June 2025
Summer is in full swing, and Junior Sailing Camp is back! Our campers are having a blast on the water, and the sailing staff is doing a fantastic job fostering fun while upholding high expectations. It never ceases to amaze me—some kids might struggle to steer a straight course between two marks, yet somehow they can zero in on a floating balloon with candy inside like a heat-seeking missile. Fun is the key ingredient to a great camp that grows natural lifelong sailors. Be sure to look for and follow our Facebook page IBYC Sailing for pics and video.
Sessions 2 and 3 still have a few openings, and we’d love to help your child become a confident skipper on Island Bay Yacht Club’s greatest asset—our beautiful lake. Register today.
Racing Camp Registration Coming Soon
Registration will soon open to all intermediate and advanced level students for Racing Camp. Sailors must have earned the Orange Sail Setter Wrist Band in our Sailor Stripe Program to register for the full-day week of camp. Visit IBYCsailing.com for a full calendar and registration details.
Looking ahead, registration will open in September for the 2026 Sailing Camp.
Mark Your Calendar: Junior Sailing On-the-Water Festival – July 12!
We're excited to host our first-ever Junior Sailing On-the-Water Festival on Saturday, July 12. Open to all sailors ages 8–16, this special event will be packed with fun and friendly competition. Participants will take on ten exciting sailing “Challenges”, showcasing their skills while friends and family cheer them on from the docks and patio — and take part in a few challenges of their own! It’s going to be a laid-back, action-packed day on the lake. Stay tuned — more details coming soon!
Level 1 Instructor Course – August 1–3
IBYC will host a US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Training Course August 1–3. This “learn to teach sailing” class is for anyone interested in instructing youth or adult sailing. The intensive 3-day course ends with official US Sailing Certification. Full details will be posted on the IBYC Sailing Website.
Adult Learn to Sail (AL2S) – Begins August 22
Our Adult Learn to Sail program kicks off with a 3-day seminar from August 22–24. Whether you're a club member or someone new to sailing, you'll learn the basics from experienced sailors in a supportive, fun setting. More information is available at IBYCSailing.com.
See you on the water — or at the dock with a story to share ~ John
May 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Welcome to The Water Front your monthly look at the winds, waters, and life around the Island Bay docks.
The summer season is nearly upon us, and exciting things are coming together on the waterfront. Staff hiring and training are underway as we prepare for the highly anticipated return of IBYC Junior Sail Camp.
Our new website, IBYCSailing.com, has officially launched! It will serve as the central hub for all things on-the-water — from camp details to event registration and scheduling.
Starting today, Junior Camp registration is open!
We invite you to spread the word to your family, friends, and neighbors — kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and anyone ready for an unforgettable summer experience. Let’s fill the program and give as many young sailors as possible the summer of a lifetime.
Share this QR code to send folks directly to the site:
If you check the calendar on the site, you’ll see:
Three two-week Junior Camp sessions running through June and July
An Adult Learn to Sail camp kicking off August
A Junior Racing Camp just before school resumes
And a special milestone: IBYC will host its first US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course at the end of August
On a personal note, I’ve already logged two spring regattas — MC Scows in Indianapolis and Flying Scots at Decatur. It’s been great to see CDYC (Commodore Decatur Yacht Club) gaining momentum with a new Flying Scot fleet. Here’s hoping we’ll see some of those boats at Island Bay soon!
I’ve also been invited to instruct at Carlyle Sailing Association’s Adult Sailing Seminar next week as we continue building energy and momentum for IBYC’s own Adult Learn to Sail (AL2S) program this fall. (And yes, I still think “AL2S” beats Carlyle’s acronym hands-down! 😄) I’ll wait while you figure that out…
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for updates, photos, and stories throughout the season. Whatever your plans this summer — remember: boats and water make it better.
See you on the water — or at the dock with a story to share.