Dana West Youth Sailing is a 501(c)3 which provides summer camps and after school/weekend programs to promote and teach the sport of sailing and nautical skills.
Our program strives to provide a safe, fun and educational environment for youth interested in sailing, racing, and boating.
We emphasize the development of life skills, such as sportsmanship, organization, responsibility, teamwork and an appreciation of fair competition between peers.
Also known as Dana West Juniors, we are affiliated with and sailing under the burgee of Dana West Yacht Club (DWYC). Our programs take place in Dana Point Harbor and at DWYC.
Participation is open to the youth of the DWYC and the surrounding communities, with options for both serious competitors and recreational sailors of all skill levels.
Our coaches are US Sailing Certified and have significant experience on the water.
The fleet consists of 3 types of boats:
The DWYS program is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, led by President Mark Williams.
Sailing Director
Catherine joined DWYC as Sailing Director / Head Coach in 2020. She is a college sailor at the UCSB, pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Middle East Studies.
Catherine began her sailing career at age 13 in C420’s at BYC. She captained a youth offshore team and skippered her first Newport to Ensenada at 14 years old. She raced N2E’s and regional racing series and has raced internationally in Australia (Harken and Musto regattas) and France (World Match Race World Tour). She won the U.S. Match Racing National Championship in 2018, competed at Oakcliff in New York, and raced in two Governors Cups at BYC against the top Match Racers from around the globe.
Catherine propelled her racing experience into a successful coaching career. She coached the Youth Racing Team at the Newport Sea Base, developed the racing program from the ground up at Dana Point YC, and served as the Double Handed coach for the BYC Racing Team.
Under Catherine, the DWYC program has grown exponentially (Summer Camp, RS Tera and Double Handed Racing, Off Shore). Catherine has coached 3 Champions - an International Champion (BYC) and two DWYC RS Tera Champions, Oliver Ernest and Wyatt Dalby.
Sailing Coach
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
If you have questions about the opportunities available in our programs, feel free to send us a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
24601 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, California 92629, United States
juniors@dwyc.org 949-611-1185 Ext. #5
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