The Sea for Every
Hatteras Child
Hatteras Community Sailing connects island youth to the ocean — and to every skill, career, and way of life it offers — through hands-on programs that grow with them from childhood into adulthood.
Who We Are
Hatteras Community Sailing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Buxton, North Carolina on Hatteras Island. We operate on the waters of Pamlico Sound — one of the finest sailing environments on the East Coast — and our name reflects our roots. But our mission is bigger than sailing.
Hatteras Island is a remote barrier island community defined by the sea. The ocean shapes everything here: the economy, the culture, the weather, the land itself. Yet the same forces pulling young people away from real-world skills and community everywhere — screens, social media, algorithmic entertainment — are pulling at Hatteras kids too. We exist to give them a counterweight.
We start the youngest children on sailboats. Sailing is ideal for small kids — it demands attention, teaches consequence, and builds confidence in ways few other activities can. As youth grow with us, we walk alongside them into powerboating, diving, fishing, boatbuilding, maritime technology, and professional seamanship. These aren't hobbies. They're pathways — to careers, to independence, to a life genuinely connected to the place they call home.
No child is turned away for inability to pay. Scholarships and free program spots are available for local Hatteras youth. Contact us directly to learn more.
A Lifelong Relationship with the Sea
Our programs aren't one-time events — they're entry points to a larger journey. We meet youth where they are and grow with them as their skills and ambitions expand.
Community Experiences
Our sailing experiences — sunset sails, wildlife tours, half and full-day charters — bring visitors and locals into contact with the ecology and culture of the Outer Banks. Every program fee funds youth scholarships and keeps our fleet on the water. Every ticket you buy keeps a kid out here.
Youth Maritime Pathways
We start the youngest children sailing — Optimist dinghies and beach cats for beginners, building to Collegiate 420s and larger vessels. As youth mature, we open pathways to powerboating, diving, fishing, boatbuilding, maritime technology, and professional seamanship. All youth programs are scholarship-eligible; no one is excluded.
Community Fleet Access
Our rental program keeps independent time on Pamlico Sound affordable for experienced community members. Below-market catamaran and skiff rates are made possible by our charter and program revenue — so the water stays part of everyday life on Hatteras Island, not just a tourist attraction.
The Pathway, Year by Year
A child who joins our Junior Sailing Camp at age 8 doesn't stop there. We walk alongside them — through intermediate sailing, into powerboat seamanship, then diving, fishing, boatbuilding, and maritime technology as their interests and abilities grow. By the time they're ready to enter the workforce, they have skills and credentials that belong to life on a working waterfront.
Nonprofit Transparency
Hatteras Community Sailing is committed to full transparency as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our financial statements, program reports, and Form 990 are available upon request.
We are funded through a combination of community program fees, individual donations, grants, and partnerships with local businesses and institutions. No government funding is received for day-to-day operations.
Our board of directors is composed of community members from Buxton, Avon, and the surrounding Hatteras Island area. All board positions are volunteer, with no compensation.
Donations to Hatteras Community Sailing are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our EIN is 85-2684924. Please consult your tax advisor for specific guidance.