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Summer 2026 JSP Information
Since 1971, MSA has offered top-notch sailing instruction to students of all ages. This year's program adds new classes and more capacity to the curriculum introduced in 2025, further improving instruction across skill levels and ensuring that every sailor finds their best fit within the environment of learning, passion, and community that MSA is known for.
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Whether you're wondering what class to register for, need help navigating our registration platform, or want to learn more about scholarships, newcomers and returning families are encouraged to contact our Program Director, President, or other team members, all of whom are eager to welcome you back to sailing and get you out on the water!
Session Dates & Class Schedule
Our season is divided into four sessions, each lasting two weeks, enabling sailors to progress through skill levels and explore different types of sailing during a single summer. Classes are held Monday to Friday.
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Session 1 - June 22 to July 3
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Session 2 - July 6 to 17
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Session 3 - July 20 to 31
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Session 4 - August 3 to 14
Our classes are held at different times to accommodate various needs across our program and to provide sailors of all skill levels and interests an opportunity to participate. Our most popular classes are offered multiple times per day to provide an optimal sailor-to-instructor ratio without restricting capacity.
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0830 to 1100 - Morning Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins
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1200 to 1430 - Midday Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins
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1500 to 1730 - Afternoon Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins
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0900 to 1200 - Morning Beginner Opti
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0900 to 1200 - Morning Beginner C420
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1200 to 1500 - Midday Beginner Opti
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1300 to 1600 - Beginner ILCA
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1400 to 1700 - Afternoon Beginner C420
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0830 to 1330 - Adventure Sailing: Keelboat
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1430 to 1730 - Adventure Sailing: Dinghy
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0900 to 1400 - Opti & C420 Green Fleet Team Practices
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1100 to 1700 - Opti & C420 Race Team Practices
After registration opens prior to the first day of classes, staff and fleet resource allocation may be adjusted to better align with the distribution of interest across classes. If the class you're interested in is fully enrolled, please join the waitlist, as we may be able to increase its capacity to accommodate you if concurrent offerings have unused space! Note: previously filled spots will not be impacted.
Tuition Rates
Per-session tuition rates vary based on skill level, equipment type, and class duration:
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Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins - $475 per session
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Beginner Opti, C420, and ILCA - $575 per session
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Adventure Sailing: Dinghy - $600 per session
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Adventure Sailing: Keelboat - $750 per session
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Opti & C420 Green Fleet Teams - $650 per session
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Opti Race Team - $1,500 per season (8 weeks)
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Summer Opti Charter for Race Team - $400
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C420 Race Team - $1,500 per season
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Summer C420 Charter for Race Team - $800 (split between skipper and crew)
We're happy to transfer existing registrations to a different class based on ability and interests, subject to availability; please note that transfers may result in a balance, which can be paid via the "manage your online account" link in the confirmation email.
Tuition is non-refundable, but MSA may issue a credit for future registrations. If you're no longer able to attend a class you've registered for, please email registrar@manchestersailing.org or contact the Program Director as soon as possible.
Sailors who register for multiple sessions at one time receive an automatic discount!
Our ability to expand access to sailing is central to MSA’s mission and sets us apart from traditional sailing programs and clubs. We're eager to issue scholarships to those who would otherwise not participate in our sport! Please email us to learn more or request a scholarship.
Brookwood Transportation Partnership
Summer at Brookwood offers Day Camps in the morning or afternoon, along with many unique Specialty Camps in the afternoon. Each Specialty Camp focuses on a unique area, topic, or theme, such as technology, art, or sports.
Week-long Summer at Brookwood sessions correspond to MSA's sessions as shown below; transportation is not available during the weeks crossed out.
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June 15-18: BKWD #1 — MSA Closed
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June 22-26: BKWD #2 — MSA Session 1
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June 29-July 3: BKWD Closed — MSA Session 1
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July 6-10: BKWD #3 — MSA Session 2
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July 13-17: BKWD #4 — MSA Session 2
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July 20-24: BKWD #5 — MSA Session 3
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July 27-31: BKWD #6 — MSA Session 3
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August 3-7: BKWD Closed — MSA Session 4
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August 10-14: BKWD Closed — MSA Session 4
Sailors enrolled in the following classes can register for transportation from MSA to Afternoon Programs, 1200 to 1500, at Brookwood:
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Morning Beginner Opti - 0900 to 1200
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Morning Beginner C420 - 0900 to 1200
Sailors enrolled in the following classes can register for transportation to MSA from Morning Programs, 0900 to 1200, at Brookwood:
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Midday Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins - 1200 to 1430
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Midday Beginner Opti - 1200 to 1500
Sailors enrolled in the following classes can register for transportation to MSA from Afternoon Programs, 1200 to 1500, at Brookwood:
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Afternoon Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins - 1500 to 1730
Due to their schedule, sailors enrolled in the following MSA classes are not eligible for transportation to or from Summer at Brookwood:
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Morning Learn to Sail & Sea Urchins
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Afternoon Beginner C420
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Beginner ILCA
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Adventure Sailing: Keelboat
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Adventure Sailing: Dinghy
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C420 & Opti Green Team
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C420 & Opti Race Team
Get Involved
Lend a hand, make a splash! MSA thrives on the dedication of its leadership, instructors, coaches, and sailors, but volunteer efforts help us execute our programs at the next level. Your time and energy help transform great experiences into something extraordinary!
