Tred Avon Yacht Club

* Approximately 60 sailors split among various classes
* Learn-to-sail and learn-to-race instruction
* Racing and recreational sailing for older students (typically teenagers) in Lasers, Laser Radials, or Club 420s
* Racing teams with coaches for all class sailboats
* Family-owned boats to promote a sense of responsibility for equipment
* Students are grouped in appropriate classes depending on age, ability, and interests.

Support Organizations

The Tred Avon Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program would not be possible without the support of a number of organizations. The following is a description of those organizations that make our program possible. All Junior Sailing participants must be members of CBYRA and US Sailing.

Tred Avon Yacht Club (TAYC) : First and foremost, the Tred Avon Yacht Club provides the organization, facilities, and overall support of the Junior Sailing Program. Sailors who are members of the Junior Sailing Program are able to “sail under the burgee” of the club. This means that the child is able to participate in sanctioned regional and national regattas under TAYC affiliation.*

All members of the Junior Program may participate in TAYC activities and regattas during the program session. Children and their parents may charge meals, registration fees, etc. to their club debit account. Statements will be mailed monthly.

*Note: Participation in regattas is only possible if affiliated with a sailing club or association.

Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA) : CBYRA is the governing organization for sailors in the Chesapeake Bay region. If you race a sailboat on the Bay, you must be a registered member of this organization. Membership in the Junior Program consists of two categories--Racing Juniors and Student Juniors. Racing Juniors are those CBYRA members, affiliated with a member club, who will not have reached their 19th birthday by December 31st and wish to be eligible for CBYRA High Point Awards "Affiliated" means being a member or family member, or a junior program enrollee in a Junior Instruction Program conducted by a member club. Racing Juniors must either pay annual Junior Dues of $10.00 or be a member of a family holding a family membership in CBYRA. Student Juniors are those juniors who enroll in a Junior Instruction program conducted by a member club, but who are not members or family members of CBYRA. Only Racing Juniors are eligible for CBYRA High Point Awards. As a CBYRA member, you child will receive a CBYRA number, which is used when registering for Junior Regattas on the Bay. Many sailors write down this number on their lifejackets, along with their sail number.

CBYRA tracks all CBYRA-sanctioned regattas and uses a formula to rank all sailors. This is referred to as the High Point as it gives the sailor a way of gauging him/herself against all of the other racers in their boat class. To be eligible for a High Point Award at the end of the season, a junior member must have participated in 5 or more regattas during the year. As a junior member, you can obtain a copy of the “Red Book” from http://www.cbyra.org/redbook/redbook.htm. This book lists all of the regattas on the bay with dates, logistics, and directions to the sites.

For more information, please call the CBYRA office at (410) 269-1194 or visit them on the web at www.cbyra.org.

Sailing : US Sailing is the governing organization of sailing in the United States. US Sailing handles overall governance of the sport, considers rule issues, promotes the sport throughout the country, promotes safety at sea, and supports sailboat racing at all levels.
US Sailing sponsors regional Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals, which are promotional events/regattas to encourage participation in sailing. Participation in these events requires membership in US Sailing.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

All participants are expected to follow the rules and standards for conduct.

