Dana Point Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program

Dana Point Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program offers introductory instruction to sailing as well as a structured pathway that includes elite, Olympic-level preparation. Participants take part in activities such as Harbor Explorers with a focus on water safety, basic sailing skills, fun, and confidence; Local Sailors with advanced sailboat control, an introduction to racing, local regattas, and teamwork; and the DPYC Race Team with expert sailboat control, advanced race strategy and tactics, travel regattas, and physical fitness. The program also includes fieldtrips, sails around the island, and sails out to the ocean, along with participation in regattas spanning local to international waters.

• Ages: 6–16 years old
• Schedule: Nine consecutive weekly sessions from June 8 through August 7, Monday–Friday, with the program day running 9:00am–4:00pm
• Price: Price per session – $450 Non-members / $400 Members

All juniors are required to pass a swim test on their first day, which consists of swimming laps at the DPYC guest dock, treading water, and putting on a Coast Guard approved life jacket while in the water. Safety requirements include the swim test, a signed Medical Release Form, an Insurance Card, and reporting all absences to the Front Desk at 949-496-2900. Everything is held outside with minimal inside access, and students are expected to wear quick drying clothing, have limited clothing changes, and keep belongings in a zippered bag. A parent or guardian must sign their sailor in and out each day and note any change in pick-up plans at check-in, and families may enroll in any weekly session or all of the sessions. Participants are not required to be members of Dana Point Yacht Club, and children and grandchildren of DPYC members are eligible for member pricing.

Since 1952, Dana Point Yacht Club has been a vibrant part of the Southern California yachting community and is described as a casual, informal, fun-loving group dedicated to boating activities and promoting boating experiences to all ages. The club’s Junior Sailing Program operates under the vision to inspire and cultivate the next generation of sailors by instilling skill, discipline, and passion for the sport of sailing, and under the mission to provide a safe, supportive, and competitive environment for youth sailors to learn, race, and represent DPYC in Southern California and beyond. The program emphasizes teamwork, honesty and integrity, patience and respect, and competitive excellence, and it will uphold and advance the traditions of Dana Point Yacht Club while representing it at national and international levels. Dana Point Yacht Club has been Southern California Yachting Association’s “Yacht Club of the Year” several times and has been chosen “Best Yacht Club” in Dana Point Harbor, with “Best Of” awards from 2009 through 2024. The Junior Sailing Co-Chairs are Jason Audiss and Laura Burgos.

Last updated July 1, 2026.