Junior Sailing Parent Handbook

Support Organizations and Sailing Associations/Classes

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 Program participants are encouraged to become members of Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association, US Sailing, and their respective class association. Those juniors who plan to race must become members, as many regattas require this to participate.

Tred Avon Yacht Club: provides the Junior Sailing Program with facilities and overall support, especially through the Junior Committee and Parent Volunteers. Sailors who are students in 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 students of the Junior Sailing Program may participate in TAYC activities and regattas during the program dates. 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: 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. The CBYRA website features schedules, results, area yacht clubs, and junior event information. The organization tracks all CBYRA-sanctioned regattas and uses a formula to rank all sailors. This is referred to as the High Point, and 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 CBYRA Junior Member must have participated in 5 or more regattas during the year. Members can obtain a copy of the "Red Book," which lists all of the regattas on the bay with dates, logistics, and directions to the events. For more information, please contact CBYRA at (410) 269-1194 or visit them online at www.cbyra.org.

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, certifies instructors, 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 US Sailing Membership (www.ussailing.org).

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

The Club 420 Association: provides information on class regulations, rigging tips, and links to other sailing websites. Their website features a classified ad section for purchasing and selling Club 420 parts, equipment, and boats (www.club420.org).

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

International Laser Class Association: provides information on Laser Class regulations, fleets, and schedules (www.laser.org).

The Interscholastic Sailing Association: governs secondary school sailing in the United States, in both independent and public high schools. Sailor eligibility starts at the ninth grade. Their website provides an overview of high school sailing and contains a team database, racing information, results, and everything you need to keep up with the latest in high school sailing (www.highschoolsailingusa.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, and everything you need to keep up with the latest in college sailing (www.collegesailing.org).

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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

Rules and Standards for Conduct

All students are to remain on the club grounds during class hours.
All class related driving is to be done by designated adults only.
All students must check in and attend the morning meeting upon arrival for class.
All students must check out with his/her instructor before leaving the club.
All 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.
Acceptable footwear on and off the water is required at all times. (Flip-flops or open toed sandals do not protect your feet in a boat. It is best to wear non-skid/marking boat shoes)
Students are not allowed to climb on the boats, dollies, trees, or fences on club grounds.
Sailors are expected to keep the grounds neat and trash-free.
All students are required to have on hand at all times in their gear bag: sunglasses, sunscreen, adequate water supply, towel, and weather appropriate clothing.
All 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.
During 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.
Shirts and shoes are required in the clubhouse.
Boats must be properly stored in their assigned location with all loose gear removed from the boat after hours.
Sailors may not operate any of the coach boats.
Swimming is only allowed when an adult is monitoring the activity.
All students shall treat each other, members of the TAYC community, visitors, boats/equipment, and buildings/grounds with respect at all times.

Responsibilities

If a student is skippering a boat and an incident occurs where he/she is at fault (regardless of whether he/she is the owner or if the owner's child is on board), the student/parents will be responsible for the damage. All sailors involved must notify their instructor(s) immediately when any accident occurs. The instructor(s) will then report the incident to the program director, who will 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:

Does my child really want to learn to sail or race?
Does my child exhibit the maturity necessary to manage him/herself on the water and cooperate fully with the Junior Sailing Program Staff?
Will my child handle him/herself in a friendly, sportsman-like, and respectful manner with adults, peers, and with all equipment at Tred Avon Yacht Club, and extend this positive behavior when 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 program director will meet to determine when and if the child can return to class. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND IN TUITION.

Grounds Rules

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

Parking Rules

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

A Primer on Optimist Racing Fleets

As a parent of a sailor in the Optimist Class, you will hear a lot of talk about "fleets". In races, Optimist 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 their fleet (Green, White, Blue, or Red).

Green Fleet was created for beginner or novice racers and typically have their own race course and race committee. The US Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) has a Green Fleet Policy, which encourages novices to attend their first regatta and encourages their continued participation in racing. The following must be met to participate in a Green Fleet Regatta:

Be age 15 or under during the calendar year.
Have not raced in red, blue, or white fleets unless there was no Green Fleet available at the regatta.
Sail an International Optimist Dinghy.

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

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

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

Participating in Regattas

The Junior Sailing Program 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.

Memberships

Be sure to have memberships with CBYRA, US Sailing, and your child's respective class association. Many regattas make this a requirement to race. Some parents write these numbers on the inside of their child's lifejacket!

Location

The program director will generally give directions on how to get to the regatta site and the time it takes to get there, however this information is also generally easy to come by online.

Launching 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 regatta 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!

Supervision/Safety

You are responsible for the transportation of your children, their supervision, and their gear at regattas.

Club policy is that no child may ride with anyone under the age of 21.
Coaches will be on the water at the regattas posted in the Junior Sailing Calendar.
Parents cannot be on the coach boat. If you want to go out on the water, you must find or bring your own boat.
Unscheduled regattas are the parents' responsibility to organize. Coaches/instructors will not attend as a part of the program.

However, coaches are available for a separate fee outside of their junior program commitments.

Towing Responsibilities

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

Never assume that a club trailer is going to a regatta.
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 your boat is on a TAYC trailer, it is your responsibility to ensure your boat is secure and your gear is stored inside the trailer.
Everyone helps load and unload the trailer and coach boat.
Everyone also helps pick up at the end of the day.

Things to Bring to a Regatta

Always bring plenty of water or 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, and a way to store the trash that comes with these snacks. 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 his/her 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, sunscreen, foul weather gear, hat, sunglasses, and a watch with a countdown setting.

Representing TAYC

TAYC Sailors have a reputation for being polite and following the Rules of Racing. Sailors should always thank the race committee after they finish a race and also act politely towards other sailors and coaches.
The awards ceremony is an important event and it is appropriate for all sailors to attend regardless of how they finish in the regatta. TAYC and the Junior Sailing Program expects all sailors to conduct themselves according to the Corinthian Spirit, as outlined by US Sailing.

What to Bring/Wear to Sailing Class

What to Wear

Fast-drying shorts
Breathable shirts (preferably with long sleeves)
Shoes (required)

Accessories

Sunglasses 100% UV protection (preferably polarized)
Hat
Swimsuit

Every Day Supplies

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

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

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 (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, and many other small boats, boat parts, and accessories. Their site also offers tuning tips for each of the boats they sell.

Weather

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 students out onto the water. Weather conditions that may prevent students from going out onto the water are:

too much wind (Yes, even sailors sometimes say this.)
too little wind (Especially for students, if there is NO wind, and the boats will simply drift with tide, the program 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.)
if there is a threat of a thunderstorm (Safety is the key here!)

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. This is not something over which we have control. Please remember that safety and fun are the key elements of the Junior Sailing Program. If students cannot go out on the water, the program director and instructors will provide students with sailing and boating-related activities.