The ratio of students to instructors is 6:1 for beginning & novice sailing classes.
Depending on space available as well as an application process, we also have an eight (8) year olds’ program. Please email teampequot@gmail.com if you have an aspiring 8 year old sailor.
OPTIONS:
1. Beginner Opti 1 - Brand new to sport/less than 4 weeks total in Opti/Dingy sailing program (Ages - 8-15, Weight - max. 120lbs)
2. Novice Opti 2 & 3 - Completed at least 8 weeks in Opti/Dingy sailing program (Ages - 8-15, Weight - max. 120lbs)
3. Novice O'Pen Skiff - Completed at least 8 weeks in Opti/Dingy sailing program (Ages - 8-16, Weight - max. 130lbs)
**These choices are age, weight, skill dependent, and vary per child; the Program Chairs & Coaches can help in choosing which path is best for your sailor.**
As sailing skills improve, a morning Optimist/O'Pen Skiff sailor has several potential paths to expand and enhance their sailing experience during the afternoon.
The ratio of students to instructors is 8:1 for intermediate classes.
OPTIONS:
1. Intermediate - Optimist - Intro to Racing Program -
Completed at least 12 weeks in Opti/Dingy sailing program, interested in learning to race in regattas (Ages - 11-15, Weight - max. 120lbs)
2. Intermediate - O'Pen Skiff Program -
Single handed boat - Sailor has some sailing experience and would like to continue sailing and improve their sailing skills with a reduced racing focus and possibly participating in regattas. (Ages - 11-16, Weight - max. 130lbs) ** Recreational option, few regattas**
O'Pen Skiff sensation! These afternoon classes are for sailors who have started sailing and are comfortable in a boat and want to develop their skills further. The Open Skiff is a faster boat than the Optimist, but it is very wet, too!
2. Intermediate - RS Feva Program -
Intermediate double-handed boat - Sailor has some sailing experience, new to double handed boats, interesed in both recreational sailing and possibly participating in regattas. Best to sign up with a partner. (Ages - 12-16, Weight - Skipper & Crew total - max. 180lbs)
RS-Feva is a 12' sailing dinghy designed for two (2) sailors to teach kids how to sail as a team and how to interact to make the boat sail its best. Young sailors will learn how to sail with a mainsail, jib, and asymmetrical spinnaker. This boat is designed for intermediate sailors.
3. Intermediate - Intro to C420 Program -
Advanced double handed boat - Sailor has some experience sailing double handed boats, new to C420, interested in improving their sailing skills and possibly participating in regattas. Best to sign up with a partner (Ages - 14-18, Weight - Skipper & Crew total min. 220lbs) **420 requires the crew to bring their own well fitted, quick release harness. PYC does NOT offer harness**
***420 CREW MUST PROVIDE OWN QUICK RELEASE HARNESS***
Club 420 is a 13' 8" boat with a jib, spinnaker, and trapeze. The Club 420 enables young sailors to learn teamwork, trapeze and spinnaker techniques that simply can't be learned in single-handed boats. The Club 420 is safe and quick enough to keep competitive sailors challenged from high school to college. Sailors graduating from the Optimist and Feva classes will find the Club 420 to be manageable and a lot of fun.
4. Intermediate - Intro to 4.7/Radial/Standard ILCA ( Formerly Laser) Program -
Intermediate single handed boat - Sailor has some experience sailing, new to Lasers, interested in improving sailing skills and possibly participating in regattas. (Ages/Weight - 4.7 - 12-18/min. 95lbs; Radial - 14-18/min. 110lbs; Standard - 14-18/min. 130lbs)
The ILCA (formerly Laser) is the gold standard in single-handed, one-design sailing and an Olympic class. The ILCA was built on the philosophy that the sailor wins the race, not the boat.
These choices are age, weight, skill dependent, and vary per child; the Program Chairs & Coaches can help in choosing which path is best for your sailor.
