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Class Descriptions & Objectives


Optimist Classes

Designed for sailors weighing 50-120 lbs., the Optimist Dinghy (Opti) has become the world standard for introductory junior trainers. With a simple rig and a light, durable hull, Optimists have become the #1 choice of junior sailors.
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Sandy Bay Starters

Sandy Bay Starters is our newest class offering. 

Sandy Bay Starters is for children five - seven years of age. It is designed to introduce young children to Sandy Bay Yacht Club and different water focused activities. There will be a focus on getting children comfortable in and around the water, riding on boats and learning how to stear an optimist sail boat. Sany Bay Starters may also get the opportunity to sail larger boats with Instructors. 

Sandy Bay Starters participants must be accompanied by an adult outside of all class time.

Membership is not required for the Sandy Bay Starters. 

Classes meet each Friday throughout the summer, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. 

Class fees are $50.00 per class and can be registered for individually. 

What to Wear & Bring: Coast Guard certified life jacket (required every day) - Clothing: quick-dry shorts and shirts, warm layer, light raincoat (spray top is optional) - Footwear: closed-toe water-friendly shoes - Gear / Accessories: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water bottle, sailing gloves, towel. 

Swim Check - Each new sailor will be required to participate in a "swim check" this will be conducted while wearing a life jacket and with an Instructor right along the dock to ensure that the child is comfortable in the water.


 


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Opti Beginner

This is an entry level, learn to sail class. No prior sailing is required. Knowledge of boat rigging, basic sailing, water safety and points of sail are emphasized. Sailors must be at least 8 years old.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm

$400.00 per session

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Opti Intermediate

This class is for sailors who have successfully completed the beginner class. It is for those sailors who wish to spend some more time developing their skills in order to become more independent before moving on to the next level.

Monday,  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00 - 4:00pm

$400.00 per session

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Opti Introduction to Race 

Instructor Approval Required

The introduction to race class is for sailors who have successfully completed the Intermediate class or an equivalent class. Students will continue to improve their sailing skills while they learn basic racing skills through drills and actual racing. Racing rules, tactics, boating safety and fun are emphasized. Sailors will be encouraged to participate in a few local regattas. 

Tuesday through Friday 1:00-4:00pm

$400.00 per session

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Opti Racing Team

Instructor Approval Required

Sailors will work together as a team to develop boat handling and racing skills. Team members will be expected to participate in some selected regattas. Students expected to be rigged and ready to sail by the time the class starts. 

Tuesday through Friday 1:00-4:00pm

$400.00 per session

420 Classes

The 420 is a high-performance, double-handed racing dinghy which stands up to the rigors of club and collegiate programs. The Club 420 is manageable for sailors coming out of the Optimist class and enables young sailors to learn teamwork, trapeze, and spinnaker techniques.
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420 Beginner

This class is for older beginners who are new to sailing and sailors new to the 420. Sailors must be at least 12 years old and/or weigh more than 100 lbs. The 420 provides older students the chance to learn in a double-handed boat. It will also teach previous Optimist sailors skills to sail in a doublehanded boat. Students will learn how to both crew and skipper. The focus of this class will be sailing as a fun, social sport.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm

$400.00 per session

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420 Intermediate

This class is for second year 420 sailors. Sailors will learn more advanced boat handling maneuvers and basic skills. The focus of this class will not be racing but improving skills. Sailors will learn to use a spinnaker and trapeze harness.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm

$400.00 per session

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420 Racing Team

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Instructor Approval Required

Sailors will work together as a team to develop boat handling and racing skills. Team members will be expected to participate in some selected regattas. Students expected to be rigged and ready to sail by the time the class starts. 

Tuesday through Friday 1:00-4:00pm

$400.00 per session

Junior Program Class Objectives

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Opti Beginner:

The goal of the optimist beginner class is to introduce the sailors to sailing in a fun, safe, and thorough manner. It is not important or expected to have any previous sailing experience.


1. Wind Direction:

Explain how to find the wind direction using at least three different ways

Able to see wind on water

2. Rigging:

Point out and explain the basic parts of the boat

Point out and explain the parts of a sail

Rig and de-rig an Optimist

Learn about boat care and equipment storage

Learn basic knots (figure eight, square knot, bowline)

3. Boat Handling:

Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions

Basic boat handling skills such as: handling a mainsheet and tiller together, landing at a dock, getting out of irons, sailing in a straight line, tacking and jibing

Explain and demonstrate the points of sail and sail trim:

Upwind

Downwind

Reaching

Explain and demonstrate a capsize and recovery

Safety position

4. Rules:

Explain the basic Right of Way rules: avoid collisions, starboard/port

5. General:

Sails in and out of harbor through channel

Lands on a dock or mooring

Demonstrate an understanding of nomenclature such as up, down, irons, starboard, port, tack, jibe, hike

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Opti Intermediate:

The goal of the Opti Intermediate class is to reinforce the basic skills first introduced in the beginner class, while expanding sailors’ knowledge and ability as they are exposed to more in-depth topics.


1. Wind Direction:

Constant awareness of wind direction and strength

Able to see wind on the water

2. Rigging:

Rig and de-rig an Optimist Independently

Higher standard of boat care and equipment storage

Master basic knots (square knot, figure eight, bowline)

Parts of the boat and sail emphasizing concepts of powering and de-powering

3. Boat Handling:

Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions

Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions

Use of the tiller extension

4. Tacking:

Tacks upwind staying on breeze

5. Jibing:

Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)

6. Rules:

Explain the basic Right of Way rules: avoiding collisions, starboard/port, windward/leeward

7. Maintenance:

Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)

Reports damage

8. General:

Sails in and out of harbor in channel

Lands on dock or mooring

Demonstrates an understanding of nomenclature such as head up, head down, irons, port, starboard, windward, leeward, hike, trim


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Introduction to Opti Race:

Sailors in the introductory to race course will learn basic racing techniques and tactics while emphasizing boat handling. This is a prerequisite to the race team.


