The Little Washington Sailing Club is preparing for its 2012 season.

Sailing classes begin June 11 and run through August. The season will include a series of half-day classes that take place over two weeks (Mondays through Fridays). It also includes all-day classes that take place during a week. Those classes are for novice sailors. Advanced classes are offered to more-experienced young sailors.

Copies of the 2012 schedule may be obtained at the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce on Stewart Parkway in downtown Washington or viewed and downloaded by going on the Internet and visiting at www.LittleWashingtonSailingClub.org. The schedule may be viewed on the LWSC presence on Facebook.

During the 2011 season, 77 students graduated from the club’s sailing classes, an increase of 60 percent over the 2010 season. The graduates came from 34 schools in the area. Several grandchildren visiting their grandparents in the area learned to sail by taking the classes.

The club lost two of its 14-foot Vanguard 420 sailboats and part of its dock because of Hurricane Irene. The club had some insurance to cover such losses, but it was not fully insured.

The club will buy two used Vanguard 420 sailboats at $2,500 each to replace the lost boats. The club will accept donations to help replace the damaged boats and repair its dock.

In 2012, the club will again offer scholarships for students whose families can’t afford the tuition.

The curriculum introduces seamanship and the fundamentals of sailing for beginners, but, even more, it teaches children how to work together. Courses take place in downtown Washington on the Pamlico River.

Reservations are encouraged to secure placement in a specific class.