WELCOME JUNIOR SAILORS

2012 Season

Welcome back for another summer of sailing!

DATES: Our 8-week program runs from MONDAY June 25th – Friday, August 17, 2012.  Jr. Sailors can participate for the full eight (8) week program, or choose to sail for four (4) weeks.  Please note that the full season is the best value. If you sign up for a single session and your child want to complete a second session, the cost will be $650/for EACH SESSION. NO EXCEPTIONS as we have to staff the program accordingly. (The four week programs will run from June 25th-July 20th, and again from July 23rd-Aug 17th.)

• Scheduled Days of NO class:  Wednesday, July 4th and Friday, July 13th (our Invitational Regatta so although no classes will be held, everyone can participate in the regatta)

Who is a Beginner? 1st year sailors, age 8 and up, who have never sailed before or who have very little experience sailing.  They will sail in the club boats OR in their own boat.  The morning session is also for 2nd and 3rd year sailors who need to learn more skills, who want to learn how to sail their own boat and become more confident in their sailing for pleasure or to learn about racing.  These classes are primarily held out in front of the yacht club on Fort Pond   Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Who is an Intermediate & Advanced Sailor? These returning sailors have confidence in handling their boat on the water and want to learn more sailing skills albeit for pleasure or for racing.  All have their own 420, Sunfish, Laser or Opti and want to sail out in Shinnecock Bay in more challenging winds and conditions.  The more serious sailor will be taught drills and be prepared to compete.  Monday – Friday 1:00pm – 5:00 pm

If you have a question about where to place your child, I can assure you that safety comes first… we will arrange to have an instructor sail with your child to assess their skills so that they are not put in a situation they are not prepared for.  Be aware that even if your child is trepidatious, the instructors know how to gently guide them along and do get the kids out on the water every day in all conditions.  The sailors make terrific progress over the course of the 8 weeks and you’ll see their confidence build.  For those returning sailors, you are expected to have your own boat.  So mom or dad, if you have a boat for sale, to share or to rent, please let me know: jrsailingsyc@gmail.com and I’ll forward it to this group of parents.

PARENT OF THE DAY (POD) Having a parent “on deck” and ready to field radio messages, phone calls and serve as ‘guardians of the porch’ is a vital part of the junior sailing program.  For safety reasons, we need a Parent of the Day EVERY DAY.  You can schedule yourself on our calendar on registration day and we are going to utilize the volunteer spot program for you to schedule yourself and be reminded of your commitment.  We really need to count on you to be there.

VOLUNTEERING Southampton Yacht Club is a hands-on, working-membership yacht club so we need parental involvement at our events to chaperone, make lunches, help with our own regatta, etc. so please sign up when asked.  Any Doctors or Nurses on Board? We could use you at our Regatta on July 13th.

TRAILERING YOUR BOAT TO A REGATTA  We do encourage all sailors to participate in as many regattas as they feel comfortable to practice what they’ve learning and have fun with other sailors from the other east end yacht clubs.  As a reminder, it is the parent’s responsibility to get their child to the regatta although we all pitch in sometimes and help each other out. So… let us know on the registration sheet if you have the ability to tow a trailer, if you own a trailer and how willing you are to help transport any other sailors’ boat to a regatta.

SAVE THE DATE:  SUNDAY, JUNE 24TH AT 4PM  At this “Jr. Sailing Orientation Day” we will be reviewing all registration paperwork, introducing our Instructors for the 2012 season, doing safety checks on all boats, and answering any questions you may have about the program. Jr. Sailors should bring their boats down to the club this day if they are not already there. We are pleased to announce Chris Wiecks is our Program Director/Club Steward and Geoffrey Loffredo, has returned as our Head Instructor again this summer.  Eddie Moan, Hallie Garvey, Charles Lawrence and Mary Margaret Clawson are our full time instructors and Sarah Warren, Noelle Crough and Marguarite Van Zijl will be our Junior Instructors.

IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION INFORMATION...
        PECONIC  GARDINERS Junior Sailing Association (PGJSA) is a local association that supports all junior sailors on the East End of Long Island by encouraging junior sailors to experience the joy of sailing and promoting the Corinthian spirit among all who participate.  Membership in this Association is required for a $25 fee/sailor.  This fee is included in our program fee this year.  www.pgjsa.org 
            EASTERN LONG ISLAND SAILING ASSOCIATION (ELISA) is another local organization that promotes sailing on eastern Long Island waters both recreationally and competitively believing it is healthy, constructive and a benefit to the community.  Check out their website:  www.elisailing.org  They have traditionally organized the Smythe, Bemis and Sears regattas. 
            US SAILING is the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing.  US SAILING's mission is to provide leadership for the sport of sailing in the United States and is a wonderful way to inspire your young sailor.  www.ussailing.org  à US Sailing membership is required in order to participate in any regatta.

Boat Identification   We do require that a SYC sticker, provided by us at Registration, be printed with permanent marker with the member’s name for identification purposes.  This sticker will be placed on the transom of your boat.  We also suggest that all additional equipment be identified as well.  This would include spars, sails, rudders, tillers, blades and your “milk crate”.  For those first year sailors, bring a milk crate for the locker room so you can store your life jacket, spare towel, sailing shoes and sunscreen and not have to bring things back and forth each day.

Be sure to have your sail numbers affixed to your sail.  Opti’s all come with numbers; sunfish class association membership is required in order to get numbers.  Membership in these Associations is a wonderful way to keep your sailor excited about sailing their particular class of boat as mailings come to them throughout the season with lots of great information about different regattas offered all over Long Island, great sailing/racing tips, where to buy sailing gear, etc.
 
Optimist Dinghy Association:                 www.usoda.org
420 Association:                                   www.club420.org
Sunfish:                                               www.sunfishclass.org

REGISTRATION   Complete the 2 enclosed forms and return with your payment as soon as possible.  Our program fills up fast.  We look forward to meeting you and your sailor(s) on Sunday June 24th at 4pm!  Refreshments will be served.

Sincerely,
Your Junior Sailing Committee…
Melanie Cirillo, Nancy Warren, Carole Bennett, Angela Boyer Stump, Deborah Van Zijl & Allyson Crough