Rules and Standards for Conduct

4All students are to remain on the Club grounds during the class hours.
4All class related driving is to be done by designated Adults only.
4All students must check-in and attend the morning meeting upon arrival for sailing class.
4All students must check out with his/her instructor before leaving the club.
4All students and instructors must wear properly fitted and secured USCG approved life jackets at all times on the water, and on or around the docks and jetty.
4Acceptable footwear on and off the water is required at all times. (No flip flops)
4Students are not allowed to climb on the boats, dollies, trees or fences on Club grounds.
4Sailors are expected to keep the grounds neat and trash-free.
4All students are required to have on hand at all times in their gear bag: sunglass, sun protection, adequate water supply, towel, and weather appropriate clothing.
4All students are responsible for his/her own equipment. Students shall not use or borrow something that does not belong to them without the expressed permission from the owner of the boat.
4During Jr. Sailing Class hours, students are not allowed on the second floor of the clubhouse, nor are they allowed on the balcony or the steps leading up to the balcony. They may not go behind the bar at any time.
4Shirts and shoes are required in the Clubhouse.
4Boats must be properly stored in their assigned location with all loose gear removed from the boat after hours.
4Sailors may not operate any of the coach boats, unless specifically requested by a Junior Sailing Staff Member.
4Swimming is only allowed when an adult is monitoring the activity.
4All students shall treat each other, the instructors, boats/equipment, buildings/grounds, the Club Manager and staff, TAYC members, parents, and visitors with respect at all times.

Responsibilities

If a student is skippering a boat (regardless of whether he/she is the owner or if the owner's child is on board), and an incident occurs where he/she is at fault, the student/parents will be responsible for the damage. Sailors should notify the instructor immediately when any accident occurs and the instructor should report the incident to the director as soon as possible who will then contact the parents.

Any student who infringes on another student's rights or in any way compromises the quality of another student’s experience will be asked to leave. We will not tolerate behavior resulting in unhappy or unsafe conditions. Before registering, you and your child need to consider these questions:

4Does my child really want to learn to sail or race?

4Does my child exhibit the maturity necessary to manage him/herself on the water and cooperate fully with the supervisors?

4Will my child handle him/herself in a friendly, sportsman-like, and respectful manner towards the adults, his peers, and all equipment at the Tred Avon Yacht Club and when off Club grounds when traveling and sailing under the TAYC burgee?

The consequences for behavioral infractions are serious and as follows:
If the infraction is serious, the student will be immediately dismissed from the program and not asked to return. Otherwise, the student’s parents will be called to come and get the child immediately and the parents and director will meet to determine when and if the child can return to class. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND IN TUITION.

Grounds Rules

4Sailors are expected to keep the grounds neat and trash-free.
4Boats must be properly stored in their assigned location with all loose gear removed from the boat after hours.
4There will be no climbing or playing on boats or dollies (or trees!).
4Sailors may not operate any of the coach boats, unless specifically requested by a Junior Sailing Staff Member.
4Sailors shall not borrow boat gear from another boat without expressed permission from the owner of the boat.
4Swimming is only allowed when an adult is monitoring the activity.

Parking Rules

4Use of the parking lot is permitted during drop-off and pick-up. However, the parking lot is reserved for TAYC members only on Wednesday evenings from 4:30-9:00pm. Non-TAYC members may park on the grass outside of the TAYC gates on Wednesday evenings.
4We suggest that you drive up to the clubhouse, drop off your guest(s), and proceed to the parking area outside the door.

A Primer on Optimist Racing Fleets

As a parent of a sailor in the Optimist class, you hear a lot of talk about "fleets". In Optimist class races, fleets separate sailors into smaller groups of similar age, skill, and/or maturity. In races, each Optimist displays a colored ribbon at the top of its sail (sprit) according to the fleet they are sailing in. Typically, the beginning racers (green fleet) have their own race course and race committee.

Green fleet was created for beginning or novice racers. The US Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) has a Green Fleet policy, which encourages novices to attend their first Optimist regatta and encourages their continued participation in Optimist racing. The following must be met to participate in a Green Fleet regatta:
1. Be age 15 or under during the calendar year.
2. Have not raced in red, blue, or white fleets unless there was no Green Fleet available at the regatta.
3. Sail an International Optimist Dinghy.

Once a sailor attains confidence in racing, he/she may race in the open division, which contains age-group fleets:

Fleet	Age Group
White Fleet	10 years and under
Blue Fleet	11-12 years old
Red Fleet	13-15 years old

The White, Blue, and Red fleets all race together. Trophies are awarded by fleet and overall (independent of age group).

