The BYC Youth Club provides organized boating-related activities and training opportunities for young people ages 8 to 23. The club is open to all youth who have an interest in boating or learning to sail. Activities range from fun open sailing sessions and on-the-water games, to weekly dinghy racing and participation in regional regattas. Occasional cruising on bigger boats, field trips to interesting places, and social events round out the program. Any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, or a full time college student under twenty-three (23) years of age may apply for membership as a Youth Member. Youth members enjoy all of the rights and privileges of the BYC including full access to the facilities.
Cost: Membership in the Youth Club is just $50 per year per youth. Children of BYC Members in good standing qualify for free membership in the Youth Club. Youths that participate in the Youth Sailing program are required to enroll as a Youth Club Member (included in the cost of the course).
Facilities: The Youth Club area is located in the lower level of the BYC. Youth members have access to the Youth Sailing training area, and the Youth room with Electric Darts, Air Hockey, and Ping Pong.
Youth Sailing: Youth Sailing is devoted to the next generation of sailors, and sailing competitors. The Youth Sailing Program has a sail training schedule, and certified sailing coaches. The BYC maintains a fleet of Optimist, Bytes and Lasers for this purpose. In the near future the BYC will have double handed 420’s as well. Youth Sailing has an additional information web site, click here to go to the site.
Youth Racing Team: Youth Sailors qualify for membership on the Youth Racing team. Youth racers compete regionally with other clubs. The BYC is a member of Northwest Youth Racing Circuit and maintains a qualifying regatta in the circuit. The BYC also runs the Bellingham Ski to Sea Regatta and the Bellingham Bay One Design Regatta.
The Bellingham Yacht Club also maintains membership in the Pacific International Yachting Assocation (PIYA), and US Sailing.
Photo Gallery
Basic Sailing Course
2004 Inati Bay Youth Cruise
Other youth related links:
Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA)
Northwest ISSA (Archive)
International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
Byte Class Association
Optimist Class Association
International Laser Class Assocation
420 Class Association