About JYSailing:

    JYS is a long-running 501(c)(3) non-profit ( EIN 92-0161479) youth sailing organization operating out of donated space at the Juneau Yacht Club on Gastineau Channel. We have about 90 kids go through our program annually. We sail 2-person racing dinghies and wear colorful drysuits on the water. Our instructors are CPR/First Aid-certified and trained in accordance with US Sailing curriculum and philosophy. They give lessons on land and coach on the water from Safety Boats (motorized skiffs that don't mind if the wind quits on us).

    Juneau Youth Sailing Inc. began life in 1997 as the Juneau Youth Sailing Foundation, and the first classes were taught in 1998. We were founded by a dedicated group of ten Juneau sailing enthusiasts who pooled their money to buy eight "pre-sailed" Vanguard 420s from the Seattle Yacht Club (Poseidon, Andromeda, Utopia, Flying Free, Winners, Startstorm, Windcutter, and Heritage). They all became US Sailing certified instructors, and for the first two years of operation, they gave all their leave time from work to teach sailing courses. Eventually, instructor and management roles started to be filled by former JYS students, which is delightfully full-circle.

    JYS is the only youth sailing school in Alaska, though the Alaska Sailing Club on Big Lake north of Anchorage comes close by also offering a few youth classes in addition to their primary mission of being an awesome sailing club.