pleon yacht club marblehead

• Editorial Policies
• Subscribe To Our Newsletter

For 136 years, Pleon Yacht Club has offered young sailors rare form of freedom

Over the course of 136 years, Marblehead’s Pleon Yacht Club has retained its unique status as a club for — and run by — those 18 and younger.

This tradition began with its first commodore Arthur Goodwin Wood and a group of young people who laid the cornerstone for junior yachting in the United States, making the Pleon the oldest junior yacht club in the world.

One of the club’s golden rules since its earliest days is that the adult presence is not visible during the summer. Parents serve on the board and help organize regattas, but day-to-day operations and problem solving fall to the young flag officers and Pleon members.

“In the era of helicopter parenting, this does remain a space for kids and is a place where kids can make mistakes and learn,” said Pleon Board member Matt Hooks.

While the focus is on fun, the Pleon is also a renowned center for teaching, coaching and competition among youth sailors, which has produced some of our country’s best-known and most influential sailors for generations. 

These include world-renowned sailmaker, America’s Cup sailor and Sailing Hall of Fame member Robbie Doyle; two-time Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year, winner of nine world championships and America’s Cup sailor Jud Smith; pioneer in women’s sports Emmy Magoon; and, more recently, America’s Cup sailor Trevor Bird and collegiate All-American and current U.S. Olympic Sailing team member Ian Barrows.

“We also see Pleon as a huge opportunity for youth sailors to consider joining college sailing teams,” Hooks added. “There is a benefit in that at Pleon we can collaborate with other junior sailing programs in town, and we feel that Pleon really can be a place all along the East Coast where junior sailing can thrive.”

Whether or not Pleon alumni have gone on to illustrious careers in the sport of sailing, as youngsters they shared a common experience of gaining leadership experience from a young age that continues to serve them well.

Marblehead High School senior Lane Kaeyer, the Pleon’s 18-year-old commodore, attests that what you learn about yourself and how you grow at Pleon is not always about sailing. 

“I came to Pleon at age 9 and at that age I was super quiet and didn’t know any of the other children,” said Kaeyer, who is now a senior on the MHS sailing team and will continue to sail competitively in college. “After my first few days meeting kids from lots of different towns, before long I really came out of my shell.”

She continued, “I have learned that Pleon gives a foundation to all sailors, and we are able to coach kids through any fears. I realize that this gives me an opportunity to give that back now.”

Emily Gearon, 26, noted that the history and sense of connection she finds at Pleon is something that continues for many adults, long after their youth sailing days are past. Now a full-time school teacher, Gearon began at Pleon at the age of 12. She then returned as a coach and now runs its programs. 

“I think Pleon does a great deal for a young person, and what I see to this day is that the youth are both having great fun in the moment, but they also take responsibility for the club at a young age,” she said. “Whether they are on the house committee or the flag committee, you see people grow to become confident and empowered kids. That is really rewarding.”

Over time, Pleon has developed a curriculum for every path, including adventure sailing with multiple friends in a boat with instructors to a more advanced racing curriculum.

“As a lifelong activity, we continue to facilitate meaningful opportunities for both younger sailors and teens,” said Pleon board member Jim DaSilva. “The community of sailors and friendships made with kids from all over, not just in town, is what makes a summer at Pleon so special.”

Laurie Fullerton

• Laurie Fullerton #molongui-disabled-link Fog, breezes, swells make end-of-season regatta challenging
• Laurie Fullerton #molongui-disabled-link Corinthian Yacht Club places second in the Rolex International Invitational Cup
• Laurie Fullerton #molongui-disabled-link More than three dozen boats compete in Ted Hood Regatta
• Laurie Fullerton #molongui-disabled-link Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race supports Marblehead domestic violence survivor

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply, discover more from marblehead current.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Old club provides new opportunities

The Pleon Yacht Club was founded on June 29, 1887 by a group of boys with the encouragement of the nearby Eastern Yacht Club, which still rents the Pleon property to the club for $1 per year. As the oldest junior yacht club in America, the club has produced some of our country’s best yachtsmen, including America’s Cup sailors and Marblehead natives Robbie Doyle and 2006 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jud Smith, and world-class sailor Dave Curtis.

