San Diego Yacht Club - Junior Sailing Program

Junior Sailing Program

San Diego Yacht Club boasts one of the largest and oldest junior sailing programs in the country. Founded in 1928 by Staff Commodore Joe Jessop, the initial objective was to teach “swimming, boat care, racing tactics, and sportsmanship”. The initial class consisted of Robert Town (the 1928 Junior Commodore), brothers Gordon Frost, Sr.* and Albert A. Frost, Jr.*, Robert Merit, Grant Stone and Walter Fisch. Of these six juniors, two became future commodores of the San Diego Yacht Club. Lessons were taught in Sea Mews and Starlets, a junior trainer that was a smaller version of the popular Star class. Races for the Starlets were held in the Bay. Two years later in 1930 the American Starlet Association was created with Gordon Frost serving as its first Commodore.

The San Diego Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program has evolved into a year round intense training program affecting around 200 youth sailors every year. The Junior Program consists of a full-time junior program director, coaches, maintenance and administrative staff. Facilities include a junior clubhouse, tool room, Sabot and Laser storage spaces, sail and boat wash areas and two launching ramps. Members of the Junior Program have access to the junior charter fleet that includes 25 Sabots, 18 Optimists, Lasers (and Radials), CFJ's and 420's. Also included in the fleet are the SDYC Jr. race committee boat the Al Frost Sr., a dozen Whaler chase boats, inflatables, and multi-boat trailers for travel to away regattas.

Throughout the year, events are scheduled for sailors of all ability levels including special events, field trips, racing clinics, a very active after-school program, and practices. During the summer months, the Junior Program offers an eight-week summer sailing and racing program.

The result of coaching, learning and racing has led to the San Diego Yacht Club Youth Program's success in local, area, national and international competitions. In the recent past, SDYC Juniors have won the US Sailing Youth Championships Single-handed trophy nine times and the Double-handed trophy four times. SDYC juniors won the Interscholastic Sailing Association's National Championships in 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2001–2005 and have placed in the top three each year. The alumni of the SDYC Junior Program compete at the highest international levels. Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists, World and National Champions in several classes and America's Cup competitors are all products of SDYC's Junior Sailing Program. Olympic hopeful Andrew Campbell is a part of the Junior program. Other notable juniors include Adam Roberts, Graham Biehl, Cameron Biehl, Anna Brun, Tyler Sinks, and Parker Shinn, many of whom continue their sport at college. About 200 children attend the program each summer, with many continuing year round. The junior sailors sail 420s, CFJs, Sabots and Lasers. Several high school sailing teams also sail out of the San Diego Yacht Club, including the Point Loma, Bishop's, Francis Parker, and Cathedral Catholic High School sailing teams.