We are fortunate that our growing community of engaged sailors and supportive families appeals to talented instructors and coaches from around the country, who bring expertise, energy, and national-level experience to our program. By sharing their skills with our sailors and their co-workers, distinguished teachers help ensure that the next generation of MSA-grown instructors become exceptional leaders on and off the water.
To continue improving experiences and expanding the availability of class space, we are seeking local families and supporters who may be able to provide housing—whether a spare bedroom, an in-law apartment, or a carriage house—for visiting instructors and coaches. Our staff works for roughly 10 weeks from mid-June through late-August.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about hosting an instructor for all or part of our summer season, please send an email to tommy@manchestersailing.org
Introductory Classes
Learn to Sail is designed for the first-time sailor. It introduces fundamental sailing skills, promotes sailing safety, and fosters a passion for the sport! Sea Urchins is a similar program designed for the youngest. Multiple introductory class sections are offered during each session—sign up for whichever time you prefer!
Beginner Classes
Our three beginner classes are for those who've completed a year of Sea Urchins or one session of Learn to Sail. These classes will build on basic skills and teach advanced dinghy-handling skills through innovative lessons and fun games!
New this year, MSA now offers a stand-alone Beginner ILCA Class (formerly Laser).
Adventure Sailing
Adventure Sailing is the perfect way to take strong beginner and intermediate skills to the next level through adventures around the bay, on-water games, and fun activities. After completing their first two-week session of a Beginner-level Class, we encourage sailors to participate in this class concurrently or during subsequent sessions. It's also open to intermediate or advanced sailors who aren't interested in racing.
Sailors are now able to select Adventure Sailing: Keelboat, in which participants learn advanced skills like flying a spinnaker aboard an Ideal-18 with an instructor on board or assisting from a safety boat, and Adventure Sailing: Dinghies, which provides an opportunity to sail a range of different small boats, including the C420, O'Pen Skiff (formerly O'Pen Bic), Laser Pico, Laser Vago, and more.
Opti & C420 Green Fleet Teams
Our Green Fleet Team for first-time racers (ages 8 - 13) will hone sailing skills and introduce the lifelong sport of sailboat racing.
On- and off-the-water instruction will introduce the rules of racing, basic race tactics, and race-oriented handling of the Optimist dinghy. Green Fleeters will have the opportunity to participate in local regattas on or near Cape Ann, including MSA’s own Green Fleet Regatta. Eligible sailors will have completed several sessions of Beginner Opti or demonstrate a strong intermediate skill level.
New in 2026, MSA is offering a C420 Green Fleet Team for sailors who have outgrown the Opti or have demonstrated a strong intermediate skill level in our Beginner C420 class.
The cost of registration in both classes includes the use of an MSA Opti/C420 for the duration of enrollment, including at away regattas. Trailers are available for parent volunteers to bring sailboats and the coach's boat to regattas that cannot be reached by water.
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Opti & C420 Race Teams
Much like other recreational activities, sailing isn't just a pastime; racing is an organized sport that offers lifelong competition across a wide variety of classes and levels. At MSA, many junior sailors join our Optimist and C420 Race Teams, practicing with their teammates at Tuck's Point and training for local interclub events, regional regattas, and, eventually, class championships! Our Race Teams promote mastery of sailing and aim to develop young racers into well-rounded, independent, confident, and capable sailors, both on and off the water.
MSA has a limited number of Optis and C420s available for charter. Summer 2026 charter fees are $400 for an Opti and $800 for a C420, or $400 per sailor. Sailors will have access to their charter boats for the duration of the season, including practices and regattas. Alternatively, storage can be arranged for sailors who use their own boats.
If you're interested in signing up for a Race Team, please contact the Program Director to arrange a charter/boat storage and complete registration.
Regatta attendance varies based on experience and interest, but the list below includes some of the events our sailors and coaches attended last year and demonstrates the exceptional opportunities our teams provide at every level of development!
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Open North American C420 Class Championship, Sayville, NY
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Women’s North American C420 Class Championship, Osterville, MA
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Maine State Club 420 Class Championship, Portland, ME
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US Junior Olympic Sailing Festival, Marion, MA
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New Bedford Junior Regatta, New Bedford, MA
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Hingham Bay Junior Regatta, Hingham, MA
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Marblehead Junior Race Week, Marblehead, MA
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Sandy Bay, Rockport, MA
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Squam Day, Annisquam, MA
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Greenhead Regatta, Ipswich, MA