Now, a new generation of sailors is making their mark in sailing and they include Gretchen Curtis, Ethan Doyle and Darby Smith – offspring of some of Pleon’s prestigious alumni. 

As the membership grows and the club evolves, Pleon youth are learning how to broaden their opportunities and grow as competitors.

This summer, the Pleon Yacht Club will host a number of important junior events. Along with Junior Race Week, which begins on July 23, the Pleon Yacht Club will host the nation’s best young female sailors for a five-day national regatta. 

This US SAILING-sponsored event is called the U.S. Junior Women’s Single-handed Championship for the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy to be held from July 29 through August 4.

“Pleon is totally unique in that it's a yacht club run for kids by kids,” said Marblehead’s Bill Lynn, who is a collegiate all-American sailor. “And that's not just window-dressing - it really is run by kids. The only adult involvement is a board of directors (legally required to be a non-profit) and the program committee. These two groups are essentially there to help with things like hiring instructors, registering sailors for the program, raising money and maintaining the facility and equipment. The key word is ‘help’ as it really is the flag officers and their committees (all kids) that run the show during the summer.”  

While some Pleon sailors will continue racing at the high school and college level after their Pleon days are over, others will learn about race committee work and the overall importance of safe boating.

“The Pleon Yacht Club is a fantastic venue for the development of young sailors. It is available to all juniors, not just yacht club members’ children,” said Marblehead sailor Jack Cochrane. “Those who participate have the opportunity to expand their sportsmanship, racing, and organizational skills so important for their future endeavors.”

While the summer is full of opportunity for Pleon sailors, the US SAILING-sponsored women’s event is one of the highest level events that Pleon has hosted in recent memory. While a group of adults has helped with some of the logistics, the youth of Pleon will be responsible for running this major regatta and it is a rare opportunity for the town to witness.

Maybe the most unique thing about the Nancy Leiter Clagget regatta is that not only will girls (age 13-17) from as far away as Texas and California be racing single-handed in Laser Radials during the five day event, but the event itself is named for a woman who in her youth was a vital part of Pleon.

In fact, when Nancy Leiter was growing up in Marblehead in the 1930s she became the first female commodore of the club. In that same spirit, because there are few platforms for young women to race competitively at the highest level of the sport, this event is key for many of the competitors. Now in its 27th year, the Nancy Leiter Claggett Trophy has nurtured sailors like America’s Cup competitor Melissa Purdy, match-racing champion Elizabeth Kratzig, and the 2006 US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Paige Railey. This event marks the 70th anniversary of this first regatta.

“On behalf of the Pleon Yacht Club, we are honored to host some of our country’s best young sailors,” said event chairman Peter McManus. “Not only is it a great example of the competitive and Corinthian spirit of sailing, but hosting it at the oldest junior yacht club in America will be a great opportunity to showcase our town’s century-long commitment to youth sailing.”

Additionally, the first 40 girls who register for this event will be eligible to attend the Junior Road to Rolex Clinic, sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. just after the regatta. This free clinic, held at the Eastern Yacht Club, will introduce the young athletes to keelboat racing and encourage them to form teams to one day race in US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship. 

“With a new commodore, discussions of a new club house, and the hosting of the biggest junior women’s' event in the nation, this is an extremely exciting time for Pleon,” said past commodore Nat Taylor of Marblehead. “As the girls set sail this summer, all can be confident that the club will continue its reputation as a top notch center for junior sailing.”

Pleon Yacht Club will be hosting the 52nd annual Junior Race Week this summer from July 23 through July 25. Last year over 300 young sailors came to Marblehead from all over the continent for three days of racing in Optis, Lasers and 420s. Pleon was founded in 1887 and is the oldest junior yacht club in the country.

