FAQ & Policies

Answers to common questions about programs, registration, safety, and what to expect on the water.

General Questions

NCS operates programs at Polpis Harbor and the Jetties Sailing Center, depending on the program and age group. Please find more information about our locations here.

Programs are available for youth, teens, and adults of all experience levels. Some programs have age or skill requirements.

Yes. NCS is a US Sailing–accredited nonprofit Community Sailing Center and a 501(c)(3).

Closed-toed shoes with a back/strap and non-marking sole, that can get wet. (i.e., Native Footwear, Crocs, Keens, or water shoes)
Sun block (apply to all exposed skin before coming to class)
Bring or wear a bathing suit, shorts, t-shirt, hat, sunglasses (with croakies!), and a fleece or rain jacket for windy cooler days
Small bag/backpack for extra jacket/fleece, a towel, and a water bottle.
NCS provides life jackets! You are welcome to bring your own, provided it is a USCG Type III.

NCS makes every effort to hold class, even in high winds and light rain. When we cannot be on the water, we make use of our time on shore to review lessons, tie knots, review, terminology, and play a few sailing games! In the case of severe weather, we will cancel class. Class will not be held inside at the Coffin School or other location. Unfortunately, we cannot make up missed classes. Classes will not be rescheduled and missed days will not be refunded.

If we do need to delay the start of class (by 30 minutes or an hour, to let weather pass) or cancel class for the morning or afternoon session, you will receive a text message and an email to the primary phone number and primary email address listed on your registration account. We will only send a message if there is a change to the normal schedule.

If your child will be carrying an EpiPen to class, you must fill out a medical authorization form. Please email registration@nantucketsailing.org to obtain the form. The EpiPen should be well-labeled and handed to the Head Instructor each day the student is in attendance. The Head Instructor will return it to the caregiver each day after class.

New in 2022, parents must submit written permission to NCS in order to consent to their child being picked up by someone other than the contacts listed in the child's registration. Please email registration@nantucketsailing.org with the child's name, name of the person picking them up and date and time. You must also do this if you plan to allow your child to check themself out of class to bike or walk home.

The easiest way to add these people is to list in your Active account.

A student's unwillingness to come to sailing can be caused by any number of things: fear, nerves, or simply being tired. NCS instructors are encouraged to help students feel more comfortable. If you can get them to class, in all but exceptionally rare cases, we can get them out sailing and enjoying it too.

Our program directors are also willing to help find a way for students to learn to love sailing. Please email: emily@nantucketcommunitysailing.org.

Serious concerns should be brought to the attention of the Program Director. Otherwise, the Head Instructor will be your first contact for resolving most issues. They are the hands-on day-to-day program facilitator and will usually have the answer; they are also empowered to make decisions and correct problems. The best time to talk to the Head Instructor (and your child's individual instructor) is at the end of class. If this is not convenient, please call and leave a message at the Main Office asking the Head Instructor to follow up with you.

Life Jacket (PFD) - NCS provides these for all students. Check out West Coast Sailing, West Marine or MTI Life jackets for a sleeker PFD. PFDs must be US Coast Guard Type III approved.
Whistle - All sailors should have a plastic whistle attached to their life jacket for safety.
Sailing gloves - Longer days on the water call for sailing gloves to prevent blisters. West Marine and West Coast have great options. West Marine, Gill and Harken make great Junior Gloves with 3/4 fingers. You can also use Atlas full-finger gardening gloves!
Spray Top - Spray tops keep sailors warm and dry from spray in windier conditions. Gill and Henry Lloyd make junior dinghy/spray tops/smocks. Visit West Marine website under "Foul Weather Gear" or "Apparel." The top should be a pullover, allowing for a seal at the neck.
Technical Shirt or Rash Guard - wicking/synthetic/non-cotton apparel - Sailors who are on the water all day should not be wearing cotton! Any long-sleeve wicking top is great for sun protection, especially under a spray top; it dries quickly and doesn't chafe when wet.
Sunglasses (Polarized) - Sailing on the water all day can damage eyes. All sailors should wear eye protection. These should also have croakies.
Footwear - Sailors in competitive boats may prefer a more technical shoe. Sailing shoes should always have a closed toe, dry quickly, and stay put. Quick-drying sneakers/Keens are great, and particularly for sailors in the 420, dinghy boots are great. Gill, Zhik and Ronstan make boots, all of which can be found on the West Coast Sailing website.
Spray Pants/Wetsuit Pants - 420 sailors, especially in the shoulder seasons, tend to wear warmer gear such as spray pants/wetsuit pants along with spray tops on colder days. These aren't really necessary for most of the summer although more advanced 420 sailors may choose to buy a pair, for colder/rainy days on the water. 420 crews tend to prefer Zhik leggings or similar thick leggings, while skippers tend to prefer spray pants.

