Spring 2026 Youth Racing Clinics
RIOT Intermediate Racing Team
This series of practice days is designed to take experienced Champ Fleeters and build their confidence and skills so that they can be ready for the fun and challenge of more advanced Optimist racing. The spring season will culminate with Sail Newport’s Youth Challenge Regatta, which is Champ Fleet only, so the Saturday training days before will be great to help prepare for that regatta. Coaching and regatta registration sold separately. Most practices will include two sessions on the water with briefing in between. Charter boats may be available.
Dates, Times, Fees
Dates: April 18, 25, May 2,9,16,23,30
Time: Rigged and Ready at 1000. Wrapped up by 1600.
Price:
$770/ clinic
$525 /Charter boat use
$220/Youth Challenge Coaching/sailor/two-day regatta
Financial Aid is Available. Learn more here
RIOT & JK Sailing Advanced Optimist Clinics
Rhode Island’s Optimist Team (RIOT) and JK Sailing are teaming up again to bring three 2-day clinics to Sail Newport this spring. This clinic will be geared towards sailors planning to attend the spring’s Team Trials in Bay Waveland, MS in April. Luke Ingalls will be the primary coach and will focus on Optimist-specific tuning and boat handling, but also tactical lessons that will translate to future classes. Sailors can expect efficient practices that maximize time on the water. There are bring-your-own boat programs. Drysuits will be required.
Dates, Times, Fees
Dates:
Clinic 1, March 28-29
Clinic 2, April 4-5
Clinic 3, April 11-12
Time: Rigged and Ready at 1000. Wrapped up by 1600.
Price: $270/2-day clinic.
Financial Aid is Available. Learn more here
Optimist Regatta Coaching at the Sail Newport Youth Challenge Regatta
The spring regatta season will launch with Sail Newport’s Youth Challenge Regatta. This two-day event will be coached by RIOT veterans Caden Buckley and Amy Kehoe and will be both a celebration of spring training progress, but also a great warm-up regatta for the summer. This regatta will be Champ Fleet only, no Green Fleet.
Dates, Times, Fees
Youth Challenge Regatta Coaching
Dates: June 6-7
Time: Per NOR
Price: $220/sailor/2-day regatta (registration for the regatta is an extra fee) Financial Aid available for coaching.
Intro to High School Sailing
This clinic is designed to teach the foundations of racing with an emphasis on sailing the high school/collegiate 420. High school and eighth grade sailors with strong sailing skills will learn intermediate boat-handling drills and techniques, along with skills to make the simplified 420 go fast around a race course. Tactics and strategy will also be introduced with an emphasis on typical short-course high school racing. Pairings will be switched each day and sailors will be expected to learn both helm and crew positions. Whether the sailor is already sailing on a high school team or not, we hope that this clinic will be fun and worthwhile for a range of sailors. Appropriate wetsuits or drysuits will be required. Some drysuits may be available to rent.
Dates, Times, Fees
Dates:
Clinic 1:April 18-19
Clinic 2: April 20-21
Clinic 3: May 16-17
Time: 1000-1600
Price: $250/2-day clinic. Boats included.
Financial Aid is Available. Learn more here.
Learn to Laser
If you’ve sailed a Laser more than 10 hours, this is not for you. This clinic is for junior sailors with strong dinghy handling skills who want to learn how to tame, then race a Laser. A strong foundation of sailing skills is required, but good athleticism will go a long way. A summer of racing experience is not required, but a plus. We will teach basic Laser-specific boat handling and how to use the sail’s controls to set up for success in various conditions. These training days will include elements of actual racing, but mostly focus on skills building. These clinics will be two half days, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Dates, Times, Fees
Dates:
Clinic 1: May 2-3
Clinic 2: May 9-10
Time:
Saturday: Rigged and ready – 1300/Wrapped by 1700
Sunday: Rigged and ready -0900/Wrapped by 1300
Price: $180/2-day clinic. Boats included.
Financial Aid is Available. Learn more here.
Advanced C420 Racing
This group will sail in C420s, utilizing the trapeze and spinnaker to focus on speed and big course racing. The ideal sailor for this clinic series has a minimum of one full summer of racing experience in the boat, they have proficiency in both positions, and have the ability to race aggressively in most conditions. Sailors will come with their own boat and partner, but help on both fronts can be provided. (Reach out to Nick Ewenson before registering). Registered sailors for these clinics have the option to add coaching from Sail Newport during the Sail Newport Youth Challenge Regatta on June 6 and 7.
C420 Regatta Coaching at the Sail Newport Youth Challenge Regatta
The spring regatta season will launch with Sail Newport’s Youth Challenge Regatta. Ideally, we gather a group to train for the five Sundays before this event to make for a solid spring training block. This regatta traditionally gathers between a dozen and 24 boats and the early June conditions are usually great. Sailors can expect regatta-specific coaching with briefings and debriefings each day in addition to the coaching and support in between races.
Dates, Times, Fees
Sail Newport Youth Challenge Regatta Coaching
Dates: June 6-7
Time: Per NOR
Price: $270/sailor/two-day regatta Financial Aid available for coaching.
Questions on youth racing clinics?
Contact: Nick Ewenson, Racing Programs Director
email: [email protected]
Telephone: (401) 846-1983