As in the past, Pleon will be supported by the Boston, Corinthian and Eastern Yacht Clubs as well as many volunteers who help with registration, serving food, on and off shore safety, and by housing the out of town participants. This event would also not be possible without the generous contributions from many local sponsors who provide both financial assistance as well as donations in kind.

For further information please refer to the Pleon website at www.pleon.orgor contact Sarah Lynn at 781-631-0643 or Judy Gardiner at 781-639-2795.

Browse by Category

• Coach of the Year
• High School Sailing Team of the Year
• Optimist Sailor of the Year
• Sailing Fitness
• Regatta News/Results
• Boat Speed/Tuning/Sailtrim Articles
• General Sailing News
• Coaches Locker Room
• From the Experts
• Profiles in Pro Sailing
• Featured Jobs
• Marketplace Ads
• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Sail1Design

First Name*

Email Address*

Sailing Club Profile: Pleon Yacht Club

July 25, 2013 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

By Airwaves writer Clinton Hayes

Mission and History

19 years old and Commodore of a large yacht club? At Pleon, that’s a reality and has been since it’s founding on June 29, 1887. Pleon can proudly claim the title of oldest junior yacht club in America. All members of the club are under 21 and amount close to 400. Pleon’s story is like many small clubs in America. A group of young men who wanted to race but were too poor to join the “big senior clubs” so they formed their own. Since then, Pleon sailors have been fixtures on the national sailing scene even dating back to 1921 when the Commodore at the time won the first ever Sears Cup, National Junior Sailing Championship, representing Pleon.

Their Clubhouse, located on leased property from Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA was originally built in 1950. Shortly after, Pleon added a Race Committee boat and its own docks, becoming a truly independent club no longer relying on infrastructure of others. In 2008, Pleon rebuilt to a more modern facility complete with workroom and elevator for handicap access. Although for alumni, who treasured the quirkiness of the old building, it was sad to see a piece of history torn down, the new building has cemented Pleon’s place in Marblehead. The new facility has allowed them to more fully fulfill their mission statement “to involve as many young people as possible in the sport of sailing.”

Pleon Clubhouse

Sailing Opportunities/Club Life

Pleon is a real JUNIOR SAILING club in every sense of the words. They even go so far as to not allow parents on club property, an unheard of policy by today’s standards. A typical day at Pleon starts with a “Commodores choice” song of the day and some dancing. He/she better choose well since the kids are the ones who elected them. Throughout the day, kids who were elected by their peers the summer before, have responsibilities to the club. These range from Flag duty at sunrise and sunset, garbage and cleaning, movie nights and entertainment, and race committee duties. Junior Instructors also organize and run “free sail” most Sundays where any Pleon member can go sailing. The Commodore’s job is full time in the summer working hand in hand with the program director to solve problems and keep Pleon running smoothly. 

Pleon’s core is the summer program serving roughly 250 kids a year. Classes range from intro to Pleon for 7-8 year olds to travel race teams for lasers, Optis and 420s. Coaches are sourced from all over the country and even the world (recently many New Zealanders), all getting housing with local families. With over 50% (over 80% this summer) of instructors from out of town, lesson plans and drills are kept fresh and unique. Not to mention its fun for the instructors who always bond into a close-knit group as most are away from family and friends back home.

Pleon boasts a pretty standard fleet for a junior program; Optis, lasers, and 420s, mostly club owned, but kids at the highest levels generally end up in a private boat. New this year is an expanded keel boat program with 3 Sonars added to the fleet. This will open many opportunities, most notably getting Pleon sailors racing with and against adults. The Sonar is popular in Marblehead especially for team racing. Pleon has added a team to this summers Thursday night Sonar team race series bringing it to 4 teams total (the others being Boston, Corinthian, Eastern). They also have the option of racing in Saturday fleet races and Marblehead NOODS.

