Junior Sailing Program Guidelines

The purpose of the Junior Sailing Program is to provide members and their children (age 8 and above) with suitable experience in sailing and related activities to encourage knowledge, respect and appreciation for sailing, boats, the sea, and the unique qualities of life in our community.

Safety is always the most important consideration. Unsafe acts should be avoided, and must be reported to the Steward when observed. On the water, people and boats in distress are everyone’s concern. When a boat is in distress, other boats will proceed to aid the boat in distress as quickly as possible. Collisions must be avoided, regardless of who has the right of way.

The Dock Rules, as distributed with the club directory, must be reviewed and clearly understood by all students. The current U.S. Sailing Association’s Racing Rules of Sailing will govern all races, unless other instructions are given by the Club Steward or the Race Committee.

Students are expected to be cooperative and respectful to instructors, peers, members, and everyone on the water. Parents are expected to pick up their children on time. The Stewards are not responsible for watching over the students after sailing class has ended.

Families with Beetle Cats or Optimists are encouraged to use their boats. Families that do not use their Beetles or Optis regularly are encouraged to make their boats available for the junior program. This works best when a boat is offered to a specific junior sailor, whose family accepts responsibility for that boat.

Club owned Optis, JYs and 420s are for sailing class use only. Permission must be obtained from the Steward each time these boats are used. All boats must be returned to their proper anchorages and secured in the safest and most seamanlike manner.

Classes will be divided by talent and experience, not necessarily by age. The Stewards will determine class selections together with the Junior Sailing Committee. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes for which they have been enrolled. Recreational sailing for all ages and abilities will be also encouraged, with fun races, rendezvous, picnics, and scavenger hunts being part of the program. Experienced racers are encouraged to take junior sailors as crew and let the juniors participate. Sailing in most weather conditions will be encouraged to increase experience.

It is the responsibility of the boat owner / borrower to make sure that all boats traveling outside the harbor are equipped with the following minimum safety gear: a correct size wearable life jacket with a whistle for each occupant, an anchor with at least fifty feet of anchor rode, a pump, a paddle, a horn, and a compass.

Online registration is available here.