Hello Everyone!
We’ve made the turn into the New Year, the holidays are behind us and sailing season is fast approaching! I am so excited to be returning as Program Director for another year. The Board and I have been hard at work this off-season preparing for another enjoyable summer on Greenwich Bay, and we’ve fine-tuned the curriculum to make this summer even better.
But a couple of quick things to note before we jump into the changes:
- Registration will be open beginning on February 1st, 2012 so mark your calendars.
- We will be introducing a sign-in / sign-out procedure this season so that students will be checked in upon arrival and must be signed out by a guardian before leaving the facility.
- Building upon last year’s success, we plan to host two Family Race Nights this season! Parents will have the opportunity to sail alongside their kids in a fun, mildly competitive race format. And afterwards we’ll have a potluck dinner by the water for all competitors and family members. Dates will be posted soon – you won’t want to miss these!
- Finally, regarding how to select the best class for your child. At the end of last season, the instructors made recommendations to each student about what class level to consider when registering. We realize however, that kids mature at different rates and a lot can change in one year – so please, use the recommendation only as a guideline. If you or your child wants to take a class that is not the original suggestion, that’s OK! The fact that he/she wants to come back to sailing classes is half the battle. If you have any questions feel free to give us a call at (401)484-7732. Maggie Elson or I will be happy to talk to you about the options and find the right spot for your child.
Beginners
The Beginner level is offered in the morning for 2-week sessions and will introduce students to the basics of sailing, as well as safety on and off the water. Once the Beginner feels comfortable with the fundamentals, he/she can easily move to a higher-level class (Opti Beginner in the morning, 420 Beginner in the morning or Sailing Adventures in the afternoon) depending on their age and height. As in the past, parents can still sign up for multiple 2-week sessions if they choose to do so.
Sailing Adventures
The content of this class remains the same as last year and we will be adding more fun ways to experience sailing in all of our vessels, including the much sought after J24 “Tiny Dancer.” As before, Sailing Adventures is offered for 2-week sessions in the afternoon.
Opti-Beginners
The Opti Beginner level will be offered in the mornings for 4-week sessions. This has been changed from last year’s 2-week session format, so that each student will have adequate time to master the basics of sailing solo. There will also be maximum class size instituted for this level so that each student will have his or her own Optimist to sail each day.
420 Beginners
The 420 Beginner level is a new class offered in the mornings for 4-week sessions and will introduce students to the basics of sailing a two person boat. The Club 420 is a 14-foot boat with two sails that is common on the Bay for youths approximately 13 years old and up, and at least 100 lbs.
420 Intermediates
Formerly called 420 Instructional, the 420 Intermediate level is offered in the afternoons for 4-week sessions, and will build upon the skills learned in 420 Beginners. The focus will be on the fundamentals of racing and will introduce spinnaker and trapeze work.
Laser Racing, Opti Green, Opti Racing, 420 Racing
The content of these classes will remain the same, however these classes will now meet 4 days per week (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) from 9am to 4pm. The Opti Race Team had this schedule last season and we have found that it worked very well for this level of sailing. Having class all-day allows enough time on and off the water to fully comprehend racing topics as well as simulating a regatta-like environment. In addition, racing students will be given Wednesdays off to help ease their overlapping class and regatta schedules.
Full Day Options (aka Combo Paks)
As before, we offer full-day instruction options when you select a morning and afternoon class for your student. As before these will be offered with a special savings, 50% off the second class! Options for the morning session will include Beginners, Opti Beginners and 420 Beginners, which can be paired with the afternoon class options of 420 Intermediate and Sailing Adventures.
Adult Sailing
Following the success we had in 2011, we are adding an additional adult sailing class for this year! Classes will meet one night per week (5-8pm) for 4 weeks and will combine classroom and on-the-water instruction in our J24 to cover the fundamentals of day sailing in a keelboat.
Again, if you have ANY questions – don’t hesitate to call us at 401-484-7732. Thank you and I’m looking forward to another great season at GBSA!
-Janel
Fair (day) 58 ° F
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