Sailing Programs often struggle to keep non-racers engaged and having fun with sailing. As you might imagine Pleon has found great success with their adventure program (now called keelboat). This program encourages learning sailing fundamentals in a non-racing atmosphere. The program has been so popular that they created an intro version for younger sailors and have had to turn kids away to other classes. Many kids have even found a love for sailing in this class and moved on to racing classes after a summer or two in adventure. The Sonars have added a new element and will allow more use of spinnakers in a more social environment.    

Annual Mud Wrestling- A normal Yacht Club activity?

This year was a first for Pleon, moving from summer only to year-round sailing opportunities. Pleon offered after school sailing two days a week and racing clinics on the weekends from September-November and March-June with hired coaches. Pleon also expanded the use of the facility to two other high schools besides the Marblehead High School team who have been sailing out of Pleon/Boston YC for the past 20+ years. “Pleon has an amazing facility,” says Pleon’s long time program director, Erin Pierce, “it is a shame that it has only been used for 8 weeks during the summer, when sailing in Marblehead is at it’s best in the offseason.  It was great to get kids out on the water this past fall and spring, we look forward to expanding more in the future.”

Spring Sailing at Pleon

Pleon looks to become more and more “full time” with a year-round program director and fall and spring programs for all ages. They also hope to become a regional center for high school sailing making practice more accessible for schools on Boston’s North Shore. Marblehead is actually a great place to sail in the offseason. Cold weather aside, all moored boats are pulled out which means sailing can be right next to the dock. There are many challenges along the way but a dedicated board of directors comprised of alumni and parents help smooth the path.

For more information about Pleon visit the website www.pleon.org or check them out on Facebook!

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy .

One Design Classes

Browse the airwaves.

• Sailing News Articles
• High School & College News Articles
• One-Design Class Profiles
• Tactics & Strategy
• Sailing & Education
• ICSA Rankings
• Sailing/Yacht Club Profiles
• Youth Sailor of the Year
• Sail1Design Annual Awards

Helpful Links

• Join the S1D Team
• Accessibility Help
• Privacy Policy
• Entries feed
• Comments feed
• WordPress.org

The Magazine

• Subscription information
• Eat + Drink
• Shop + Renew
• Faces + Places
• Arts + Culture
• Northshore Home
• Purchase Issues

11 Summer Sailing Camps on the North Shore

The North Shore is home to some of the most beautiful coastal areas in the country, and there’s no better way for kids to appreciate the great outdoors of our stunning region than through sailing camp. Yacht clubs and sailing associations dot the coast, giving kids ample opportunity to learn how to sail while making new friends and learning teamwork, independence, responsibility, and sportsmanship. Take a look at the below sailing camps to find the best fit for your sailor this summer.

Manchester Sailing Association

The MSA offers sailing sessions for students of all ages and skill levels, from 7-year-old beginners to 18-year-old experienced racers. They also offer adult classes grouped by skill, open to all. Classes typically run in two-week sessions, and are geared toward all interest levels—in some, students learn the basics, while in others, they might gear up for regatta racing. A new class focuses on adventure sailing: learning valuable, life-long sailing skills in a non-race format. 

The MSA’s programs focus on independence, safety, and sportsmanship. They own a fleet of boats including Dyer Dhows, Optimist Dinghies, 420s, and Rhodes 19s, and all sailing classes start out of Tuck’s Point and sail into scenic Manchester Harbor. They even offer open Saturday sailing for students to practice what they’ve learned and show off to their families!

For a full class schedule, class descriptions, and pricing, visit the MSA website. 

Ages: 7+ Session Length: 2 weeks

15 Tucks Point Road, Manchester-by-the-Sea, 978.526.8345, manchestersailing.org

Pleon Yacht Club

Founded in 1887, Pleon is exclusively a “kids club,” offering summer sailing programs for kids ages eight to eighteen of all skill levels. Aiming to involve as many kids as possible in sailing, they offer application-based financial aid. Pleon offers both full season sessions, running from June 22 to August 16, and half-season sessions, as well as a two-week Intro to Pleon course for beginners.

The club runs classes using Optimist boats, Lasers, 420s, and keelboats, depending on the age and skill of the sailors. Some classes have an emphasis on racing, and they have a 420 Racing Team and an Opti Race Team. 

