Junior Sailing

Beginner and Advanced training on Optimists, Lasers and 420’s

The Gstaad Yacht Club is commited to provide equal opportunities for all children within the sailing sport. Sailing is not a sport of the elite and with regional cooperation the club may continue to establish a framework for repeatedly feasible sailing sports also in the Saanenland.
The Gstaad Yacht Club offers different opportunities on Optimists, Laser and 420's. Children are introduced to sailing in different ways depending on their level – the club organizes an annual sailing camp as well to heighten the knowledge in different venues. About 10 to 14 training sessions take place from May until October, usually on Lake Thun.
This year the GYC is starting by organising "schnuppertage" (try out) sessions on Lake Arnensee. You may find more information in the button below. We hope to see you and your children there!

Junior Sailing Program

Kids Sailing Weekend at Lake Arnensee - Dates for 2026 season soon to be announced.

GYC J70 SAILING TRAINING

Whether you're new to sailing or looking to improve your skills, these free training sessions are open to all levels—no experience required!

Invitation HERE

Please call the GYC office or send an Email in case you need further information.

2025 final season report

This summer, the Gstaad Yacht Club (GYC) once again hosted its popular youth program – now firmly established on the calendar under the name Kids Sailing Weekends. Across several weekends between August and September, the program gave children from the Saanenland region, ages 6 to 14, the opportunity to discover the magic of sailing on the picturesque Lake Arnensee – with no prior experience or club membership required.
Special thanks go to the dedicated coaches and club members – sisters Sophie and Virginie Lienhart, who, with the support of their father, guided the program with passion and empathy. Their commitment made the Kids Sailing Weekends a true highlight of the GYC summer season for the youngest sailors.
Each weekend was met with high demand and great enthusiasm. The first session kicked off under ideal conditions, as the children took their very first maneuvers in the tried-and-tested Optimist dinghies, a boat class specially designed for young sailors. On the final weekend, sunny skies accompanied the event, but strong gusts of wind forced an early end to training on the lake. Safety comes first – but the fun continued at the clubhouse, where the Yacht Club introduced the Virtual Sailing Experience, allowing children (and parents!) to explore and deepen their sailing knowledge in an interactive way.