Race Team

VYC Youth Racing Team
    The team will consist of our strong intermediate and advanced sailors who are interested in developing their sailing skills. Sail team members must be eager to race and willing to sail outside the harbor (depending on conditions). The Yacht Club will host weekly practices throughout the summer, and weekly practices throughout the school year. Sailors and their parents must be willing to travel to regattas throughout the year.
    We have some great coaches this year for our sailing team, Greg Dair and Eric Bowman. I'm excited that these coaches will be working with our Race Team.

Sail Team Benefits

   Individual and group coaching.

   Build advanced skills and learn racing rules.

   Priority on charter and use of VYC boats.

   Team support when participating in regattas.*

*Help and guidance will be given to parents on getting kids and charter boats to regattas.

Sail Team Requirements

   Junior membership in Ventura Yacht Club.

   Intermediate-to-advanced sailing skill level.

   Must be eager to race and willing to sail both inside and outside the harbor.

   Have proper gear for all conditions (see list below)

Gear Requirements

   PFD, whistle, sunscreen (on your skin, not in your bag!), water.

Suggested Gear
   Sailing booties, spray top, rash guard (long sleeved with UV protection), sailing gloves, hat/visor, sunglasses, neoprene shorts or hiking pants, protest flag.

VENTURA YACHT CLUB

OPTI RACE TEAM POLICIES

1. All participants must be a junior member of the Ventura Yacht Club

2. Proper use of the equipment and respect for the coaches and fellow sailors is mandatory. A violation of this policy is grounds for immediate removal from the Team. Sailors are expected to represent the highest values of seamanship and sportsmanship both on and off the water.

3. Sailors must be able to properly rig their own boat with their sail tied correctly to the mast/boom and their bow line prepared for towing every time (this means no parental assistance)

4. Sailors must have a basic understanding of the current Racing Rules of Sailing

5. Sailors must attend at least three regattas per year (this means that the sailor must be able to provide his/her own boat, either through ownership, charter or otherwise)

6. Given the limited resources available to the Team, a Sailor must attend 75% of all scheduled practices - if you can not commit to practicing with the team, then we will need to make space for someone else who is committed to the program.

7. To be on the Race Team, a Sailor must have competed in at least two Green Fleet Opti Events and must have finished in the top three in at least one of those events or must currently be racing in the Championship Fleet at all Regattas.

8. Race Team Members are required to participate in at least three (3) "Fun-day-Sundays" per year to assist the beginning sailors and promote an interest/awareness in the Race Team.

9. The Coaches of the Race Team will decided which fleet a sailor will sail in at each Regatta.

10. The VYC Junior Director will ultimately decide whether a sailor meets the requirements to be a member of the Race Team.

11. Sail hard and have FUN!!!

Spring practice sessions

We are encouraging anyone who is between the ages of 9-14 and has had previous experience sailing or racing a Sabot or Optimist, or if you are an intermediate/ advanced sailor to come and be a part of our Spring Training Series. We have two coaches, Greg Dair and Eric Bohman. They will organize and coach each practice weekly at the Ventura Yacht Club.
What you need to do to participate:

Contact the Ventura Yacht Club to register as a VYC Junior member.
The VYC office number is 642-0426. Cost for children of VYC members is $150, cost to non- VYC members is $175. Contact Elke Fedde to reserve your boat for practices – 320-1218 We have Optimist boats available for you to use for these practice sessions. If you decide to participate in a Regatta, there is a charter fee for that use.
Must wear appropriate sailing gear – warm clothes, close toed shoes and have a PFD .What to bring: water bottle and light snack to eat on the water if needed, towels to clean and dry boat when done and a positive attitude!

Hope to see you out on the water!!!!!!