Session 1 (4 weeks) & Session II (4 weeks) & Full Summer (8 weeks)
The ratio of students to instructors is 10:1 for advanced racing classes.
OPTIONS:
1. Racing Optimist Program -
(COACH APPROVAL REQUIRED) - Single Handed boat - Sailor has experience racing Optimists in regattas, completed at least 14 weeks in Opti/Dingy sailing program, interested in improving their sailing skills and will be participating in regattas. (Ages - 12-15, Weight - max. 120lbs)
Sailors can choose to race starting in the Optis. The Instructors and Head Instructor recommend children for the racing program based on a child’s demonstrated desire to race and their ability. Placement in the Opti Racing program is at the sole discretion of the Head Instructor.
Sailors progress from the Optis to either a single-handed boat, the ILCA (Formerly Laser), or to a double-handed boat, either Feva or Club 420s.
2. Racing RS Feva Program -
Double-handed boat - Sailor has some sailing experience, new to double handed boats, interested in imporving their sailing skills and participating in regattas. Best to sign up with a partner. (Ages - 12-16, Weight - Skipper & Crew total - max. 180lbs)
3. Racing C420 Program -
(COACH APPROVAL REQUIRED) Advanced double handed boat - Sailor has experience racing C420 in regattas, interested in improving sailing skills and will be participating in regattas. Best to sign up with a partner (Ages - 14-18, Weight - Skipper & Crew total min. 220lbs) **420 requires the crew to bring their own well fitted, quick release harness. PYC does NOT offer harness**
***420 CREW MUST PROVIDE OWN QUICK RELEASE HARNESS***
4. Racing 4.7/Radial/Standard ILCA (formerly Laser) Program - (COACH APPROVAL REQUIRED) Advanced single handed boat - Sailor has experience racing ILCA's, interested in improving sailing skills and will be participating in regattas. (Ages/Weight - 4.7 - 12-18/min. 95lbs; Radial - 14-18/min. 110lbs; Standard - 14-18/min. 130lbs)
**These choices are age, weight, skill dependent, and vary per child; the Program Chairs & Coaches can help in choosing which path is best for your sailor.**
*** FULL SESSION (8 WEEKS) PROGRAM ONLY ***
Advanced Junior Sailors are invited to participate in racing on privately-owned “Big Boats” with members of the Senior Yacht Club. The Junior Sailors must be willing to commit to on-the-water practices one night per week during the program. In addition, they must take Seamanship lessons and the JSA Seamanship test. A skipper, navigator, and two (2) watch captains are designated by the Head Instructor. These sailors must also take the navigation course and the JSA Navigation test.
The Seamanship and Navigation lessons are offered two (2) to three (3) times during the program either in the mornings or afternoons. A member of the Senior Yacht Club volunteers his/her time to teach the Junior Sailors.
All this preparation culminates in the JSA-sponsored Dorade, a one day regatta, hosted by Stamford Yacht Club and an overnight JSA-sponsored regatta hosted by Beach Point Yacht Club.
Sailors (and parents of sailors) in the Big Boat program are reminded, and agree as a condition of being invited to participate in the program, that boat assignments, crew assignments, and selection into the program are all decisions based on the safety of the vessel and its crew. The responsibility for these decisions is with the Head Instructor, the Big Boat Liaison, and the boat’s owner (or authorized representative).
Sailors must be turning 14 years of age or older within the calendar year.
In other words, if a participant turns 13 on October 11, that participant is considered a 13-year-old for purposes of the program, even though that participant is 12 years old during the program.
The Head Instructor selects a few experienced junior sailors to volunteer as Junior Mentors. The Junior Mentors assist the instructors during the morning Opti classes teaching the less experienced sailors. They are expected to volunteer three (3) mornings per week. They inspire the younger sailors and learn about the job of a sailing instructor.
Sailors must be turning 13 years of age or older within the calendar year.