Quissett Yacht Club 2014 Junior Sailing Program Information
Program Objectives To provide a safe and enjoyable sailing experience for young people To foster lasting values and skills including sportsmanship, consideration for others, teamwork, self-confidence and a life-long love of sailing To teach students how to sail to the best of their ability and interest To teach seamanship, sailing and racing skills
Program Dates First Session: Monday, June 23rd - Friday, July 18th Orientation: Sunday, June 22nd at 5:00pm Awards Ceremony: Friday, July 18th at 5pm No classes on July 4th
Second Session: Monday, July 21st - Friday, August 15th Orientation: Friday, July 18th immediately following First Session Awards Ceremony Awards Ceremony: Friday, August 15th at 5:00pm
Requirements All participants must be at least 8 years old by the start of the session. All students must take a swim test each year on the first day of class. The swim test requires each student to swim 200 feet wearing sailing clothes (shoes included), tread water for two minutes without a lifejacket and then put on his/her lifejacket in the water.
Equipment Quissett Yacht Club (QYC) provides all boats used by sailors in the Junior Sailing Program. Daily, each sailor must bring a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device with an attached whistle to be worn at all times on the water, and wear toe-covering shoes (no Crocs). Sailors are encouraged to wear sun protective clothing. In addition they should bring sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle to class each day.
Registration Class sizes are limited. Registration packages will be processed in the order received. Should it become necessary, a waiting list will be maintained. QYC Members’ children and grandchildren will have priority.* No child will be assigned to a class until a complete registration package is received by the Junior Sailing Program Co- Chair. A registration package consists of: Completed Registration Form Completed Medical Information and Consent Form Payment in Full Volunteer Form (We can’t do it without your help!)
Class assignments will be made after the March 31st deadline, and class assignments will be confirmed by email in May. If you have any questions, please email Kristan First [email protected] Please do not hesitate to contact the QYC Junior Sailing Program Co-Chairs - Kristan First and Eric Karplus. Kristan First - home: 978.369.1754, cell: 978.729.3575, email: [email protected] Eric Karplus – home: 508.457.4555, cell: 508.457.4556, email: [email protected]
If you are interested in learning about the QYC membership process either Junior Sailing Co- Chair can put you in touch with Barbara Jones, Membership Chair.
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Class Schedule and Descriptions
Seaman This class is designed for beginning sailors who sail Optimist Prams (Optis). The class teaches the fundamentals of on-water safety, seamanship, terminology, rigging, knots, M, T, W*, Th, F sportsmanship, landing on a dock, steering and crewing. Generally sailors begin sailing in pairs and progress towards sailing alone as their comfort level increases. Skill-building and 8:15am - 10:00am fun are at the core of the curriculum, with games played both on and off the water. Other * Voluntary boats may be used to teach different skills. Sailors usually spend at least two sessions in learn-to-race class this class and should demonstrate comfort and proficiency at sailing alone before they advance to Mate.
Mate For Opti sailors who have successfully completed the Seaman class. Sailors gain confidence through time on the water. This class focuses on improving steering and sail M, T, W*, Th, F control, capsize recovery, rounding up to a mooring, advanced knots, navigation, basic weather patterns, and basic racing. Other boats may be used to teach different skills. 10:15am –12:00pm Typically, sailors spend at least two sessions in this class before advancing to the next * Voluntary level. learn-to-race class
Club Sailing For sailors who prefer recreational sailing. Participants include beginning sailors too big for the Optis and/or sailors who have completed the Mate program but are not interested in the Opti Race Team. Sailors will learn terminology, seamanship, helmsmanship, crewing, M, T, Th, F rigging, docking, navigation, and on-water safety. The class includes instruction in 420s, as well as bigger club boats and longer distance sails with instructors aboard. The age of students in this class is typically 11-14. 8:15am-10:00am
Intermediate Sailing For students who are familiar with 420s and/or have sailed on the Opti Race Team. It is organized into two tracks. Club Track is for sailors who are not interested in 420 racing but would like to advance their recreational sailing skills. The class includes instruction in 420s, as well as bigger boats. Racing Track is for sailors whose goal is to join the 420 Race M, T, W, Th, F Team. These sailors will learn 420 boat-handling including trapeze and spinnaker skills, refining sail trim, and basic racing rules and tactics. Both tracks will meet together at the 10:15am-12:15pm beginning of class for group instruction and will divide into their respective groups for on- the-water instruction. Instructors may move students between tracks over the course of a session if they determine that a student would benefit.
Opti Race Team For sailors who are eager to compete in Optis. Students are taught racing tactics, strategies, starts and rules, boat-handling drills and tuning techniques. Team members M, T, W, Th, F travel together to regattas at other clubs and help host an Unkie regatta at Quissett Harbor. As this is a Race Team, regular attendance and participation in races is expected. Parents 1:30pm-4:30pm are expected to help transport racers and equipment. See additional information about Race Teams below.
420 Race Team
The 420 Race Team is a select group of sailors who are dedicated to racing. Sailors must have completed Intermediate 420 Race Team or the racing track of the 420 class, and have demonstrated competency and commitment to join the Race Team. Sailors will practice M, T, W, Th, F racing skills as crew and skipper on 420s, and will represent QYC in team and fleet races at area yacht clubs. Parents are expected to help transport racers and equipment. See 1:30pm-4:30pm additional information about Race Teams below.
