Youth Racing Central

The place to go for all things youth racing

Start with a goal and work hard to achieve your dreams. Whether you want to improve your skills to have more fun sailing, win your local fleet, rival your national competitors, or strive to become an Olympian. The journey starts here!

National Youth Racing Calendar

Please note: Dates and Locations are not necesarily finalized. Please confirm with National Class Assocations. This calendar is intended to aid in long term planning only. Please email questions or corrections to youth@ussailing.org

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Classes

Racing Development, Performance, and Olympic Classes

The Youth Performance Pathway starts at the Racing Development tier, which includes popular “club” boats such as the Opti, Club 420, high school sailing, and many other learn-to-race boats and boards. This is where most youth racers get their start, learning to race locally and building skills and experience at the regional and national level. 

The Performance tier is the second step of the pathway and represents a step up to the faster, more technical boats and boards that are the global standard for youth competition. This is where sailors expand their technical sailing skills, develop as performance athletes, and compete on a national and international level.

The Olympic tier is the third and final step of the pathway and includes the boats and boards raced in the Olympic Games. Sailors at the Olympic tier are eligible to qualify for the US Sailing Team based on their competitive performance at the World Championship or other top international competitions. 

RACING DEVELOPMENT

Optimist

  • Type: Singlehanded Dinghy
  • Typical Weight Range: 70-125 lbs
  • About: The most popular racing trainer in the US and around the world, the Opti is small but technical, with a long history of teaching racing skills and developing highly competitive sailors.
  • Speed scale: 1/5
  • Website

PERFORMANCE

29er

    • Type: Doublehanded Skiff
    • Typical Weight Range: 240 – 290 lbs combined
    • About: With a powerful sailplan and minimalist hull, the 29er is fast and dynamic, requiring excellent teamwork and fitness.
    • Speed scale: 4/5
    • Class Website

OLYMPICS

OLYMPIC CLASSES

470

  • Type: Doublehanded Dinghy
  • Typical Weight Range: 300 lbs combined
  • About: Fast and technical, the 470 has been sailed in every Olympics since 1976 and is the Mixed (one male & one female) Doublehanded Olympic Class.
  • Speed scale: 4/5
  • Class Website:

Video Resources

Strategy & Tactics

Weather & Sailboat Racing with Sea Tactics

Racing Rules with Dave Perry

Strategy & Tactics - Starting

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