Chesapeake Bay Optimist Team

The Chesapeake Bay Optimist Team (CBOT) is run under the auspices of CBYRA. Its mission is to practice together and to travel as a team to major regattas. The team consists of the prior years returning members and the top finishers from last years Optimist High Point Competition for a total of 12 members. Members must belong to CBYRA. However, they will still participate under the burgee of their club. CBOT is managed and funded by the parents of the team members. This year's team leader is Pucky Lippincott.

Participating in a Regatta

The Junior Sailing staff would like to make your travel to and from the regatta a little easier. Before you attend any regatta, you should think about the following things:

4Memberships: Be sure to have complete USODA, CBYRA, and US Sailing Memberships. You will not be able to race without them. (Some people write these numbers on the inside of their lifejacket!)

4Location: The Jr. Sailing Director will generally give directions on how to get to the site & the time it takes to get there, however these are also generally easy to come by online.

4Launching facilities: Does it have shallow water, floating docks, a long sail out to the course, beaches, etc.? Is there a large enough unloading area? It pays to be early. There are many sites where it is hard to fit in trailers and boats if you are late. Your child may end up launching last and feeling stressed from rushing out to the course before the racing even begins!

4Supervision/Safety: You are responsible for the transportation of your children, their supervision, and their gear at regattas.

4Coaches will be on the water at the Monday through Thursday junior sailing regattas that we choose to send our students to.

4Parents cannot be on the coach boat. If you want to go out on the water, you must find or bring your own boat.

4Weekend regattas are the parents’ responsibility to organize. They are not on regular class days and instructors will not attend as a part of the program. However, coaches and the coach boat are available for a separate fee outside of the program.

4Towing Responsibilities: While the director will help arrange transportation, it is ultimately your responsibility to transport your child and his/her boat to a regatta to make other transportation arrangements for your child and his/her boat.

· When you accept the commitment of bringing someone else’s boat or child to a regatta, you must follow through. Boats and children must go to the regatta site. If there is a delay or cancellation due to weather, it will be made at the site.

· Pack up and double-check all of your equipment. If you boat is on a TAYC trailer, it is your responsibility to ensure your boat is secure and your gear is stored inside the trailer.

· Always bring plenty of water or a sport drinks. Not all yacht clubs supply water for participants. Dehydration is a real and serious problem on the water.

· Always have at least some snacks on board your boat. Lunch breaks can be late or at the end of the regatta. Hunger can disturb your racing strategy! It is the sailor’s responsibility for placing their own food and water on the coach boat if the race does not break for lunch.

· Make sure you bring money you might need, such as for the registration fee, phone calls, and snacks.

· Remember to bring your life jacket, suntan lotion, foul weather gear, hat, sunglasses, and watch with a countdown setting.

4 Representing TAYC : TAYC Sailors have a reputation for being polite. Sailors should always thank the race committee after they finish a race. Also, act politely towards other sailors and coaches.

4 The awards ceremony is an important event for many yacht clubs. Usually, the Commodore or fleet captain will hand out the trophies.

· If your child will be receiving a trophy at the awards ceremony, he/she should make sure you are present, have a shirt on, take your hat off before going up, and give a Corinthian handshake. A Corinthian handshake is a firm handshake with the right hand as you accept the trophy with your left hand. You should look the person handing you the trophy in the eye.

· If your child did not receive a trophy at the regatta, please remind them to congratulate those who did.

What to Bring and What to Wear to Sailing Class

What to Wear:
4 Fast-drying shorts
4 Breathable shirts (preferably with long sleeves)
4 Shoes (required)

Accessories:
4 Sunglasses 100% UV protection (preferably polarized)
4 Hat
4 Swimsuit

Every Day Supplies:
4 Waterproof Sunscreen- Apply before leaving house and bring some for later. (Sunscreens with Titanium Dioxide or Zinc offer better protection)
4 Water Bottle (freeze the night before)
4 Life Jacket (Coast guard approved Type III)
4 Whistle (attached with short line to life jacket)
4 Bailer
4 Watch with countdown timer (for racing students)
4 Foul weather gear (optional)
4 Towel (optional)
4 Change of clothes (optional)
4 Lunch for Mon, Tues, Thurs (if not ordering)
4 Snack/ Supper for Wednesday Night Races

Please make sure that you mark all clothes, accessories, and supplies with the student's name in a permanent marker.

