Hamptons Verified

Learn to Sail

Every sailing school we found from the Moriches to Shelter Island and Orient: small boats you sail yourself, and big boats with a crew, for kids and adults.

Who is learning?

Small boats (Laser, Optimist, dinghies)

  • Southampton

    Southampton Yacht Club Sailing

    Boats:
    Hunter 140, Hobie Wave, Sunfish, Lightning, 420
    Who:
    Kids, 8 and up; Adults: instructor-supervised open sails
    Sign-up:
    Junior sign-up through the member login
    Season:
    June 29 to August 21, 2026
    Program pageDetails

  • Sag Harbor

    Breakwater Yacht Club

    Boats:
    Opti, JY15, 420, J/24, J/70
    Who:
    Kids, 6 to 17; Adults: private lessons, Saturday group lessons on J/70 and J/24, women's program
    Sign-up:
    Lessons open to members and non-members
    Season:
    Juniors late June to early September; private lessons Memorial Day to Labor Day
    Register+1 631-725-4604Details

  • Quogue

    Shinnecock Yacht Club

    Boats:
    RS Quest, Opti, JY15, 420
    Who:
    Kids, 6 to 18 (Little Skippers 6 to 8, Opti 9 to 15, 420 13 to 18); Adults: private lessons on Optimists, RS Quests and JY15s
    Sign-up:
    Junior program open to members and non-members
    Season:
    Eight weekly junior sessions, June 29 to August 21, 2026
    Program page+1 631-283-3400Details

  • East Moriches

    Lily's Sailing School

    Boats:
    SS Sloop (classic wooden)
    Who:
    Kids, 5 to 8 (Explorers) and 8 to 10 (Minnows); Women's sailing 16 and over; private lessons 16 and over
    Certification:
    US Sailing Level 1 instructors; follows ASA guidance
    Sign-up:
    Open to everyone; women-owned (WBE)
    Season:
    Summer; kids sessions late June to late August, women's sailing Thursdays June to September
    Program page+1 845-337-0881Details

  • Center Moriches

    Moriches Yacht Club Sailing

    Boats:
    Optimist, 420, ILCA (Laser), Sunfish, Flying Scot
    Who:
    Kids, elementary through high school (Race Team 13 and over); Adults: evening lessons on Flying Scots
    Certification:
    US Sailing certified instructors
    Sign-up:
    Adults do not need a membership; members get a discount
    Season:
    Summer
    Program pageDetails

  • Remsenburg

    Westhampton Yacht Squadron Sailing

    Boats:
    JY15, Opti, Club 420, Flying Scot, Sunfish
    Who:
    Kids, 5 to 18 (Minnows 5 to 6, 420 from 11); Adults: Flying Scot and Sunfish lessons, Sunfish race clinic
    Sign-up:
    Junior sign-up is through the member site; private lessons are members only
    Season:
    Juniors June 29 to August 21, 2026; adult lessons July and August
    Program page+1 631-325-8321Details

  • Mattituck

    Mattituck Yacht Club Sailing

    Boats:
    Optimist, Sunfish, ILCA (Laser), Club 420
    Who:
    Kids, 5 to 18; Adults 19 and up: Thursday evening lessons on club Sunfish
    Sign-up:
    No membership needed for First Mates or 2 to 4 week junior sessions; full-season juniors and adults need one
    Season:
    Eight weeks, late June or early July through August
    Register+1 631-298-8974Details

  • New Suffolk

    Old Cove Yacht Club

    Boats:
    Optimist, Club 420, ILCA (Laser)
    Who:
    Kids, 5 to 18 (Guppies 5 to 6, Opti 6 to 13, C420 11 to 18, Laser 13 to 18); Women's sailing lessons, 3 students per class
    Sign-up:
    Family or Guppy membership for juniors; a provisional women's sailing membership for the women's lessons
    Season:
    Two four-week junior sessions, late June to late August; women's lessons July and August
    Program pageDetails

  • Orient

    Orient Yacht Club Junior Sailing

    Boats:
    Optimist, Club 420
    Who:
    Kids, 8 and up (420 from 14); Adults: learn-to-sail clinics and private lessons
    Certification:
    US Sailing Level 1 certified instructors
    Sign-up:
    Non-members welcome with a $200 Junior Use Permit
    Season:
    Late June to late August, Monday to Friday
    Register+1 631-323-9767Details

Big boats (keelboat and cruising courses, ASA)

Each school's boats, ages and sign-up rules come from its own program page, linked on its card. Seasons and fees change every spring, so check the program page before you book. Lily's Sailing School and Moriches Yacht Club Sailing are on Moriches Bay, west of the Shinnecock Canal, so just outside the East End itself.

More on the water: charters, rentals, yacht clubs and marinas and boating licenses.

Goes straight to a human. Not a public comment.