The Teen Sailing Academy is a great way for young adults to get outdoors in the fresh air and do something super exciting this summer.
Teens sail on a fleet of J/24 race boats. Five students join one instructor and learn the basics of sailing. These are the same boats used to teach adults at the Manhattan Sailing School, one of the largest sailing schools in the country.
Learning the basics of sailing is just the start. Teens also learn to have fun and work together to hoist the sails and trim the sheets. Sailing requires teamwork and concentration. Teens will be off their phones and focusing on tacking and gybing. They will learn to find the wind and predict the currents.
Teens gain the valuable skill of sailing which makes them feel special and unique. Sailing also instills confidence and teaches you how to overcome adversity.
While sailing, teens are also encouraged to capture memories. They can do this by using their phones to shoot pictures and videos. Students can also bring their own GoPros and attach them to the boat. Then during their breaks from sailing, teens can post pictures online or connect videos to create a movie about their sailing experience.
Videos are previewed and judged on Friday after the Lucky Dog Race. This is a good way for creative students to find special niches within the program. Some YouTubers now sail their boats full time around the world and have it paid by their advertising revenues.
The culmination of each week of sailing is the “Lucky Dog Race” on Friday afternoon. All the boats in the teen program race against each other. They are often joined by some Manhattan Yacht Club member boats as well. This event is called the Lucky Dog Race because anyone who can sail on a boat past the Statue of Liberty on a summer Friday afternoon is a Lucky Dog.
Time & Meeting Location – The Teen Sailing Academy runs Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Teens meet their instructors at the Manhattan Yacht Club, 140 Dudley St, Jersey City, NJ. Teens coming from Manhattan can use the PATH or the yellow Lady Liberty Ferry from the Brookfield ferry terminal in Battery Park City.
Schedule – There are 10 one-week sessions. Teens may enroll in any number of sessions. Two or more weeks are recommended because students learn more and more each week.
Week 1: June 24 – 28, 2024
Week 2: July 1 – 5, 2024
Week 3: July 8 – 12, 2024
Week 4: July 15 – 19, 2024
Week 5: July 22 – 26, 2024
Week 6: July 29 – Aug 2, 2024
Week 7: Aug 5 – 9, 2024
Week 8: Aug 12 – 16, 2024
Week 9: Aug 19 – 23, 2024
Week 10: Aug 26 – 30, 2024
Tuition – The tuition is $690 for one week. There is a 5% discount ($655.50) for 2 weeks, 10% ($621) for 3 weeks and 15% ($586.50) for 4 or more weeks. Students can also get certified to the American Sailing Association Basic Sailing Standard. There is a $100 certification fee which goes to ASA if you choose to do this.
Financial Aid – A limited amount of financial aid is available to families who might not otherwise be able to afford this opportunity for their teens. For more information, please email office@nyharborsailing.com.