Sailing Organizations, Associations, and Classes

International Sailing Federation www.sailing.org
The International Sailing Federation is the world governing body for the sport of sailing. Their site features news, events, regatta information, rules, rankings, sailors, and merchandise.

US Sailing www.ussailing.org
US Sailing is the national governing body of sailing in the US. Their mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing. Their website offers sailing news, gear, racing rules, and information on a variety of sailing events and opportunities.

Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association www.cbyra.org
The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA) is an organization comprised of over 75 member clubs, more than 50 classes of racing sailboats, and over 1800 individual members from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and North Carolina. CBYRA represents these clubs, classes and individual members to US Sailing. Their website features schedules, results, area yacht clubs, and junior event information.

The Club 420 Association www.club420.com
The Club 420 Association website gives an overview of the association. It provides information on class regulations, rigging tips, and links to other sailing websites. It also features a classified ad section for purchasing and selling Club 420 boats, parts and equipment.

United States Optimist Dinghy Association www.usoda.org
The United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) is the national class organization for Optimist sailing in the United States. It is the US member of the International Optimist Dinghy Association.

International Laser Class Association www.laser.org
This website is the home of the North American Region of International Laser Class Association. It lists boats for sale and boats wanted, fleets, schedules, and other information on Laser sailing.

College Sailing www.collegesailing.org
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada. This site provides an overview of college sailing and contains a team database, individual directory, rankings, racing information, awards, employment database, and everything you need to keep up with the latest in college sailing.

Interscholastic Sailing Association www.highschoolsailingusa.org
The Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) governs secondary school sailing in the United States, in both independent and public high schools. Sailor eligibility starts at the ninth grade; there are no age limits. This site provides an overview of high school sailing and contains a team database, racing information, results, employment database, and everything you need to keep up with the latest in high school sailing.

Boats, Parts, Equipment, and Gear

If we don't have the part you need for sale at the club (ask!), try the following suppliers:

Annapolis Performance Sailing (APS) www.apsltd.com
Based in Annapolis, APS is a comprehensive performance sailing store. They sell boats, boat parts, hardware, accessories, line and apparel.

Seitech www.seitech.com
Seitech makes launching dollies for all types of small watercraft. Their website features their full line of dollies, trailer racks, storage racks, parts, and accessories/

Vanguard Sailboats www.teamvanguard.com
Vanguard supplies boats, accessories, and services to the small sailboat market. They sell Club 420s, Optimists, Lasers, Radials, and many other small boats, boat parts, and accessories. Their site also offers tuning tips for each of the boats they sell.

Sailing is obviously an outdoor sport, and as such is subject to the weather. The Program Director will have the final say each day about sending the sailing students out onto the water. Weather conditions that may prevent our Junior Sailors from going out onto the water are:

4 too little wind ( Especially for Junior Sailors, if there is NO wind, and the boats will simply drift with tide, the Director may keep them on shore and wait for it to fill in. Sending young sailors out in no wind is a sure way to turn them off from the sport.)

For participants in a 6 or 8 week program, we usually miss only 3 - 4 days, sometimes only 1/2 days out on the water. However, for the Intro to Sailing groups, who only attend for 1 or 2 weeks, if a front is stalled around us, and the weather is not safe for sailing, it is possible that we will not have the students on the water as much as we would like.

This is not something over which we have control. Please remember that safety and fun are key elements of this program. If students cannot go out onto the water, the Program Director will provide activities that are sailing and boating-related for the students.