LJT Youth Sailing Program

The Program will introduce the Advanced Sailor Camp participants to a Flying Junior (FJ) sailboat. This sailboat will be provided to the camp by the Pelican Yacht Club. Unlike the cat-rigged O’pen Skiffs, the FJ is a sloop-rigged sailboat. Whereas the skiffs can be operated by an individual, the FJ requires a minimum crew of two. For the purposes of the sailing camp experience, the FJ will be crewed by three campers who will rotate through the various crew roles.

Although all the camps are full, I recommend that you apply anyway. Two reasons:(1) there may be cancellations and (2) anyone who applies this year will be given priority registration next year.

We sincerely appreciate the response of the community to the sailing camp program. We wish we could accommodate all comers but it is beyond our capacity.

The photo depicts a typical “classroom” setting.

All the summer sailing camps are fully subscribed! However, two reasons why you might want to apply anyway:(1) the possibility of cancellations and (2) being placed on a priority list for 2027 sailing camps. Go to ljtyouthsailing.org to download and send application as directed.

This was the Thibodeaux great grandkid clan at one of last summer’s sailing camps. Also in the photo is their grandfather Scott, one of our volunteers Henry B and yours truly.

We filled the last opening in our 2026 camp program. Applications received after this date will be placed on waiting lists. These applicants will be given priority for registration in the 2027 summer sailing camps.

First stage of a capsize drill- force the sailboat to capsize. Next step- check on safely of your sailing partner, then swim around to bottom of hull, grab dagger board and lean back. Once sailboat is upright, re-enter boat making sure you don’t tip over again. Final step before getting underway is to bail the water out of the hull

Update on sailing camp registrations- Sailing Camp 1 has one vacancy. All the other camps are full. Applications submitted after this date (February 8th) will be placed on waiting lists for the respective camps. We wish we could accommodate all applicants but that is not possible due to equipment and personnel limitations. We sincerely appreciate the positive response to our sailing camp program.

Here’s a photo of the namesake of the youth sailing program, Louis Thibodeaux, at the tiller of his Catalina 25, Michele. Michele, that’s his daughter, who now volunteers to help out with the youth sailing camps as does her brother, Scott.

As of Sunday, February 8th, all sailing camps are full with the exception of Camp 1, Introduction to Sailing, scheduled for June 1-5. Three openings are still available. Whereas being pleased with the response, we are sad that some applicants could not be accommodated.

This is an update of the youth sailing camp registrations to date. Unfortunately, not a lot of openings remain. We will take names for a waiting list should there be cancellations.

Here’s the status of registrations as of February 5th:
Camp 1- Introduction to Sailing: 6
Camp 2: Advanced Sailing I- 10 (Full)
Camp 3: Advanced Sailing II- 6
Camp 4: Introduction to Sailing- 10 (Full)

Not great photos but you’ll get some idea about what the Skiffs look like fully rigged. Shown in the photos is one of our great volunteers- Henry B. He is among 8-10 volunteers who have committed their time to the camps and who are absolutely vital to the management and safety of the camps.

Any parents who already have or had kids in a sailing camp, please pass the word about our camps to your friends that have kids. Openings still exist in all four camps. For details and applications, they should go to ljtyouthsailing.org.

This is our new sailboat for instruction- it’s called an O’pen Skiff. Of course, the sail is not shown. We have 5 of them, so like with the Optimist Prams and Sunfish used previously, two campers will share a boat. For the advanced sailing camps, having all the same boats will permit conducting some races. Another real benefit of this boat is that unlike the Opti’s, the Skiffs are self bailing. Do you have kids that might be interested in learning how to sail a skiff? Go to ljtyouthsailing.org for details and an application.

The Program is now accepting applications for the following summer sailing camps: Week of June 1 - Introduction to Sailing, Week of June 8 - Advanced Sailing I, Week of June 15 - Advanced Sailing II, and Week of July 6 - Introduction to Sailing. The camps are held at the New Roads Pavilion and Pier from 9 am to 4 pm. Friday is a makeup day in case of cancellations due to adverse weather. Additional details about the camps and an application are available at ljtyouthsailing.org. All the camps are free.

Louis J. Thibodeaux Youth Sailing Program Discover the world of sailing Embark on an exciting journey towards personal growth and adventure. Follow the LJT Youth Sailing Program on Facebook What our program does? Provides sailing lessons and opportunities for youths ages 8-17 and university students at several sailing venues- False River, ....

Plans are being made to offer four sailing camps this summer at the New Roads Waterfront Pavilion, Park, and Pier this summer. The thrust of the four camps are as follows- two introduction to sailing camps, one advanced sailing I camp, and one advanced sailing II camp. At this time, we are awaiting confirmation of the camp dates from New Roads. Once such confirmation is received, camp dates will be publicly announced and applications solicited.