Ready, Set, Sail!

South Shore Sailing School is a program offered by the South Shore Nautical Education Foundation, “SSNEF, INC.” Formerly known as MCYC Sailing School, the program has provided generations of students their first boat handling experiences. SSNEF was organized as a 501c3 non-profit in order to further the growth of the program. SSNEF is grateful for past donations and welcomes new ones. To donate, or for more information, please contact us.

Info@southshoresailingschool.org
(219) 561-0041

Welcome to Sailing School

The first day of sailing season is almost here and we are looking forward to meeting you! Here are important things to know that will help you prepare for your upcoming class. If you have any questions, please contact us.

SCHEDULE

Youth classes are conducted Monday through Friday. Morning classes are from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Afternoon classes are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Adult’s evening classes run 5pm to 7:30 on Thursdays.

Program Goals 

  • Equal opportunity to participate
  • Safe Learning Environment
  • New Skills
  • Respectful Treatment
  • Enjoyable and successful learning experience

Course Description: Beginning students will learn basic sailing terminology, boat nomenclature, & basic sailing knots. On the water skills include; tacking and jibing, steering skills, sail trim, launching and docking boats, & capsize recovery. Basic sailing drills will be introduced and practiced. Class time is a mix of class instruction and water time. Advanced students may cover race tactics and spinnaker use in addition to the skills listed above.

Youth Drop Off/Pick Up: Students can be dropped off and picked Behind the Fish Camp Restaurant next to the pavilion. Please be prompt for arrival and pick up.

Attire/What to bring each day: Wear bathing suit, sunscreen, and closed toed shoes. Bring a towel, and water bottle. Optional: shirt, hat, sunglasses with croakie (so not lost overboard). No jewelry unless ok to lose. Long hair should be tied back. Each student is required to have his/her own properly fitted USCG Type III Personal Flotation Device (PFDs). Life Jacket must fit snugly around the chest, so the wearer cannot slip out when in the water.

Test: Instructor will perform a swim check of each youth student on the first day of class. the swim check consists of swimming approximately 25 yards while wearing a life jacket.

Swimming speed and proficiency are not being tested. Instructors are looking at the students comfort in the water. Regarding upper body strength, students must be able to independently pull themselves out of the water into the safety boat.

Safety: Student safety is of our utmost concern. The sport of sailing and the conduct of this course do entail and are subject to certain inherent risks.

Students must wear a lifejacket at all times when on the dock or on the boats. Additional safety procedures will be reviewed at the beginning of the program.

We do have an Emergency Action Plan which we will review with all students. There is a manned safety boat out at all times that includes a First Aid kit, flares, oars, and life ring.

Inclement weather: Class will be held regardless of weather. Class time and educational indoor activities are planned for days when it is unsafe to be out on the water.

Expectations: 

  • Arrive on time, ready to go
  • Obey all program rules as set forth by the program director and instructors
  • Use utmost care in the use of the boats and equipment
  • Exhibit good sportsmanship, be a team player, pitch in and do your share when preparing boats for sailing and de-rigging
  • Be tolerant and supportive of others
  • Use appropriate language, do not engage in any horseplay on the dock or other disruptive behavior
  • Parents, please be on time for pick up. Our instructors have very limited time between classes for lunch and preparation and have other jobs/commitments in the afternoon and cannot be expected to babysit
  • Please let us know if you’re not coming to class

Youth Incentive System: Students are given numerous opportunities to earn “points” throughout the session with prizes given out each week for the top 3 weekly point earners. Point earning examples include bringing in the daily weather report, good behavior, helping others, and scoring well on Friday quizzes.

Youth Discipline: Failure to abide by the rules and/or harmful or dangerous excesses in a student’s behavior will be brought to the parents’ attention in a prompt manner and an appropriate agreed upon action will ensue. The South Shore Sailing School has the right to maintain the integrity of the program by dismissing serious offenders.

Parent Involvement: We appreciate any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions that you may have and will make ourselves available before and after class if you’d like to talk with us. Also, parents are welcome on the last day of the session to take photos of their child. Otherwise, we ask parents to respect the efforts of the instructor and not to interfere during class instruction, please refrain from enter the classroom or dock area during the instruction time.