Class Descriptions & Objectives
Optimist Classes
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
420 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
Junior Program Class Objectives
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
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
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
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
420 Beginner:
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
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
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