1. Wind Direction:

Constant awareness of wind direction and strength

Able to see and navigate around lulls and puffs

Learn about wind/weather patterns

2. Rigging:

Boat and sail set up using a racing sail (for different conditions)

Sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)

Daggerboard adjustment

3. Boat Handling:

Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions

Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions

Tacks upwind staying on breeze

Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)

4. Rules/sailing tactics:

Knowledge and demonstration of basic racing rules

Starting sequence/ starting strategies

General courses

5. Maintenance:

Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)

Reports damage

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Opti Racing:

The optimist race team at Sandy Bay Yacht Club aims to continue to improve sailing skills while learning proper techniques and skills to use while racing. The class will focus on boat handling, racing rules, tactics and strategy. Sailors are encouraged to participate in local and travel regattas throughout the summer.


1. Demonstrate Basic Rigging Techniques:

Boat and sail set up (for different conditions)

Sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)

Daggerboard adjustment

2. Improve boat-handling Skills:

Proper sail trim

Body positioning

Tacking and gibing techniques

Ability to increase or decrease speed by altering sail trim (or by changing boat set-up)

3. Know the basic Racing Rules:

Fair sailing o Accepting penalties

Boats on opposite tacks o Boats on same tack

Boats changing tacks o Protests

4. Demonstrate Tactics and Strategies:

Starting: positioning on the line, starboard/port approach, one minute rule

Upwind sailing: clean air, blanketing and covering, windshifts

Downwind sailing: rhumb-line, high or low course, attacks and defenses, windshifts

Sailing in clean air (learn to sail your own race!)

Mark Roundings

Current

Shifts

Finishing

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420 Beginner:

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420 Introduction to Race:

The purpose of this class is to prepare the more advanced 420 sailor for the race team. Sailors in the introductory to race course will learn basic racing techniques and tactics while emphasizing boat handling. This is a prerequisite to the race team.


1. Wind Direction:

Constant awareness of wind direction and strength

Able to see and navigate around lulls and puffs

Learn about wind/weather patterns

2. Rigging:

Boat and sail set up (for different conditions)

Sail controls (how to prepare for different wind)

Rigging tension o centerboard adjustment

3. Boat Handling:

Trim for different points of sail and wind conditions

Awareness of weight placement in different wind and wave conditions

Skipper/crew communication

Experience both as a skipper and a crew o Spinnaker

Using a trapeze harness effectively

4. Rules/sailing tactics:

Knowledge and demonstration of basic racing rules

Starting sequence o Starting strategies

General courses/ types of courses

Mark roundings

5. Maintenance:

Can make minor repairs (replacing ties or ring dings)

Reports damage

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420 Afternoon Adventure:

The purpose of this class is to improve sailors’ skills in the 420 in a non-competitive and adventurous atmosphere. Sailors will continue to learn  boat-handling, including how to sail with a spinnaker, basic navigation, and most importantly seamanship.


1. Wind Direction:

Constant awareness of wind direction and strength

Understanding of sea breeze and basic weather patterns

2. Rigging:

Racing rigging—purchase systems, mast tune, etc

Boat rigged for different wind condition

Storage of boats is kept at the highest standard!

Exposure to sailing boats other than the 420

3. Boat Handling:

Constant changes in weight placement for different wind and wave conditions

Sails without rudder

Steers with weight as much as possible, using rudder very little

Tacks upwind staying on breeze, using weight to facilitate tacks

Skipper and crew movements synchronized

Jibes safely in breeze (S-jibe, sheeting in to control jibe)

4. Sail Trim:

Uses sail controls to gain desired sail shape

De-powers and powers-up when appropriate

5. Learn Basic Navigation:

How to read a chart o compass and applications

Plot a simple course

6. Seamanship:

Basic emergency procedure

Docking

Knots

Coiling a rope and throwing towline

Coming along side another boat

7. Maintenance:

Can make minor repairs

Reports damage


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420 Race Team:

The goal of the 420 race team is for sailors to continue to improve and perfect skills while learning various strategies and techniques. Sailors will practice advanced tactics. Sailors are encouraged to participate in local and regional regattas.


1. Demonstrate Basic Rigging Techniques:

Boat and sail set up

Sail controls (how to prepare for different wind/conditions)

Centerboard adjustment

2. Improve boat-handling Skills:

Proper sail trim o body positioning

Tacking and gibing techniques

Ability to increase or decrease speed by altering sail trim

Keeps boat flat upwind and reaching/ heels to windward downwind

Able to properly and effectively use the trapeze harness

Able to set and sail with spinnaker o skipper/crew communication

Perfects spinnaker skills

3. Understands the race course:

Types of courses

Starting sequence/Starting techniques

Mark Roundings/Different legs

4. Know the basic Racing Rules:

Fair sailing

Accepting penalties

Boats on opposite tacks

Boats on same tack

Boats changing tacks

Protests

5. Demonstrate Tactics and Strategies:

Starting: positioning on the line, starboard/port approach, one minute rule

Upwind sailing: clean air, blanketing and covering, windshifts

Downwind sailing: clean air, rhumbline, high or low course, attacks and defense, windshifts

Mark Roundings

Current

Shifts

Finishing

6. Introduce Team Racing


Contact

Secondary address

Family