Looking forward to Summer 2023
We are ready for another summer of learning, accomplishments and fun at one of Canada’s premiere Sail Training and Racing programs.
As always, our goal remains to be supportive of ALL INTERESTS and ABILITIES:
- supporting recreational sailors in developing a lifelong love for the sport and;
- driving a competitive racing culture for sailors interested in pursuing a competitive pathway during the summer and throughout the year.
(Did you know that Chester Yacht Club has the highest percentage of sailors named to International Teams (IODA) than any other club in the country?)
Our 2023 Session Dates (and associated Regattas for Race Team and Learn to Race Team) are as follows:
Chester YC 2023 Session Dates
Regattas
We have developed a comprehensive Race Team document for all those registering in our Learn to Race and Race Team programs to take some of the intimidation out of racing. It is fun for everyone at all levels and all classes. So, we do encourage everyone to participate!
Our registration for Summer 2023 will open on March 1 for Senior and Senior Family members; March 8 for Senior member grandparents registering their grands, and March 15 for everyone! Our program line-up is as follows, with the exciting addition of ILCA/Laser Development:
Wet Feet (Full Day, One Week Sessions)
Intro to Opti
Opti Learn to Race
Opti Intermediate Race Team
Opti Advanced Race Team
Intro to 420
420 Learn to Race
420 Race Team
ILCA/Laser Development Team
The shoulder season sailing program STAR has been a success, operating out of Dartmouth Yacht Club during the fall of 2022. STAR welcomed sailors from five different provincial clubs for sailing from September to end of October. To learn more, please visit www.starsailsfaster.com.
Chester YC Registration will open in February 2023.
Our Sail Training program is a big engine. It has many mandates and many goals, importantly one of facilitating a lifelong love of and participation in our sport. With that comes fund-raising. We are extremely happy to announce that Whipple Kanellakos and Lyssa Orchid will be co-chairing the Chester YC Sail Training Fundraising Committee and will be seeking additional volunteers. They will be ensuring events like the Junior Dance, Isabel’s Cup, and Junior Fundraiser run better than ever before. THANK YOU, Whipple and Lyssa for stepping up!
On a similar note, thank you to everyone who has donated to our Sustainability Fund to date. In addition to a significant amount of gear, we require two used centre console coach boats. Please contact CYC if you have any available for donation or purchase.
► Follow this link to donate to our Sustainability Fund.
Alternatively, please contact CYC if you would like to donate outside of the online Fund.
As always, please reach out to CYC with any questions or comments at all. Thank you all for your continued support of our program. We couldn’t do it without you.
Happy sailing!
Email with any questions: chesterycjuniorsail@gmail.com
Session Dates 2023
| Early Bird | Jun 19 to 23 |
| Session 1 | Jun 26 to Jul 7 |
| Session 2 | Jul 10 to 21 |
| Session 3 | Jul 24 to Aug 4 |
| BONUS WEEK! | Aug 7 to 11 |
| Session 4 | Aug 21 to Sep 1 |
| STAR Fall | Sep 16 to Oct 21 |
Our registration for Summer 2023 will open:
- February 1st for Senior and Senior Family members
- February 8th for Senior member grandparents registering their grands
- February 15th for everyone
Please ensure your membership dues for 2023 have been paid.
You will be required to indicate your membership category in order to proceed with registration and registrations will be referenced against membership status. Any registrations completed out of the above sequence will be refunded and you will be required to re-register at the appropriate time.
About CYC’s Junior Sailing Program
Chester Yacht Club operates one of the most respected junior sailing programs in Canada. In the past decade, we have been developing sailors through our Junior Sailing program at an extraordinary rate.
Our Junior Sailing program is the largest in the province with over 100 competitive kids at times, and our results show it. Our “alumni” accolades include participation at multiple IODA events and top 10 finishes in a number of national, US and/or international regattas.
Jacob and Graeme Chaplin-Saunders, the Rio 2016 Men’s 470 Olympians, hail from Chester. In addition, Olympic hopefuls and Canadian Sailing Team members Georgia Lewin-Lafrance, Antonia Lewin-Lafrance, and Max Flinn all grew up sailing on Chester’s waters. This long list of talented sailors largely exists because of superb sailing conditions of Mahone Bay.
Facilities
Our property is laid out to house, during the regular junior sailing season, 50 club and private Optis, 13 420s and 10 Lasers, with lots of space to rig and conduct lessons and briefings. During Opti Jam, we house 150+/- Optis on our property and on Fredas Beach, with full 24hour security. Fredas Beach provides us with a wonderful launching area, in immediate proximity to the CYC dock, which also has a launch ramp.
Chester Yacht Club was extremely pleased to be chosen as host for the 2020 Canadian Optimist Championship. Over 100 sailors aged 8 to 15 years old competed for the national title and the right to represent Canada in international competition.