History

The development and organization of the Junior Fleet, like many other Club activities, was a gradual process.  Although many Juniors had indicated interest for several years, it was not until 1946 that Lt. Cmdr. Carl Menneken first proposed a Junior Fleet in the Race Committee meeting of March 13, 1946.  Presented to the Board in April, it was tabled for details and discussed at various meetings until the Board meeting of June 9, 1948 when $2,000 were allocated for the purchase of 6 Dolphins which would be used by the newly created Junior Fleet.

In 1951, just three years later, there were 37 active members.  At a party in October of that year, a Junior Fleet Penguin Fund was started and funded by a raffle where pieces of a lamb-shaped cake were bid upon and $26 were raised.  By 1952, the Junior Fleet, having found the Dolphin to be unsatisfactory as a junior boat, replaced the Dolphins with Penguins at the advice of Fleet Captain Jack Martin.  Chairman James Sindall commissioned four new Penguins that were added to the fleet.  This addittion marked the beginning of organized activity and Junior Sailor Nancy Scofield was awarded the first Fleet Trophy in 1953.  Penguin activity continued until the 1960's when 420s were introduced.  AYC's Junior Fleet continues to sail 420s today.

In 1969, land across the Eastport Bridge was purchased.  The Junior Fleet has been practicing from this land since then and a building was completed in 1995.  This building was expanded and completed in October of 2008.

The Junior Fleet has come a long way since its inception in 1948.  In addition to giving sail training in their fleet of Penguins and 420s to hundreds of children over the years, their leaders have established an enviable record in championship sailing.  Their record (through 1971) includes 7 Chesapeake Bay Junior Champions, 6 Bay Midget Champions, the Middle Atlantic Midget Title, Victory in the North American Junior and Senior Penguin Championships and the Sears Bowl, emblematic of the North American Junior Championship.  Graduates of the Junior Fleet Program have won the Men's Championship of the Bay and the Single Handed Championship of the Bay.

Recent History

In 2008, AYC purchsed 6 high performance 29ers to augment the Club's Junior Fleet boats and programs, and we will host the first ever 29er Mid-Atlantic Championship.

Today, our Junior Fleet has one of the most active year round programs in the country.  Our Juniors are on the water more than 250 days of the year during all seasons. 

As well as a 420s program, the junior fleet maintains a popular Optimist program, which is recognized as one of the strongest teams in the country.  In 2008, 13 Junior Fleet sailors sailed in the US Optimist Team Trials.  Three made the national team, two made the Development Team and one placed 16th overall of 195 sailors.

New in the summer of 2009 came our International 420 program.