Opportunities After Year 1 Learn to Sail at PCYC – Q & A

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Q1. What does sail camp offer in subsequent years? What are the additional skills that they will work on or boats that they will advance to? A1: The PCYC Learn to Sail Program is designed to provide youths 8 – 18 an opportunity to sail. Beginners start in 1-person Opti Prams – with a simple rig design and 1 sail. Typically participants spend 2-3 years in this boat learning the basics of sailing mechanics. As they grow (in size & age) and advance their skills they move into 2-person “420” sailboats. These boats have a main sail & a jib sail. The 420 begins to teach teamwork and introduces a more complicated rig and sail plan. As participants master the 420 with main & jib sails, the spinnaker sail (this is the big colorful sail you see out in front of sailboats) is introduced. On average, it will take 2-3 years for participants to become versatile in sailing the 420. Our youth Learn to sail program encompasses about 6 years (beginning at age 8 & completing at age 14) of continued learning, challenges and skill development. In addition to the Learn to Sail program, youths with the proper training can choose to participate on the yacht club sponsored Jr. Race Team. Q2. How old does my child have to be to race? A2: To participate as a member of the Jr Race Team a participant must be 8 yrs old, and can race until they are 18. Q3. Are there other requirements for my child to race in regattas? A3: Competitive sailboat racing takes place in a venue called a “regatta”. Yacht Clubs from Detroit, MI. to Erie, PA. & south to Columbus, OH. are members of the Interlake Yachting Association (I-LYA). A schedule of Jr. regattas is administered each year through I-LYA, and yacht clubs host regattas on Saturdays throughout the summer. Membership in an I-LYA Club is required for participation in these regattas. Port Clinton yacht Club is a member of I-LYA. Q4. How will I know if my child is ready to race in a regatta? A4: There are two clear indications of a child’s readiness to race. The 1st is his/her desire & willingness to race. The 2nd is a basic understanding of how to make a sailboat move. This comes from the Learn to Sail Program. Generally, most participants of the Learn to Sail Program have the basic skills required after 1 year of sail instruction. Q5. Where is a regatta schedule? How much do they cost and where do you register? Do they use a club boat to race? A5: The schedule of Jr regattas is completed by I-LYA & posted on their website. In addition, we post the Jr regatta schedule on the Port Clinton Yacht Club website, and in the Yearbook. The entry fee for each regatta is typically $15.00 per participant. Port Clinton Yacht Club provides the boats & equipment for our team members to participate. Q6. What is a good first regatta? A6: Regattas begin each summer in June and run through early August. We encourage any child who might have an interest in racing to participate in a regatta & get their feet wet. One of the earlier season regattas would be recommended as a 1st regatta. The Sandusky Sailing Club regatta is close, and in mid-June. We highly recommend that our youths are involved in the PCYC Northcoast Jr. Regatta – the highest attended regatta in I-LYA – hosted at our club in late June or early July. Q7. Can we come watch a regatta to see what they are about and what would be a good one to come and learn? A7: Parents and/or youth who might have an interest in racing are encouraged to arrange going with the Jr Race team to an area regatta as a spectator. The earlier in the season the better in order to allow the youth to participate if he/she so chooses after observing. Arrangements can be made through the LTS or Jr Race Chairpersons. Q8: Is there different equipment used to race versus used in learn to sail? A8: The only difference in equipment, between learn to sail & racing are the sails. Participants on the race team are using “racing sails” – these are newer sails which allow them to be more competitive. Q9: How is my child supervised during a race? How will they know what to do? A9: Port Clinton Yacht Club hires coaches who are experienced racers, and have completed the US Sailing Level I Sail Instructor course. Coaches travel with the team to regattas and are on the water with them. In 2008 PCYC dedicated 1 coach to the Opti competitors. This coach will be on the Opti course in a power boat to support these competitors. Each host club provides a number of safety boats and race committee boats to ensuring safety of competitors. If a competitor needs assistance he/she may ask the coach, race committee, or safety/spectator boats on the course for assistance. Q10. Will I be able to see them racing from land? A10: Maybe… it depends on the venue for the regatta. Most clubs attempt to provide spectator boats so that parents can observe. Often, parents of our club take a boat to observe. On occasion parents sit on shore while their child competes. The coaches DO NOT take parents out with them in the coach boats during a regatta while they are coaching.

