Some things, like the SEQUIM BAY JR. YACHT CLUB, just exist for the fun of it! The sport of sailing can range from leisurely following the wind as it meanders across the bay, to the high octane, adrenaline pumping, competitive aspects of racing. However, to pursue sailing, one must have some knowledge of technique and have access to a boat.This is where the SEQUIM BAY JR. YACHT CLUB enters the picture!

Sailors love their sport and cannot understand why everyone does not want to sail. But where do you start??? Ten years ago, members of SEQUIM BAY YACHT CLUB (SBYC) decided to make youth sailing a reality!

• …funds were raised to purchase boats
• …SBYC facilities housed the instructional program - Basic Sailing, certified by US Sailing
• …as the program lasted only 1 week, the basics of sailing were covered, but there were some shortcomings:
• …students did not receive adequate exposure to varied weather and wind
• …students had little opportunity to sail solo, due to class size and time limitations

So…the JR. YACHT CLUB (JR. YC) was organized to allow the experience to continue! Upon completion of a Basic Sailing course and joining the JR. YC for the modest fee of $25.00, students continued to sail under adult supervision in a variety of conditions, enabling their skills and, most importantly, their confidence to progress.
JR. YACHT CLUB 2008

• The JR. YC sails twice a week during the summer and once a week in late spring and early fall. Since the wind and weather vary from day to day, no 2 sessions are the same, but all of them are fun! A typical day starts with rigging and launching the boats, sailing out of the marina, and around Sequim Bay. If there is little or no wind, we play water games, practice capsizing boats, and swim around. (Most of us wear wet suits.) Members sail in a variety of boats, depending on their skill level and physical size. We usually sail single-handed, with the adult supervisors (US Sailing Certified Small Boat Instructors) nearby in small powerboats, providing instruction and assistance. At the end of the session, which usually lasts about an hour and a half, we sail to the dock, de-rig our boats and take them out of the water.
• Sailing is the most fun when the boat is going fast and you can hear it rushing through the water, feeling the wind and spray on your face. Usually the windier the day, the faster you will go. Sailors learn to control the boat with their body weight and sail trim as the wind increases. We read about this during the beginner sailing course, but only actual experience can convert the theory to practice.
• Often when sailing and having fun, we don’t notice that the wind had increased considerably until we are back at the dock. On one such day, a member was seen triumphantly dancing to the theme of “Rocky” as he celebrated his progress and expansion of his wind comfort zone.
• The JR. YACHT CLUB has twenty members ranging in age from 9 to 16. We elect officers, hold meetings and plan activities with the guidance of the senior advisers. We help pay our expenses by assisting at senior club functions.
• We primarily sail, but also have some social functions. While the Jr. Yacht Club is most active during the warm weather, we meet occasionally throughout the colder months to plan our next season of fun!