Classes
2023 Classes
NOTE: SESSION 4 IS FULL. Submit an application to get on WAITING LIST
- IJS opens on Monday, June 19 and ends on Thursday August 17
- Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday. There are sessions consisting of 1 week of full day classes and sessions consisting of two weeks of half day classes.
- The full day classes are Monday through Thursday (9:15-4:15).
- The sessions of half day classes are 8 half days of either mornings (9:15 -12:15) or afternoons (1:15 – 4:15)
- The three sessions of full day classes begin on Monday, June 26, Monday, July 17 and Monday, July 31.
- Morning classes begin at 9:15 am and end at 12:15 pm and are recommended for beginning sailors.
- Please note that the week of July 4 will run Monday July 3 to Friday July 7 with no classes on Tuesday the 4th because of the holiday.
- Afternoon classes start at 1:15 pm and end at 4:15 pm and are recommended for Intermediate and advanced sailors who have taken at least three beginner classes.
- Please note that the July 24 IJS will not have classes because we will participate in Marblehead Junior Race Week.
Adult Evening Racing
If you are interested in Adult Evening Racing please contact us at [email protected] or 978-412-4412.

IJS features US Sailing Certified instructors and classes based on US Sailing “Learn to Sail Right”
By learning to sail a small boat with a US Sailing-certified instructor, you’ll learn the skills you need to build your confidence and ability to sail the boat well and safely. The Learn Sailing Right! instructional books are the industry standard for small boat education, with step-by-step guidance for beginner and intermediate sailors. Learn Sailing Right! will be used to help structure the class curriculum on Monday to Thursday of each week.
The Boats
The Optimist Dinghy (OPTI)
The Optimist Dinghy is a small 7’ 9” sailing craft for sailors age 8-12 and/or weighing less than 115 lbs. Sailors who are 115 lbs or more are eligible to register for the C420 class.
Sailors in the OPTI class will learn small boat handling, water safety, seamanship, terminology, rigging, and confidence building skills. Students start out sailing in pairs with the goal to gain confidence and comfort in the boat. As students continue through the program there is an increased emphasis on sailing alone and improving performance techniques to get the most from their boat and themselves.
Opti Beginner
This class is an introductory class for young new sailors. Students start out sailing in pairs with the goal to end the class sailing independently. Students will learn rigging and basic sailing skills in a fun and hands on environment. To participate students must be 8 years old in the calendar year.
Opti Intermediate
This class builds on the skills learned in Opti beginner. Students will be sailing alone and continue to build on foundation skills (tacking, jibing, rigging). It is recommended for most students to have completed Opti Beginner twice.
Opti Race Team
Racing students will be introduced to strong wind techniques, as well as performance sailing skills. There will be a focus on using body weight to accelerate the boat. Racers will continue with more advanced instruction in racing rules, competitive starts, mark rounding, and fine tuning of their boat. This is a two week afternoon class, starting at 1:15 pm and ending at 4:15 pm, Monday thru Thursday and Fridays will be regattas or free sail.

The Club 420 Class Dinghy
The C420 is a two-person high performance dinghy at 13’9” with a centerboard, mainsail, jib, spinnaker, and trapeze. For sailors aged 12-18 and weighing more than 115 lbs. Sailors who weigh less than 115 lbs. are eligible to register for an Opti class.
C420s have a skipper and a crew member in each boat; students will learn small boat handling, water safety, seamanship, terminology, rigging, and confidence building skills. In addition to improving teamwork skills, sailors will develop their communication skills while having fun.
420 Beginner
This class is for sailors new to the 420 or new to sailing. Students in this class will learn to both crew and skipper as well as rig and derig the club 420. Students will learn parts of the boat and learn basic on the water techniques.
420 Intermediate
This class is for sailors who have mastered the basics of 420 sailing and are ready to improve their 420 skills. The focus will be hands-on fun learning while gaining confidence sailing upwind and downwind independently.
420 Race Team
Racing students will be introduced to strong wind techniques, as well as performance sailing skills. There will be a focus on using body weight to accelerate the boat. To better sail in strong wind sailors will be taught how to use trapeze harnesses as a way to keep the boat flat. In order to have better downwind sailing performance students will learn to set fly and douse the spinnaker. Racers will continue with more advanced instruction in racing rules, competitive starts, mark rounding, and fine tuning of their boat. This is a two week afternoon class, starting at 1:15 pm and ending at 4:15 pm, Monday thru Thursday and Fridays will be regattas or free sail.

Evaluation Rubrics
Introduction
The evaluation form references expectations for student behavior and broad teaching and learning goals for each student depending on their level of experience. These goals include execution and understanding of General Skills, Boat Handling in light air or heavy and Advance Boat Handling and Racing Skills. The following details the specifics in each category:
1. Opti Beginner Class Skills
∙ Basic Knot tying
∙ Identify parts of boat
∙ Be able to rig and derig with minimal assistance
∙ Tacking and gybing.
∙ Be able to sail to destinations upwind and downwind.
∙ be able to skipper and crew an opti, undersail, tow and docking.
∙ Identify wind/current direction and velocity, to be able to trim sails accordingly, and maneuver the boat safely.
2. Opti Intermediate/Advanced Class Skills
∙ Be confident and proficient with skills taught in beginner opti class.
∙ Must sail single handed and with crew.
∙ Show correct sail trim, in varying wind conditions.
∙ Be able to read telltales, for actual vs apparent wind.
∙ How to respond to a man overboard situation and use distress signals.
∙ Understanding aids to navigation and right of way rules.
∙ Advanced knots Barrel, half∙ hitch and trucker’s hitch
∙ Being able to identify points of sail
3. Opti Race Skills
∙ Roll tacks
∙ Proper daggerboard placement
∙ understand racing rules
∙ Knows how to properly start a race
∙ identify when puff is coming
∙ Demonstrate basic situational awareness of wind shifts, other boats, current and lay lines when under sail for recreation or competition.
4. 420 Beginner Class Skills
∙ Basic Knot tying
∙ Identify parts of a 420
∙ Be able to rig and derig with minimal assistance.
∙ Tacking and gybing a 420.
∙ Be able to sail to destinations upwind and downwind.
∙ be able to skipper and crew a 420, under sail, tow and docking.
∙ Identify wind/current direction and velocity, to be able to trim sails accordingly, and maneuver the boat safely.
5. 420 Intermediate/Advanced Class Skills
∙ Show correct sail trim, in varying wind conditions.
∙ Be able to read telltales, for actual vs apparent wind.
∙ How to respond to a man overboard situation and use distress signals.
∙ Understanding aids to navigation and right of way rules.
∙ Advanced knots Barrel, half∙ hitch and trucker’s hitch
∙ Being able to identify points of sail
∙ adjusting Cunningham, jib and outhaul in different conditions.
6. 420 Race Skills
∙ Roll tacks
∙ Spinnaker introduction
∙ Trapezing introduction
∙ Proper centerboard placement
∙ Understand racing rules
∙ Knows how to properly start a race
∙ Understanding physics of how a sailboat works
∙ identify when puff is coming
∙ Demonstrate basic situational awareness of wind shifts, other boats, current and lay lines when under sail for recreation or competition.
Adult Evening Racing
If you are interested in Adult Evening Racing please contact us at [email protected] or 978-412-4412.