Beginner Sailing includes an orientation to CBI, first sail, kayak safety, shore school, and more. The first week covers basics including rigging, safety, and sailing maneuvers; everyone learns to sail our beginner boats independently, under instructor supervision. Kayaking is included so they can paddle with friends during JP hours. The second week continues with lessons and games designed to challenge and encourage. They’ll be on the water every day — active, in the sun, and having fun.

Upon Completion: Mercury green rating, kayak rating
Next up: take Intermediate Sailing, RoboSail
Take concurrently: Environmental Science, Stand-Up Paddleboard, Kayak Adventure, Fun & Games, open paddling, informal instruction

Intermediate Sailing teaches new skills while polishing techniques introduced in Beginner Sailing. Students improve positioning, sail trim, maneuvers and control, and learn to use a jib, all through a combination of lessons and structured play. The first week focuses on sail trim, boat handling, upwind sailing, and skills needed for heavier winds, including reefing. By week 2, we introduce the Jib sail, encouraging teamwork and increasing fun!

Next up: test for Mercury yellow & red ratings; take Mercury clinics, Windsurfing (ratings required), Instructor In-Training (age & ratings required)
Take concurrently: same as Beginner Sailing plus RoboSail and open sailing

Our stand-up paddleboards are a great, aerobic way for kids to enjoy the Charles River. This class will go over technique and form, as well as explain the rules and care of our the “SUPs” during JP hours. Youth obtain their SUP Rating upon completing this class.

Upon completion: SUP rating

Our Fast Track class is an orientation and refresher designed to get a variety of experience level sailors up to speed on our Mercury sailboat and at our facility. Returning Beginners, sailors with experience in other boats and programs, and even sailors who want a refresher after their first week of Beginner Sailing may choose to take this as a first or second introduction to CBI’s Junior Program. The class is on land, and includes abbreviated orientation, rigging, and shore school demonstrations.

Kayak Adventure takes the rating received in Beginner Sailing to another level. In class, with instructor supervision and organization, Juniors may paddle to new and distant places not normally allowed or join organized kayak games and relays! They might take a trip up the lagoon, play Capture the Life-Jacket or Ultimate Kayak, go on a scavenger hunt, or run a relay race in the mooring field.

On-water clinic to help sailors who have completed Intermediate Sailing continue to improve their sailing skills and work towards a yellow or red rating test. Sailors are also encouraged to practice sailing through open sail and informal instruction given by volunteer Instructors In-Training.

While most of our lessons include fun drills and games to promote learning, our Fun & Games period brings the whole program together for fun team building activities such as relay races, theme days, environmental presentations, field trips, pie-an-instructor, and more! Sign up or drop in.

CBI-RoboSail combines robotics, coding, and sailing into an engineering challenge! Students program a 3-foot model sailboat to sail a course while learning new skills in computer programming, electronics, and mechanisms. They will deepen their understanding of the physical principles and strategies involved in sailing by creating algorithms that translate their sailing knowledge into code for a robot. Funding for boats, electronics and on-board mini-computers is provided by a generous donor. Volunteers with technical skills and training on this system will serve as mentors to student teams.

Community Boating’s Environmental Science program is a STEM program which utilizes sailing as a vessel to explore environmental science, engineering, technology, and math. This program is based off of U.S. Sailing’s REACH curriculum, a STEM education program created through collaboration between classroom teachers and sailing instructors. Students participate in experiential learning activities such as building their own anemometer, exploring buoyancy by building clay boats, and learning about weather patterns by creating clouds-in-a-jar.

Windsurfers are an entirely different way to get out on the river, combining the balance of a SUP and power of sailing! This class begins with a land-simulator session, to introduce proper form and sail-handling. The class then goes on the water to apply their newly-learned techniques.

Upon completion: may test for windsurf rating
May be taken upon completion: Windsurf Clinic

Keelboats are fun, fast, and allow larger groups to sail comfortably together. Lessons will be on our two larger keelboats; the Sonar and Ideal 18. Sailors will learn to rig, reef, launch from and return to our moorings, as well as apply their existing knowledge to a new and exciting fleet of boats. Most students will receive a green keelboat rating upon completion of this class.

Upon completion: test for keelboat rating, take Keelboat Clinic

The Laser is a fast, fun boat for a single sailor. This class covers how to rig the Laser as well as skills tailored for it. Sailors will also learn to right a capsize and be introduced to the basics of racing. Students should be prepared to get wet, so make sure to bring a change of clothes. While many sailors will receive their green Laser rating upon completion of this class, that will depend on their ability to effectively rig, sail and right the Laser on their own, which is a physical task but required for safe sailing.

Upon completion: test for Laser rating, take Laser Clinic, Racing Team (w/ 420 rating)

The 420 is a quick, fun boat for a crew of two. This class covers how to rig and sail the 420 with a teammate. Sailors will also learn to right a capsize and be introduced to the basics of racing. Students should be prepared to get wet, so make sure to bring a change of clothes. While many sailors will receive their green 420 rating upon completion of this class, that will depend on their ability to effectively rig, sail and right the 420 on their own, which is a physical task but required for safe sailing.

Upon completion: test for 420 rating, take 420 Clinic, Racing Team (w/ Laser rating)

Our keelboats provide a stable platform on which to teach spinnaker use, the finer points of sail trim, and to get demonstrations from an instructor in their boat. Advanced topics covered will be based on the week’s wind forecast and individual sailors.

Windsurf clinics offer advanced instruction for those who have taken the basic class. Will cover topics based upon the wind and experience level, including bigger sails, smaller boards, upwind sailing, perhaps even harnesses and water starts!Windsurf Racing may be open to green-rated windsurfers depending on the wind. This will be racing around buoys and racing skills clinics on one-design windsurf boards.

Advanced Laser and 420 clinics teach high level skills such as sail trim and tuning, roll-tacking, buoy roundings, using the tell-tales, weight placement, advanced sailboat righting techniques and more.

Racing skills are honed through practices and CBI weekly racing series. The team competes in regattas at sailing centers throughout the area. Please see the Race Team page for more information. If your junior sailor is new to CBI but has prior racing experience and would like to join the race team, please contact the Junior Program Director, Niko Kotsatos at [email protected]