Should your child have any learning disability, IEP, or medication that might not be indicated on their application, or that needs further certification, please speak with the Program Director. This will enable us to help your child have a positive and rewarding experience at Nantucket Community Sailing.

Any time an instructor is required to administer first aid (for an injury or incident of any size) they will complete an injury report. In the event of a serious injury we will notify the parent.

As a nonprofit organization we rely heavily on volunteer participation. Please click here to see our most up to date volunteer needs and how you can help!

Islander Registration opens Tuesday, January 19th at 12:00 Noon EST and will close Friday, January 22nd at Noon EST

Open to island youth residents who are enrolled in Nantucket schools or homeschooled in Nantucket
Auto bill option for Friday, February 12

Returning Sailor Registration opens Monday, January 25th 12:00 Noon EST and will close Thursday, January 28th at Noon EST

Open to families who sailed with NCS Summer 2026 and Island Youth Residents
Payment due in full

General Registration opens Monday, February 1st at 12:00 Noon EST and will remain open

Open to all sailors
Payment due in full
Waitlists will be open and available

We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.

Change and cancellation policies vary by program and are outlined during the registration process. Please see below NCS policies.

No. To ensure the best possible experience for our sailors, students may not be registered for both AM and PM sessions on the same day. Classes are designed to keep students engaged and safe without overextending them. Additionally, we do not provide supervision between sessions, as our instructional staff is off-duty for their mid-day break.

Please call the Main Office at 508.228.6600 and let them know your child will be getting dropped off or being picked up late. If you know your child will be out for the day please call the Main Office so we can inform the instructor. Students may not drop into other sessions to make up missed classes.

Yes, NCS is licensed as a Recreational Camp for Children in the State of Massachusetts.

NCS Policies

We understand that summer plans can change. Our cancellation and transfer policy is designed to provide families with flexibility while allowing NCS to plan appropriately for staffing, enrollment, and limited program capacity.

Cancellations on or before April 30

Eligible for a 90% refund of program tuition. The remaining 10% is non-refundable and reflects costs associated with registration, program planning, and reserving limited program space.

Cancellations beginning May 1: Program registrations are non-refundable.

Transfers: Transfers between sessions or programs are subject to availability and a 10% transfer fee per sailor, per session after June 1. Program or placement changes initiated by NCS are not subject to this fee.

Consistent attendance is important for sailor progression, group continuity, and making the best use of limited program space.

Notifying NCS of Absences

Families are expected to notify NCS by email at registration@nantucketcommunitysailing.org of any absence, including same-day absences. If a sailor will miss a significant portion of a session, families should notify NCS in writing as early as possible so that, when feasible, the space may be offered to another sailor. The Youth Program Cancellation Policy can be read here (hyperlink). If an absence is due to a recent medical condition, a doctor’s note must be sent to registration@nantucketcommunitysailing.org.

Follow-Up on Absences
If a sailor has two unexcused absences within a single week, instructors will notify the Program Manager, who will follow up with the family to better understand the circumstances. NCS reserves the right to review repeated or extended nonattendance when it prevents a limited program space from being used.

Additional Expectations for Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship-supported spaces represent a significant investment by NCS and our donors, and they are limited each season. An unused scholarship space may prevent another sailor from receiving financial assistance or participating in a program.

Scholarship recipients are expected to attend their awarded sessions and follow the notification guidelines above. Repeated absences, late cancellations, or no-shows may result in the reduction or cancellation of remaining scholarship-supported sessions and may affect future scholarship eligibility or award levels.

NCS does not require a Membership to participate in sailing classes. However, we strongly encourage participants to purchase a Jetties Sailing Center Membership to take full advantage of sailing and water sports throughout the summer. A Jetties Sailing Center membership includes free kayak, paddle board use, and a 25% discount sailboat rentals, as well as private lessons. Members also receive a 10% discount on NCS Merchandise.

For more information, please visit our membership page.

Islander Early (Nantucket Island Residents) Payment Registration

Payment of a $100 deposit is required at time of registration, as this will allow NCS administration to apply requested scholarships to each sailor's account. Nantucket Residents who are applying for a scholarship must submit a scholarship application to the NCS office by Friday, January 8, 2027 at 4:00pm. Once the scholarship funds are applied, the NCS office will contact you with your balance due. Payment may be made online, by calling the office, or via our autobill on Friday, February 12, 2027.

