Dana Point Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program

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

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

Since 1952, Dana Point Yacht Club has been a vibrant part of the Southern California yachting community and has been Southern California Yachting Association's “Yacht Club of the Year” several times, as well as a prior years “Best Of” winner from 2009 through 2024. The Dana Point Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program is led by Junior Sailing Co-Chairs Jason Audiss and Laura Burgos and is described as a distinguished initiative committed to cultivating the next generation of sailors, with an emphasis on teamwork, honesty and integrity, patience and respect, and competitive excellence. The program states a vision to inspire and cultivate the next generation of sailors through world-class coaching, mentorship, and a supportive community, and a mission to provide a safe, supportive, and competitive environment for youth sailors to learn, race, and represent Dana Point Yacht Club in Southern California and beyond. Participants are not required to be members of Dana Point Yacht Club, children and grandchildren of members are eligible for member pricing, families may enroll in any weekly session or all of the sessions, and 2026 Summer Sailing Registration is open.

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, and students must demonstrate comfort in and around water to participate. A Swim Test, Signed Medical Release Form, and Submitted Insurance Card are required, and all absences are to be reported to the Front Desk at 949-496-2900. Everything will be outside with minimal inside access, and participants are asked to arrive dressed to sail in quick drying clothing, with limited clothing changes and belongings kept safe in a zippered bag. The parent or guardian must sign their sailor in and out each day, and any change in pick-up plans, such as a friend or relative picking up, must be indicated at check-in.

Last updated April 2, 2026.