Students are welcome to use a privately-owned boat for a discount. Pleon also offers a few extra activities throughout the summer, like movie events, casual regattas, and BBQs. 

Ages: 8+ Session Length: 4 or 8 weeks

42 Foster Street, Marblehead, 781.631.1076,  pleon.org

Corinthian Yacht Club Junior Sailing

During the CYC’s Junior Sailing program, students ages seven and up have the chance to learn the basics of sailing using the club’s fleet of Vanguard Prams, Optimists, and Sonar keelboats. The camp runs in five sessions (a preseason and sessions 1 through 4). Sessions are either one or two weeks of half-day sailing. Classes are designed so that sailors can choose to participate in just one session, or sign up for more than one session as they advance. A student might start the summer in the Beginner class, then move to the Intermediate class for session two, and then the Opti 1 class for session 3.

Students may choose to sign up with a group of friends and participate in the Sonar keelboat class, requiring no previous experience.

Ages: 7+ Session Length: 1 or 2 weeks

1 Nahant Street, Marblehead, 781.631.0005, corinthianyc.com

Boston Yacht Club Junior Sailing

Don’t let the name fool you—Boston Yacht Club is located in Marblehead, and they offer sailing classes for kids ages six to fifteen in a non-competitive environment. Beginners will start out learning to sail in multi-person Sonar boats during the morning session, and more intermediate sailors, who sail in the afternoons, might choose to move to the Optimist program where they can sail independently. 

Students ages ten to fifteen have the option of Adventure Afternoons, where they will learn more about non-competitive sailing and go on boating trips to different points of interest. Those ages twelve to fifteen have the option for the Seafarers camp, focused on both sailing and off-the-water skills like navigation, weather, and STEM-related activities.

Ages: 6-15 Session Length: 2 weeks

1 Front Street, Marblehead, 781.631.3100, bostonyc.org

Eastern Point Yacht Club Junior Program

Located at the entrance to Gloucester Harbor, the Eastern Point Yacht club has easy access to both the open ocean and the inner harbor, making it a great option for sailors of all levels—complete with a 3,000 square foot state-of-the-art dry sailing facility. The Club provides both half- and full-day options. In the mornings, students ages eight to eleven sail Optimists, while students twelve and older sail 420s—classes are offered for both beginner and intermediate sailors. 

For a full-day option, students can then participate in Adventure Camp in the afternoons, which takes kids to different locations daily to learn more about the ecosystems of coastal Cape Ann. Students might snorkel at Brace Cove or discover shipwrecks at Thatcher Island.

Advanced sailors who are approved by the Program Director have the opportunity to join the club’s race team and potentially travel around New England for races. 

Ages: 8+ Session Length: 2 weeks

125 Eastern Point Blvd., Gloucester, 978.283.3520, epyc.net

Committed to bringing the joys of sailing to those kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to be on a boat, Sail Salem offers financial aid and scholarships to those who qualify. Students can be sure to learn independence, teamwork, and responsibility during their weeklong sailing sessions. They offer Optimist and 420 classes, along with Sail Adventures and a Race Clinic for those who are more serious about sailing competitively.

Class are taught in Salem Harbor off of Winter Island. The classes run in half days, full days, and even extended days, which run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also offer a two-week program to train new sailing instructors.

Session Length: 1 week

50 Winter Island Road, Salem, sailsalem.org

Sandy Point Sailing Association 

Beverly’s junior sailing organizer, Sandy Point, is sponsored by the Jubilee and Salem Willows Yacht Clubs (though you don’t have to be a member of either) and offers students small class sizes and lots of individual attention. Their level 1 classes require no previous experience and are tailored for both youths and teens. These classes are taught in Optimists and Pixels and include instruction on safety, rigging, knots, tacking, and more.

