s financial need.
Send requests to Susan Payson, Executive Director, Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, 315 Front Street, Beaufort, NC 28516.
Questions may be directed to 252-728-2762 or [email protected] .
Give Your Junior Sailor a Summer on the Water
Junior Sailing gives young people the opportunity to develop practical sailing skills, confidence, responsibility, friendships, and a deeper connection to North Carolina’s maritime heritage.
