St. Francis Yacht Club Youth Sailing

St. Francis Yacht Club Youth Sailing offers a range of on-the-water activities including a Learn to Sail program, Learn to Race, Racing Clinics, Learn to Foil, High School Sailing, Summer Camps, and a Cityfront Sailing Camp. Youth sailors use RS Teras, RS Fevas, CFJs, C420s, and J/22s, with options that include trapeze sailing with spinnakers and keelboat sailing. All training vessels are provided and maintained by the club, and helmets are required for all Junior Sailing Classes, with sailing-specific helmets available for participants to use.

• Ages: 8–17 years old
• Schedule: Each San Francisco Clubhouse camp session is one week (four days) in length, and the 2026 Cityfront Sailing Camp runs one week, Monday–Thursday from 9:00am–4:00pm
• Price: 2026 Cityfront Sailing Camp costs $725 for members and $925 for guests

Each San Francisco Clubhouse camp session is broken into two groups, with camps offered for beginning and intermediate level sailors, and instructors placing sailors in the appropriate group level. Beginning classes cover rigging, points of sail, capsizing, tacking, gybing, and safety, while intermediate classes cover sail trim, weight placement, tactics, starting, and the Racing Rules of Sailing. The 2026 Cityfront Sailing Camp is open to novice through intermediate level sailors ages 8–17 years, with boats for that camp including RS Teras, RS Fevas, and Flying Juniors, and beginner sailors work on skills such as hiking out, close-hauled sailing, and proper sail trim on the windy Cityfront.

Youth sailing opportunities are offered year-round through programs at the City clubhouse and summer sailing camps on Tinsley Island, with instruction available for all skill levels and open to members and non-members. The program teaches kids as young as eight years old in boats sized for them, with sailors ages 8–11 using RS Teras and, at about age 12, moving into RS Fevas and C420s, and J/22 programs available for teens who want experience handling keelboats. All camps and courses are open to members and non-members, and scholarships are available.

For the 2026 summer season, registration opens February 11 at 12:00pm for members and February 13 at 12:00pm for guests, with session dates listed as Session 1: June 22–25, Session 2: July 6–9, Session 3: July 27–30, and Session 4: August 3–6. The cancellation policy states that written notice at least four weeks before the start of a session is required for a full refund minus a $100 nonrefundable registration fee, with no refunds within four weeks of the start of a session, and if St. Francis Yacht Club cancels courses, fees will be credited or refunded.

The Cityfront Sailing Camp packing list specifies required items such as close-toed water shoes, a labeled water bottle, sunscreen, a Coast Guard Approved Type III life jacket that fits properly, a full-length wetsuit (4/3mm preferred), and a sailing-specific helmet, with a limited number of life jackets and wetsuits available on a first-come, first-served basis. Recommended items include a hat or visor, sunglasses with a strap, a long-sleeved quick-dry shirt, a spray top, dry clothes to change into, and a towel.

St. Francis Yacht Club describes itself as one of the most esteemed yacht clubs in the world, steeped in tradition and known for innovation. Its mission is to serve as the inspirational center of boating activities regionally and a leader of yachting internationally, honoring camaraderie, sportsmanship, tradition, and the maritime heritage of San Francisco in a premier yachting environment. The Junior Program leadership includes Sailing Director Brent Harrill, Head Sailing Coach Parker Colantuono, Junior Committee Chair Will Paulsen, and a series of Junior Flag Officers for the years 2021–2026.

The helmet policy for the Junior Program has the support of staff, the Fleet Surgeon, and the Board of Directors, and is based on the noted prevalence of head-related injuries in sailing and the common use of helmets at high levels of the sport such as the America’s Cup, SailGP, and Olympic sailing, as well as in many college and junior programs. St. Francis Yacht Club purchased Forward Pro Wip 2.0 and Forward Pro Wip 2.0 JR helmets for the Junior Program, and a donation from S/C Grant and Joni Settlemier provided 20 helmets for junior sailors.

Last updated March 19, 2026.