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2014 Tuition QYC Members Non-members
One Session Two Sessions One Session Two Sessions Seaman $425 $800 $600 $1,125 Mate $425 $800 $600 $1,125 Club Sailing $425 $800 $600 $1,125 Intermediate $490 $900 $635 $1,140 Opti Race Team $560 $980 $685 $1,270 420 Race Team $560 $980 $685 $1,270
Note: QYC Members may deduct $50 per session for the 3rd (or more) child from the family enrolled in the 2014 Junior Sailing Program
Class Placement Students will be assigned to classes according to ability and recommendation by sailing instructors and Junior Sailing Program Chairs. Children new to the QYC Junior Sailing Program are asked to describe their sailing experience on the registration form to assist in appropriate placement. Typically, sailors spend at least two sessions in each class; however, students may progress at different rates through the program. The 420 Race Team is a select group of sailors and participation on the team is at the discretion of the Race Coach.
Race Team Information Sailors on the QYC Opti and 420 Race Teams make a commitment to their team and class. It is important that team members regularly attend class. Opti Race Team members participate in Unkie Cup races at local yacht clubs on 4 scheduled Wednesdays in July and August. Racers are encouraged to participate in larger area regattas as appropriate. 420 Race Team members make a serious commitment to the team and the class. Sometimes the hours are irregular and can be affected by the weather. Those who attend practice regularly will have a greater opportunity to compete. 420 Race Team members who are not QYC members must join the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Association (SMSA) http://www.smsailing.org/ to be eligible to participate in area regattas. (QYC member students are automatically SMSA members). Without parental involvement, the team will not be able to attend events. Instructors are not permitted to drive junior sailors. Junior sailors are not permitted to drive club-owned trailers or equipment on roads/highways. Parents of Race Team members are expected to serve as principal contact/coordinator for one regatta a season. For that regatta they will be responsible for coordinating, with instructors and other parents, the transportation of sailors and their equipment to and from the regatta. A sailor will not be able to participate on the Race Team unless a parent helps coordinate at least one regatta transport a season. QYC provides all sailing and towing equipment. Junior racers are expected to load necessary equipment for individual events they are scheduled to sail. Race Team instructors will oversee any on-the-water transport of boats. In such instances, parents are still responsible for transporting and chaperoning junior racers to regattas.
Volunteers The Junior Sailing Program cannot operate without volunteers. Volunteers are need to help with a variety of tasks including: coordinating the QYC Unkie race day, sewing award burgees, towing boats to regattas and coordinating carpools for the Opti and 420 Race Teams. Parents are encouraged to be involved. No doubt we can use your help! Please complete the attached Volunteer Form and return with your Registration.
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Safety & Weather The safety of your children is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that all medical forms be completed and returned with the registration materials. Information will be confidential but shared with the instructors who are responsible for your children’s safety. Each instructor boat is equipped with a radio and first aid kit. It is very important that we know if your child is not attending class. Please call or email the Junior Program Co- Chairs to let us know if your child will not be attending class. The Junior Sailing Program Co-Chairs and the Head Instructor will review the weather forecast each morning. If possible thunderstorms are forecast, instructors will be advised to pay particular attention to the weather conditions on the water. The instructor in charge will cancel all water activities if there is thunder or lighting in the vicinity. All sailors will take shelter as quickly as possible.
Boat Care
Quissett Yacht Club provides Optis and 420s to the Junior Sailing Program. This program requires considerable capital investment for the purchase and maintenance of the teaching fleet. Student sailors should recognize the importance of caring for our shared property. We expect parents to reinforce this message. Our instructors enforce safe-sailing practices by all students, especially the very young ones.
As part of this program, instructors give students clear verbal signals and warnings to avoid collisions wherever possible. Although accidents do happen, especially among beginners, we feel that it is extremely important to reinforce that collisions are not ok. With this in mind, when a crash occurs, students are asked to relinquish the helm for a few minutes. This break is designed not as a punishment, but as a learning opportunity for sailors to talk with instructors and plan how they would handle the same situation the next time. After a few minutes, sailors are asked to take the helm and try once again.
If boats are damaged because of reckless, irresponsible, or unsafe behavior, parents will be asked to contribute to the cost of repairing boats and equipment. Thankfully, this has occurred very rarely.
Student Conduct Good sportsmanship and respectful behavior, both on and off the water, are expected of all sailors who participate in the QYC Junior Sailing Program. It is expected that all students will listen to and follow directions given by instructors concerning boats, skippers, crew, weather, etc. Instructors’ safety instructions and signals must be obeyed. All equipment and boats must be used safely and conscientiously. Quissett Yacht Club does not own any land or buildings. By seasonal agreement with the Quissett Harbor House Land Trust the QYC Junior Sailing Program is allowed to use some facilities belonging to the Land Trust, including the dock. The grounds of the Quissett Harbor House Land Trust, which include the Quissett Harbor House and deck, the Sailing Class room, the Harbor House Dock, and the Quamquissett Beach Club must be treated with respect. As posted, jumping or swimming off the Harbor House dock is not permitted under any circumstances. Inappropriate behavior, defined as uncooperative, disrespectful or unsafe behavior or in violation of Quissett Harbor House Land Trust guidelines, will not be tolerated. Such behavior will result in the sailor’s parent(s) being contacted and the possible suspension of the sailor from class.
Class Location/Meeting Place/Inclement Weather Classes assemble on the deck to the left of the Quissett Harbor House, rain or shine. Students should not arrive more than 10 minutes before class and must be picked up promptly at the end of class. QYC instructors are responsible for your child until they "check-out" at the end of class. Instructors’ schedules are full. Please do not keep them waiting.
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