Level 2 classes explore more advanced skills like navigation and use larger boats like 420s and Rhodes 19. Intro to Cruising introduces students to even larger keelboats, and Intro to Racing is for students who are comfortable on the water and ready to learn the rules of racing while participating in practice drills.

127 Water Street, Beverly, 978.387.1384, sandypointsailing.org

Sandy Bay Yacht Club Sailing Program

Located in scenic Rockport, Sandy Bay Yacht Club offers sailing lessons for students ages eight and up. The non-profit also has scholarships available. Students will sail on Optimist dinghies and 420s. While their basic two-week sessions teach beginners how to sail, Sandy Bay also runs three-week racing class sessions, in which experienced racers are offered the opportunity to travel and compete in regattas against other sailors their age.

Sailing students automatically become members of the yacht club, and they encourage parents to join, too. Families can take advantage of activities like cookouts, Sunday Morning Coffee, Chowder Day, and more.

Ages: 8+ Session Length: 2 or 3 weeks

5 T Wharf, Rockport, 978.546.9433, sandybay.org

Essex Bay Sailing Club

The Essex Bay Sailing Club provides four- and eight-week sessions to students ages eight and up. Students sail two days a week and are placed in one of four classes, according to age and skill level: Bosuns, Adventurers, Captains, or Admirals. While Bosuns learn about boat safety, knots, and tides, and should be sailing solo by the end of the session, Admirals may participate in inter-club races with neighboring sailing clubs and help instruct the younger students. 

Students sail in designated safe areas in Essex Bay, where the Essex River meets Ipswich Bay. Though there’s some boat traffic in the area, students primarily stay out of the channel and instructors are always monitoring for safety. Kids sail in both Captivas and 420s while they develop confidence and an appreciation for the beautiful resources of the Essex River.

Ages: 8+ Session Length: 4 or 8 weeks, 2 days/week

161 Conomo Point Road, Essex, 978.500.1155, essexbaysailingclub.org

Ipswich Junior Sailing

Located on the grounds of the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club (though not part of the club), Ipswich Junior Sailing is committed to developing students’ competence in sailing while maintaining a fun atmosphere. All children ages eight and up are encouraged to participate, and will be grouped into the Optimist or 420 classes based on size, and the Beginner, Intermediate, or Race Team according to skill level. 

Students have the option to take a one-week session of full days, or a two-week session of half-day morning classes. All classes run Monday through Thursday, and open sail is offered on Friday mornings as boats are available. The non-profit welcomes students of all backgrounds, and scholarships are available.

Ages: 8+ Session Length: 1 or 2 weeks

Quay Road, Ipswich, 978.412.4412, ipswichjuniorsailing.com

American Yacht Club

Operating out of beautiful building over 100 years old near the mouth of the Merrimac River, the American Yacht Club holds a children’s sailing school for kids ages nine to seventeen. For over sixty years, the club has taught countless children about the joys of sailing from their downtown Newburyport location. 

Sailors are taught primarily in Hunter 140 boats, which hold groups of two or three kids and is both safe and easy for the beginner and also fast and sporty for the more advanced sailor. Students will end the course with their U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat Certificate. Courses are one week long, and students can choose to take either the morning session, the afternoon session, or both. 

Ages: 9-17 Session Length: 1 or 2 weeks

115 R Water Street, Newburyport, 978.465.9053, americanyachtclub.org

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Instructors

Board of Directors

Sailing Info

Summer Classes

Summer Schedule & Pricing

Spring/Fall Sailing

Regatta Calendar

Club Regattas

Parent Info

Brochure/Handbook

How-To - New Parent Info

How-To - Regattas

How-To - Tow a Trailer

Support Pleon

Donate Today!

Click below to view your account

42 Foster Street

Marblehead MA 01945

[email protected]

© 2024 Pleon Yacht Club, All rights reserved.

Secondary address

Related members, related boats.

Event Details

Collection: Pleon Yacht Club

• Best selling
• Alphabetically, A-Z
• Alphabetically, Z-A
• Price, low to high
• Price, high to low
• Date, old to new
• Date, new to old

17 products

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.