Returning Sailor Early (Sailors who sailed in 2026 group classes) Payment Registration

Monday, January 25, 2027 from 12PM EST to Wednesday, January 28, 2027 at 12PM EST - Payment is required in full at time of registration.

General Registration

Monday, February 1, 2027 at 12PM EST - All registrations received on or after February 1st, must be paid in full, at the time of registration. If scholarship funds are available, these will be applied to your account and a refund will be issued.

** If payment is not made in full by May 31st, your sailor will not be considered enrolled in the session and may be dropped.

** Please note that registrants are responsible for any fees that are incurred due to bounced checks or returned payments.

All individuals participating in NCS programs or using NCS equipment at Polpis Harbor or Jetties Beach are expected to follow these general safety rules. These rules will be reviewed with students on the first day of a new session and posted at the Jetties Sailing Center:

USCG-approved Type-III PFDs are required at all times when in a motor or sailboat, on a dock, in a kayak or paddleboard, near the water's edge, or in the water. The PFD must be properly worn and zipped.
Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times when at an NCS Site or using NCS equipment. If a customer of the Jetties Sailing Center chooses not to wear shoes while paddle-boarding or kayaking, it is at his or her own risk.
No knives, drugs, alcohol, or other harmful weapons or substances are permitted.
Personal property (except medication) is the responsibility of the student and not NCS.
All sailors will maintain proper etiquette, respect and seamanship at all times: No bullying, pushing, shoving, horseplay, fighting, hitting, and profanity. No disruptive behavior, disrespectful gestures, actions or language. Physical violence and bullying (teasing or derogatory/hurtful comments) are not tolerated.
NCS staff, peers, equipment, and the environment must be treated with respect at all times. No littering on land or water.
Students must stay in the area designated for class at all times; all boats must stay within hailing distance of the Head Instructor's boat.
All students/customers will exercise great care in the use of Nantucket Community Sailing's sailboats, safety boats, and equipment.

Upon arrival at Nantucket Community Sailing sites (Polpis Harbor and Jetties Sailing Center) children and their parents will be responsible for checking in for the day. The Head Instructor, or the instructor who has been assigned to managing the roster, will mark the student's attendance on the roster. Students will then be supervised and gathered by NCS instructors to begin the instructional session. If a student needs to leave the instructional area to use the bathroom, the student must check in with, and be accompanied by, an instructor. The Site Manager (Polpis and Jetties) will know exactly how many children are on site/on-the-water at any given time. After attendance has been recorded on the paper roster, the NCS Site Manager will submit attendance digitally to the NCS Main Office. Attendance sheets will be kept by the Site Manager during the day, and collected and filed by the Program Director at the end of each session.

NCS will reach out to a missing student's family daily. Students who do not arrive while NCS students are still on the beach, will not be a part of that day's class. NCS does not refund fees for days which students have registered for, but fail to use.

Children who arrive to NCS classes without having registered will not be permitted to participate.

Students must be checked out verbally– with a parent or guardian visible or by their side – prior to leaving the NCS site(s) for the day. The instructor handling the roster for the checkout period will mark that the student has been picked up. The Head Instructor will be responsible for reviewing the roster at the end of each instructional session to ensure that all students who were checked in were also checked out. Any discrepancies will be resolved by calling the parent. If a student is biking home alone, or going home with another parent, the student's parent must submit written permission to the NCS Main Office by EMAIL (registration@nantucketsailing.org). If a student has not been picked up more than 10 minutes after the end of class, the parent will be called. An NCS Instructor will wait with the student. If a parent/guardian is later than 15 minutes to pick-up their student, the student's NCS account will be charged a $20 late pick-up fee.

Students who fail to arrive at the point of pick-up following class, will activate the NCS Missing/Lost Student Emergency Action procedures.

Nantucket Community Sailing asks students to come to programs prepared for safe sun exposure with: sunscreen (min SPF 50) already applied to all exposed areas of the body, including lips; wide brim hat; UV protective sunglasses; water bottle; UV protective long sleeve shirt and shorts. Instructors will remind students to reapply sunscreen throughout the session but it is ultimately each student's responsibility to reapply.