Opportunities After Year 1 Learn to Sail at PCYC – Q & A

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Q11. Does a parent need to be present during the entire time of the racing? A11: No Q12: What is the typical agenda for a regatta? A12: Here is the typical logistics & timeline for a Saturday Jr regatta hosted by another club.

Jr Race team members load boats & equipment on Friday Parents have volunteered to transport equipment & team members All participants meet at the yacht club on Saturday morning (typically 0630 – 0800) Trailers are hitched to tow vehicles & head down the road to the regatta Upon arrival participants unload, rig & launch their boats (younger participants are aided by the coaches) The Jr Race coaches obtain entry forms, deliver them to participants for completion (or help the younger

ones complete the forms) & see that they are returned to the registrar 1 hour prior to the start of the 1st race there is a “competitors meeting” to inform participants of where their

race course will be, what the race committee boat looks like, and any other particulars for the day’s event Participants get in their boats & sail to their race course after the competitor’s meeting Generally there are 3 - 5 races back to back at a regatta – the 1st race starts at 1100, races begin after 2:30 After racing participants sail to the launch area, get boats out of the water, de-rig, stow equipment, & trailer While competitors are stowing boats & equipment, the race committee scores the races – an awards banquet

takes place about 1 hour after competitors are back onshore. After the awards ceremony the team drives back to PCYC & unloads boats & equipment.

o Jr Regattas are a full day event o Breakfast food & a lunch after racing are provided by the host club o Parents of team members take snacks & drinks to supplement o Each competitor should have water & a snack for themselves o Coaches make water available to competitors & ensure that they are hydrated throughout the day o In addition to the entry fee, the participant may want money to purchase a regatta t-shirt o Participants should have a dry set of clothing for after racing o Sunscreen, sunglasses & a hat are essential aides to racing o A picnic-type lunch, beverages etc are recommended for parents attending a regatta

Q13. How are races structured? A13: Jr racing is broken into classes of boats & age groups as follows:

There are 6 types of boats in which Jr sailors compete - Opti, CF-J, 420, Thistle, Laser, and Laser Radial Participants begin competing in Optis, as the get older they choose the boat they want to race, and they may

change boat classes from season to season or stay with one class throughout their years competing The Opti is the class in which beginners compete

o In order to race an Opti a competitor must be 8 & 14 yrs old, under 130 lbs, and less than 5’4” in ht. o The Opti class is broken into3-4 divisions

“Green Fleet” – the beginner Opti sailors. Coaches may assist participants in this fleet during the races. Generally, all Green Fleet participants receive an award!

“Red/White/Blue” or “Gold/Silver” Fleets –divided according to age The number of participants will determine if there are 2 or 3 fleets in addition to the Green Fleet

Competitors sail their boats around a course designated by inflated buoys “marks”. o There is a start line – all boats in a class start at the same time with the race committee counting down

from 5 minutes to 0 for the start. o The 1st leg of a race is usually “upwind”, or sailing the boat toward the wind & rounding a mark. o The 2nd leg may be “off the wind” (wind coming toward the side of the boat), or “downwind” (wind

coming from behind the boat) & sailing around a mark o And, finally the competitors sail too the finish line o The racing instructions will define the course & show a race course diagram

The PCYC Coaches will assist our team with understanding the race instructions, courses etc. before races. Within I-LYA emphasis is placed on adhering to the “Corinthian Rules of Sportsmanship” - competitors should sail

to the best of their ability, play fair, make friends & enjoy the sport! Q14. How do you find out how your child performed in the race? A14: Ask them or the coach. Generally, results are posted after the race by the host club & oftentimes the results can be accessed from the host club website