Opportunities After Year 1 Learn to Sail at PCYC – Q & A - 1 - 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 1 st is his/her desire & willingness to race. The 2 nd 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 1 st 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.