Skip to content
CALENDAR

Junior Sailing

Welcome to NBYA Junior Sailing!

This is where Bay kids become Bay legends.

NBYA Junior Sailing is all about Better Sailing on the Bay:

More time on the water
More confidence at the helm
More moments that make you think:
okay yeah… this is my thing.
 
We’re here to help young sailors level up through fun, fast, and competitive racing, hosted across our member yacht clubs around Narragansett Bay. Whether you're learning the basics or chasing podiums, you’ll find a crew that pushes you, supports you, and makes it unforgettable.
 
Because sailing isn’t just a sport — it’s friends, adrenaline, sunburns, and stories you’ll be telling all year.

News

Junior Sailing Calendar

 

Add Your Event To The Calendar

Our Mission: Better Sailing on the Bay

We exist to build the strongest youth sailing community on Narragansett Bay — by creating opportunities to:

  • Race hard and love it
  • Make great friends (the kind that actually last)
  • Push yourself and surprise yourself
  • Explore the Bay and discover new places to sail
  • Travel to new venues and race new waters beyond home

We’re not here for boring. We’re here for progress, confidence, and a little bit of grit — with a ton of fun mixed in.

What We Support

NBYA supports all kinds of youth racing — from first starts to high-performance fleets:

  • Optimist
  • ILCA (Laser)
  • Club 420
  • Women’s sailing
  • And the junior racers chasing whatever’s next

Whether you’re in your first pram or hiking your brains out upwind, you belong here.

What You’ll Get Out of It (Besides Being Faster)

Sure, you’ll get better at racing — starts, tactics, boat handling, all of it, but NBYA is also about building the kind of skills that show up everywhere else in life:

  • Confidence
  • Teamwork
  • Resilience
  • Leadership
  • Decision-making under pressure
  • Independence + responsibility

Basically: you’ll become the kind of person who can handle things — on the water and off it.

Our Core Values

  • Lead the way - We bring structure, coordination, and big-picture direction so sailing stays strong across the Bay.
  • Stay connected - We keep sailors, clubs, families, and US Sailing aligned — so everyone’s on the same course.
  • Do it right - We run programs responsibly and sustainably, so the Bay stays full of junior sailors for generations.
  • Race fair. Race hard. - We protect the integrity of competition — clear rules, good race management, and respect on the line.
  • Show up for the community - We support clubs and teams with guidance, resources, and event leadership across the region.
  • Learn constantly - We grow participation by making sailing more accessible, more fun, and more rewarding at every level.

NBYA Junior Sailing — Zero Tolerance Policy

Safe. Respectful. Fun. No exceptions.

Why this exists:

NBYA Junior Sailing is here for Better Sailing on the Bay — and that only happens when everyone feels safe, respected, and included.  This policy sets clear boundaries so we can focus on what matters: great racing, great friendships, and a great experience for everyone.

The Rule: 

NBYA has zero tolerance for behavior that puts people at risk, disrespects others, or breaks the law. That means the following are not allowed—ever:

Violence or threats

  • Fighting
  • Hitting
  • Bullying
  • Threatening to hurt someone

Harassment or discrimination

  • Any behavior or language that targets someone because of who they are
     (including race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or background)
  • Sexual harassment of any kind

Drugs, alcohol, weapons, or illegal items

  • Possession or use of illegal substances
  • Weapons of any kind

Stealing or damaging property

  • Taking something that isn’t yours
  • Lying, cheating, or causing damage on purpose

Breaking the law during NBYA activities

  • Any illegal behavior while at an NBYA event, at a club, or traveling with the program

What happens if this policy is broken

If someone violates this policy, NBYA may take immediate action, which can include:
Removal from the event or program

  • Suspension or expulsion from NBYA Junior Sailing activities
  • Parent/guardian involvement
  • Law enforcement involvement (if necessary)

There are no exceptions, even if someone “didn’t mean it” or “it was just a joke.”

Speak up — we’ve got your back

If you see something that doesn’t feel safe or right, tell an adult you trust right away, such as:

  • A coach
  • A race official
  • A club staff member
  • An NBYA leader

Reports will be handled seriously, as privately as possible, and without retaliation.

Mary Rose Marshall Regatta

MISSION: To create a welcoming space where girls can build confidence in their sailing skills, learn from one another, be inspired by female sailors and community leaders, and form lasting friendships, all while having fun.

Learn More About The Mary Rose Marshall Regatta
2025_Mary_Rose_30th

NBYA Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships are available to sailors and their families to assist in sailing class tuition or regatta fees.

NBYA also supports improving our level of certification for instructors and race officials by providing grants for US Sailing certifications.

Available Grants:

  • US Sailing Level 1
  • US Sailing Level 2
  • US Sailing Level 3
  • US Sailing STEM education
  • Racing Official Certification

Qualifications:

  • You must be an employee of or a sailor with an NBYA member organization for the season in which you are requesting the grant or scholarship.
  • You must meet all US Sailing prerequisites for the course you wish to take.
  • Your application must be approved before the program, certification o to receive the grant
  • Grants must be applied for and will be approved before the start of the course.

Grant Application

Scholarship Application

CJ Buckley Scholarship

Annual Application Deadline is March 30th

CJ BuckleyThe CJ Buckley Regatta and Sailing Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 to celebrate and honor the life of CJ Buckley, a passionate GBSA sailor and team racer, who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2002.  The regatta has grown to become one of the largest youth team race competitions in the world.  It has served as the Club 420 Association’s National Junior Team Race Championship since 2009. The Greenwich Bay Sailing Association (GBSA) and the East Greenwich Yacht Club (EGYC) have hosted the regatta and the scholarship has continued to support the development of dedicated young sailors on Narragansett Bay.

The CJ Buckley Sailing Scholarship is granted to students who show passion, promise and commitment to the sport of sailing.  The scholarship is merit and need based.  It is intended to be a perpetual award – designed to support the student throughout his/her enrollment in a junior sailing program that is a member of the Narragansett Bay Yachting Association (NBYA).  The CJ Scholarship Fund is supported entirely by net proceeds from the CJ Regatta and generous contributions from donors and sponsors.