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Junior Sailing Fall Series


Fall Programs Runs From September 5th- October 15th


Junior Sailing Fall Series offers sailors the chance to hone their skills through the shoulder season. This program runs on weekends through the fall season and focuses on everything from basic sailing skills to advanced racing techniques. The program uses club-owned Optis, Fevas, Sonars, and Ideal 18s. Fall sailing is open to members and non-members, priority for spots will be given on a first come first serve basis.  If there is  enough interest, the Club will open up more classes. Those looking to join the Opti Race Team are encouraged to use their own racing boats. 


For more information, contact Alec Basilion, Sailing and Waterfront Director: Alec@norotonyc.org

Opti Basics

This program is designed for children ages 8 to 13 who want to learn to sail and are ready to set the foundations of safety, seamanship, and sportsmanship.  Variety, fun, and skill-building are the core of the curriculum, as well as capsize recovery and prevention. Games on and off the water and boating vocabulary are important parts of this class.

Sundays 1:00pm- 4:00pm

Cost: $425 per sailor

Opti Intro to Racing

Opti Intro To Racing is for sailors ages 9 to 15 who have successfully passed Opti Beginner and are ready to move to the world of racing and is an introduction to our race team program. Opti - Intro To Racing sailors focus on increasing their skills in the boat to prepare themselves for future Green Fleet regattas or to keep their skills in check before summer starts and after it ends in the fall. 

Sundays 1:00pm- 4:00pm

Cost: $425 per sailor

Opti Racing Team

The Opti Race team will practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and will focus on advanced tactics, boat handling, and reading the wind and current. The team will also compete in some local USODA events. 

Tuesdays, Thursdays 4pm-6pm

Sundays 1:00pm- 4:00pm

Full Season Cost: $750 per sailor

Weekdays only: $550 per sailor

Weekends only: $425 per sailor

Intro to Double-Handed

Intro to Double Handed is for sailors 12-16 who want to jump into the world of double-handed sailing. This course is designed to be an introductory level program to give sailors a look into double handed sailing. This course focuses on boat handling, a-symmetrical spinnaker use, and teamwork. 

Saturdays 1:00pm- 4:00pm

Cost: $425 per sailor


Feva Intro to Racing

This course is for more advanced sailors in the Feva class. The Feva Racing group will focus on advanced tactics and concepts. The overall goal of this class is to introduce sailors to the world of double-handed racing. The focus will be on starts, reading wind on the course, and general race course strategy. 

Saturdays 1:00pm- 4:00pm

Cost: $425 per sailor

Intro to Keelboats

This class is an intro the world of keelboat sailing for sailors 12-17 years old. In this course sailors will learn all of the fundamentals of sailing larger boats. This will include all of the different keelboat positions from the helm to the bow and everything in-between. The class will run on Sonars and Ideal 18s

Saturday 9:00am- 12:00pm

Cost: $500


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Coaches

Molly Weiner

Molly grew up sailing in Long Island Sound out of American YC, already having been on boats her whole life. She went through the opti program (JAYC), then sailed upstate on a lake for a few years before starting high school varsity sailing and moving onto college sailing at the University of Connecticut.  Molly has been coaching optis, c/z420s, and more since 2017.  She began teaching at a small club on the sound (Orienta Beach Club), then moved to Shelter Island Yacht Club for several summers.  She then began coaching for middle school and high school programs, teaching ideals, and coaching z420s for several seasons.  Her most recent role was out of Black Rock Sailing in Bridgeport where she coached a composite team, Weston High School, and Sacred Heart University students.  She is passionate about sailing and excited to start at Noroton Yacht Club. 

Ellie Pieper

Ellie grew up sailing in Westport, CT at Cedar Point yacht club where she sailed optis and 420s. This past May, she graduated from Connecticut College where she majored in biology and Italian. At Connecticut College, she sailed for four years, fleet racing and team racing for both the women and co-ed sailing teams. In addition to sailing, she was a member of an acapella group, a tour guide, and played club ice hockey.

Jack Meyer

Jack Meyer grew up sailing on the north shore of Long Island at the WaterFront Center where he sailed Pixels, c420s, and competed on the Cold Spring Harbor High School Sailing team. Upon graduating high school Jack attended Ithaca College in upstate New York where he studied communications, taught sailing for Cornell University, and spent the summer seasons coaching back in Oyster Bay at WFC.  He now works out in Sag Harbor as a deckhand on a 80' gaff-rigged schooner and spends his time off charter, going offshore for deliveries and helping teach Opti 1s at NYC. Jack is excited to bring his passion for the sport to more young sailors this fall at NYC. 

Jack Kneisley (LJ)

Jack (LJ) Kneisley, hailing from Larchmont, NY, has been sailing for 14 years. He began sailing at Larchmont Yacht Club in Optis, continuing onto Pixels, 420s, Lasers, and various ‘big boats.’ He has been coaching at Noroton Yacht Club since the summer of 2019. At the club, he has coached Optis, 420s, Lasers, and big boats. Outside of Noroton, he has both offshore racing and cruising experience, including multiple trips to Bermuda and the Around Long Island Race

Christian Varas

Christian Varas grew up sailing at American Yacht Club. He has been on the water since he can remember, sailing with his family. Christian sailed Optis, Fevas, c420s, and windsurfers as part of the American Yacht Club Junior Program. He currently live in Rye, NY with his family. Christian went to Suffield Academy, and is now a student at University of Miami. His favorite color is red and favorite season is summer.

Oliver West

A recent graduate of Darien High School, Oliver West has spent two summers working at Noroton Yacht Club. Having grown up sailing at Stamford Yacht Club, he has had a lifelong passion for the sport and has honed his skills sailing Opti's, I420s, and Lasers. In addition to dinghy sailing, he was the skipper for Stamford's Junior Big Boat team for four years and has completed 2 Vineyard Races. He is always eager to learn and improve and is looking forward to being a part of the team at Noroton this fall.

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