NCS will encourage parents of students to follow these sun smart tips, among others, by posting them on the NCS website and by communicating them at parent meetings. Program students will also be taught about the importance of safe sun exposure at the first day of every session. It is the responsibility of the student/parent to exhibit safe sun behavior. NCS instructors will be educated about safe sun behavior at NCS orientation, and will be asked to follow the same recommendations that are given to students. NCS instructors will also be educated on signs of excessive sun exposure: sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and the proper first aid to administer in these cases. All NCS students are asked to bring a water bottle (preferably reusable) to class every day. Instructors will enforce hydration and monitor for signs of dehydration.

The Nantucket Community Sailing discipline policy maintains that each sailor will have three opportunities to rectify any non-rule-following behavior as follows. Nantucket Community Sailing reserves the right to reexamine students' participation in programs, due to behavior, at any time.

First 'strike': the Head Instructor will speak with the sailor about his/her behavior and ask that he/she correct his/her behavior moving forward.
Second 'strike': the Head Instructor will call the student's parent and the transgression will be reported to the Site Manager and Program Director. The Program Director will report the incident to the NCS Main office (508-228-6600), and it will be recorded in the student's file on CCM.
Third 'strike': the student will be suspended from the remainder of the NCS program; The Program Director will contact the student's parents who will be required to immediately pick the student up from class. The student may participate in future NCS programs, under a probationary measure. There will be no refund for lost program days. The Program Director will notify the NCS Main Office (508-228-6600) and the incident(s) will be recorded in the student's file on CCM.

Continued abuse of the rules in subsequent programs: the student will be completely expelled from NCS Programs for the remainder of the summer and may not participate or register for NCS Programs or events until the following season.

Discipline will never include the following:

Corporal punishment, including spanking, slapping or hitting, is prohibited;
No student shall be subjected to cruel or severe punishment, humiliation, or verbal abuse;
No student shall be denied water or shelter;
No student shall be punished for soiling, wetting or not using the toilet.

Some of the most common injuries we experience (shell cuts and stubbed toes) are due to inappropriate footwear. Your child MUST come to class wearing closed-toe shoes (that can get wet!): aqua socks, Crocs, Natives, Keen (closed-toe) sandals, even an old pair of gym sneakers. Flip-flops or bare feet are not allowed. Students without proper footwear will not be allowed to sail.

All bookings, for members and non-members, will require a credit card to secure your reservation and/or pay in advance. If you need to cancel, please contact the NCS Office at (508) 228-6600 or the JSC at (508) 228-5358 (do not leave a message) or email, registration@nantucketsailing.org. An NCS staff member will confirm your cancellation and/or rebooking. Please note our cancellation policy for rentals and lessons:

More than 48 hours before your scheduled lesson begins: You may cancel for a refund or rebook for another date. A 10% administrative fee applies per booking.
Less than 48 hours before your scheduled lesson begins: Cancellations and rebookings are not permitted. Lessons are non-refundable and non-transferable.
No-shows: No-shows are non-refundable.
If NCS cancels: If NCS cancels a lesson due to weather, unsafe conditions, or other circumstances, you will receive a full refund [excluding FareHarbor booking fees], or you may choose to rebook at no charge.
With FareHarbor Trip Protection: If you purchased Trip Protection, you may cancel or rebook with no fee up to 24 hours before your lesson. Less than 24 hours before, lessons are non-refundable and non-transferable.

As for Weather Cancellations -- Nantucket is a "marine location" with a "marine forecast". This means the wind and weather can affect this rental/lesson. If the wind or weather is not conducive to safe operation, Jetties Sailing Center will cancel the rental/lesson. Customers will receive a full refund for rentals/lessons canceled by Jetties Sailing Center for any reason. Customers may reschedule any rental or lesson in the future at no extra cost. Please remember, in a "marine forecast" the weather can change quickly. Please respect Jetties Sailing Center wind and weather judgements for cancellation. JSC will use the cell phone on file at time of registration to contact you.

NCS is proud to offer community outreach programs at no cost to participants, made possible by the generosity of our donors and community partners. Each reservation represents a meaningful investment in instructors, boats, staffing, and program resources, and an unused spot may prevent another participant from taking part.

To help these limited opportunities reach as many people as possible, please review our cancellation and attendance policy:

24-Hour Notice: Please cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled start time by emailing registration@nantucketcommunitysailing.org so we can offer the spot to another participant or family on our waitlist.
Late Cancellations & No-Shows: A credit card is required to hold your reservation, but registration remains free and your card will not be charged if you attend or cancel in time or if NCS cancels the event for weather. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before your start time, and no-shows, will incur a $25 fee per reservation to help offset the staffing, equipment, and resources committed to each spot.

NCS understands that illness, emergencies, and other unexpected circumstances arise, and we will take individual circumstances into consideration.

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