Program Components

     Leadership

     Physical Conditioning

     Sailing/On The Water Skills

     Team Building

The demands for good physical condition increase with the strength of the wind. Students learn the correct ways of using their bodies to get the maximum out of them for the conditions. Sailing demands a lot from your body, and we make sure the students are educated and otherwise prepared to meet those demands. Guidance for off the water training is given to improve overall performance.

Every activity involves the entire group. This gives the students the sense of team and partnership with the others in the class. The boats are rigged and de-rigged by everyone and the next activity will not start until everyone is finished. We try to have the students help each other in an effort to strengthen their sense of team and ability to work with others.

While skippering and caring for the boats used during the semester, students learn responsibility and initiative. By doing so, students learn to take charge and work together to solve problems and avoid accidents. Sailing a double handed dinghy like the CFJ requires that one, the skipper, is always in charge and motivates the other, the crew, to accomplish their team’s sailing goals. High school teams appoint a team captain to work with the US Sailing center staff in planning regattas, trips and events.

Boathandling

Students learn to control the boats in a variety of situations and weather conditions. We work first on boathandling because it is the building blocks for every other aspect of sailing and sailboat racing. Some common maneuvers include tacking, jibing, mark rounding, luffing, starting and stopping.

Sail Trim

Students learn to trim and shape sails in an effort to maximize their performance. Sail trim is one of the most critical aspects of sailboat racing and a good deal of time in practice is spent on optimizing the trim of sails.

Boatspeed

The movement of the boat through the water is a critical aspect of sailing. Methods of steering the boat, movement of the body and trim of the sails are taught to optimize the speed of the boat through the water.

Tactics/Rules

During a race sailors must deal with several variables: wind, current, waves, other boats, etc. We teach methods of dealing with all aspects of sailing and brining them together into a game plan. Students learn to study the conditions and other boats in an effort to formulate a strategy that will best suit their needs. As with other sports there are rules. The rules are taught so that students can avoid collisions as well as use them to their advantage during a race.

Weather

All sailors need to have some background on the weather and its influence on sailing. Weather is taught to help the students understand the wind and other forces on their boat. An understanding of weather is also important in safety and predicting bad situations before they occur.

Boating Safety

Safety is the number one concern of this or any other learn to sail training program. All aspects of safety are addressed. When it is safe to go out on the water. How to prepare yourself for weather, wind, waves. How to prepare your boat and equipment so you can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. Knots and other rigging techniques are taught to learn proper boat setup and operation. Basic right of way rules are demonstrated to control behavior around other vessels. Knowing simple navigation and right of way rules can greatly reduce the confusion on the water and prevent accidents.

Marine Ecology

Knowledge of the impact of each person and each vessel has on the marine environment. How each sailor can do their part to keep the bay and ocean clean and safe.

Summation

The combination of all of these skills is what makes a good sailor great. Becoming a competent sailor does not come easily, but requires a lot of work through training on and off the water. As always the main goal is to learn something while having fun. Good luck!

1. Attendance:  Attending each class day and regattas
2. Effort: An attempt to improve skills and abilities
3. Improvement of Sailing skills: Raising the level of abilities and performance
4. Attitude:  Showing positive demeanor both on and off the water.

An "A" is:

1. Daily attendance with the exception of excused absences;
2. High level of effort;
3. Improvement of sailing skills and abilities;
4. Great attitude toward sailing and others.

A "B" is:

1. Most all sailing days attended;
2. Above average level of effort;
3. Improvement of sailing skills and abilities;
4. Good attitude toward sailing and others.

A "C" is:

1. Several unexcused absences;
2. Average level of effort;
3. Some improvement of sailing skills and abilities;
4. Average attitude toward sailing and others.

1. Up to 50% absences;
2. Low level of effort;
3. Low improvement of sailing skills and abilities;
4. Low attitude toward sailing and others.

An "F" is:

1. More than 50% absences;
2. Little or no effort;
3. Little or no improvement;
4. Poor attitude toward sailing and others.

20% of class days
30% of class days
40% of class days
50% of class days

* All percentages include excused absences