Items to bring to Junior Sailing Camp:
- Swimsuit (to be worn under clothes)
- Life jacket
- Closed toe shoes that can get wet
- Lunch
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Hat and sunglasses
- Extra change of clothes
- Sunscreen (please apply before dropping your child off and send extra to re-apply as needed)
Cell Phone Policy
Do you have used gear/boats that you would like to sell? Are you looking for used gear or a used boat? Please click HERE to share with us!
Our Junior Sailing Program runs rain or shine!
When it’s too windy we take our sailors out sailing on larger keelboat, go swimming, play sailing lawn games, do knot tying lessons and learn boat maintenance. If thunderstorms prevent us from going out on the water, we come inside and play sailing jeopardy, do crafts such as burgee flag and paper boat making, and watch sailing themed movies.
Program Mission statement:
To encourage young people to have a lifelong involvement in sailing and the sailing community by:
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Promoting seamanship, sportsmanship and small boat handling skills from Learn to Sail fundamentals through Competitive Racing opportunities.
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Offering a safe, educational and engaging sailing program
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Providing an enjoyable experience that promotes camaraderie, strong friendships and an enduring interest in sailing.
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Actively involving youth in the sailing traditions of the Buffalo Yacht Club Foundation
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Buffalo Yacht Club Foundation has scholarships available for children 6 to 18 years old to participate in the BYCF's High School and Junior Sailing Programs. To apply please complete the form before and mail it to the BYC or email it to [email protected].
The Buffalo Yacht Club Foundation's Junior, Adult, and High School Sailing Programs have grown exponentially over the past years. The BYCF Boating Education Programs would not be possible without the generous donations of many Buffalo community members. There are many ways to support our programs! Below is a link to donate a onetime or monthly donation.
Meet The 2024 Coaches
Program COORDINATOR:
Leah Trow
Leah is our BYC Boating Education Coordinator and is looking forward to another spectacular summer on the water with all of the amazing BYC coaches and campers! Leah spent her summers starting at the age of 4 on the water sailing. She started participating in the BYC High School Sailing program in 8th grade and participated in every season following for five years. Leah attended Hobart William Smith Colleges, majoring in Education and Anthropology with a minor in Child Advocacy. During that time, she spent four years on the HWS Varsity Sailing Team, competing at the collegiate level in 420s and FJs. Leah also spent many summers racing Lightning's, competing in Youth Worlds, Worlds, and many Junior and Women's North Americans. Leah is so happy to be back working for the program that means so much to her. And can't wait for her 5th summer of coach at the BYC to begin!
Delia Lake
Delia is very excited to be back for her second summer of coaching at the BYC! She's grown up in Buffalo and has spent seven summers with the Buffalo Yacht Club Foundation's summer sailing program on Lake Erie, gaining experience in a variety of boats, and has made her way up to coaching. Delia cannot wait to share her love of sailing with others, and she's looking forward to getting out on the water this summer!
ISABELLA FUKUSHIMA
When she was 11 years old, Bella started sailing in Vermont every summer and grew up mainly sailing catamarans and J/22s. Since joining the Buffalo Seminary sailing team in 2020, Bella has been sailing FJs and 420 in the BYCF High School Sailing Program and has competed in many local regattas. Bella has qualified and represented Buffalo Seminary in the MASSA Girls Championships in 2021 and 2022. She is so excited for her third year of coaching at the BYC!
SOPHIA VINSON
Sophia started sailing at 7 years old at the Niagara Sailing Club in grand island. She started with lasers and sunfish she later learned how to sail FJs at the BYC. In 2021 she joined the high school racing program. Sophia CITed the summer of 2022 and coached the Beginner Pram class in 2023. Sophia can't wait for her second summer coaching in 2024!
Opti Race Team:
FRANCO GENTILE
Franco is a mechanical engineer from Buenos Aires, Argentina and is excited for his first year coaching in the US. Franco started sailing at the age of 7 and developed a passion for the sport since then. He has raced internationally in different classes, such as Optis, Lightnings, and I420s. He's also raced in the national circuits of Lasers, F18s, 29ers, and all kinds of keel boats such as J70s, J24s, and Match30s. Franco has coached the green-level Opti Fleet, Opti race team, and 420 race team, both in the Yacht Club Olivos. He also founded an adult sailing school at the Institute of Technology of Buenos Aires, where students learned to sail and formed an initial race team. Apart from sailing, Franco is a trail-running enthusiast and a mountain lover. Franco is excited to coach at the BYC and can't wait to meet all the staff and students!
COLIN WOODROW
Colin started sailing at age 10 with his grandfather on the yacht Plumb Bob. Colin is a regular sailor in the Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club Wednesday night races. He joined the BYC sailing program in 2020, and raced in the High School program from 2020 until he graduated high school in 2022. Colin joined the BYC coaching staff after graduation. Colin is a student at Champlain College in Burlington, VT studying Cybersecurity. Colin can't wait for another summer of coaching at the BYC.
TOMAS FERGUSON
Tomas grew up sailing at the Buffalo Canoe Club, mostly sailing 420s, Vibes, and his Sunfish. He raced in the high school sailing program for St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and was team captain his senior year. Tomas is a student at Elmira College studying Nursing. He is looking forward to his second summer as a BYC coach.
Kate Carter
Kate is excited to be back for
her third summer coaching. A Buffalo
native, she has been sailing since she was 12 years old. With the Fordham
University Sailing Team, she raced 420’s and FJ’s on Long Island Sound. Last
summer, she coached at Seattle Yacht Club and traveled around Washington racing
TP-52, Farr 36 OD, and J/24 with the Lake Washington fleet. This summer she’s
racing Lightnings with BCC and looks forward to working with the sailors this summer and
fixing boats around the club.
CLARE RADOS
Clare is a first year at Middlebury College, studying molecular biology and biochemistry. She is on the club sailing team, where she serves on the board of directors as the recreation sailing coordinator. She graduated from Nardin in 2023, where she started the sailing team. Clare has almost a decade of sailing experience, and can’t wait for her third year coaching at the BYC. She’s so excited to share her love of boats, the wind, and the water, and to hang out with all her fave kiddos!!!
JOE MARYNOWSKI
Joe is currently a junior at Canisius High School and is on the Canisius Varsity Sailing Team. He learned how to sail at the Buffalo Canoe Club and grew up sailing Bics, 420s, and lightnings. Throughout his sailing career, Joe has placed 1st at c420 Cork International/Sail Canada Youth Championships in 2019, been awarded the Hans Fogh Developing Sailor of the Year awarded by Ontario Sailing in 2019, been selected to attend the 2021 c420 BEG Advanced Racing Clinic in Newport, RI, and placed 2nd at O’pen Skiff North Americans in 2021. Recently Joe has developed a passion for windsurfing and has enjoyed learning how to foil at the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club in Miami. Joe is so excited to spend a second summer sharing his passion and knowledge of sailing with young sailors and racers.