Interested in joining a race team? Please review information below.
Optimist Race Teams
Age: 8-15 (Green Fleet) | 10-15 (CHAMP RWB) | 10-15 (HP RWB)
Time: 10:30 - 4:30 (Green Fleet) | 10:30 - 4:30 (CHAMP & HP RWB)
The AYC Optimist program is designed to provide a continuum of training to allow participants to develop through our Sailing Fundamentals program, including the Creek Critter and Sea Squirt courses for ages 5-8, and the Optimist ONE course for those seeking to progress their skills in the Optimist class. From there, our Optimist program moves sailors up towards the learn-to-race Green Fleet by taking the Lime Green program, where first year racers learn the skills necessary to participate on a race course and begin competition at local regattas and events. Finally, young sailors develop their skills necessary to become athletes on the CHAMP Red, White, and Blue (RWB) Racing Team. With both local and travel events at this level, athletes see progression towards levels attained only by the best athletes in the sport. The HIGH-PERFORMANCE RWB race team will continue training with Coach Arthur to refine their repertoires. Along the way, the program is designed to promote sportsmanship and fair sailing, ensuring that sailors are enjoying their time on the water and challenging each sailor to progress as far as their drive and ability can take them.
For more information, contact Opti Program Director Arthur Blodgett, our Junior Fleet office via phone at (410) 263-9267 x 112, or email [email protected].
Optimist Green Fleet (Chesapeake) Race Team
This introductory race team sets sailors on “a pathway to excellence” in racing with a focus on fun, self sufficiency, advanced-path techniques for the Optimist and the awareness to race any sailboat! The team will practice at AYC and travel to local events around the Chesapeake Bay and sometimes Mid-Atlantic area, competing in the fun focused Green Fleet, where sailors learn to love corinthian competition and become hooked on racing hopefully for the rest of their lives. Sailors will learn all the rigging and boat-handling skills to set them on a trajectory towards our Championship Fleet!
Class Prerequisites:
*LIME GREEN or equivalent program.
Expectations:
- Sailors are required to own their own Optis and they must be in working condition, to further learn seamanship, self sufficiency and care of equipment!
-Will travel with the team and represent AYC at away regattas!
- Must be able to sail upwind with confidence.
- Can tie all the knots required for the Opti.
**Parents are expected to help with regatta travel. For example: (Towing Assistance)** No Tow… No Go…
***For certain overnight and out-of-state regattas, there may be an additional Regatta Event Fee in addition to the normal Summer Program Tuition***
Class Objectives:
- Prepare sailors to become RWB racers
- Master points of sail, parts of the boat, capsize and recovery without assistance
- Improve boat handling skills.
- Learn to rig and tune the Opti sail for racing!
- Apply spirit tension & vang on the water without assistance
- Learn how to properly roll tack, gybe, take a penalty and steer with weight.
- Rig and derig 100% by themselves.
- Plan and carry out a successful start.
- Apply basic Racing Rules of Sailing (Port/Starboard, Windward/Leeward, mark room)
- Become aware of wind shifts and wind velocity changes
- Learn about current on the racecourse!
Optimist Red White and Blue (RWB) Race Team
Annapolis Yacht Club’s Optimist RWB Race Team will compete all summer in CBYRA events, leading up to USODA New Englands! Sailors will train extensively in Annapolis with high level coaching on all the techniques that make a great sailor - boat handling, speed through technique and dynamic sail-trim, attention to detail and self sufficiency, reading the racecourse, wind and current, starting well, planning and executing a strategy! Team will train alongside the AYC High Performance team for parts of the summer and practices will include the rudiments of Team Racing! Sailors are expected to be self motivated and represent AYC well both on and off the water and while at home and away traveling!
Class Prerequisites: Opti Red White and Blue Race Team
Green Fleet Coach’s Recommendation & application if coming from another program.
Class Expectations: Opti Red White and Blue Race Team
-Sailors are required to have their own Optis in high-functioning condition, bring their own basic tools, extra lines, tape measure, notebook, etc.
- Sailors will have the utmost respect for their own and others equipment.
- Will travel with the team and represent AYC at away regattas with a strong level of decorum!
- Sailors are self motivated!
**Parents are expected to help with regatta travel. For example: (Towing Assistance)** No Tow… No Go… ***For certain overnight and out-of-state regattas, there may be an additional Regatta Event Fee in addition to the normal Summer Program Tuition***
Class Objectives:
- Prepare sailors to compete at USODA events and qualify for Team Trials.
- Prepare for events including venue research, on-site practices and conditions-based regatta prep.
- Improve boat-handling skills and steering with weight + sail trim to a high level.
- Learn downwind surfing techniques, upwind body and steering techniques for waves.
- Understand tactics, strategy and fleet management and how to prioritize these things in different situations.
- Learn to apply all rules, including Rule 42. Learn protest procedures.
- Learn to evaluate and change sail shapes.
- Learn mental skills of athletes: recall & self evaluation, positive self talk, setting achievable weekly process goals.
- Represent AYC and ourselves with distinction on and off the water!
Optimist RWB (High Performance) Race Team:
Annapolis Yacht Club’s High Performance RWB Race Team is a new program of 10 sailors selected by the Head Optimist Coach that will spend part of the summer training in Annapolis, then travel to train and compete in New England, Team Race Nationals, the CORK Regatta in Kingston, Ontario before competing in USODA New Englands, and preparing for the USODA Nationals. The goal is to bond and train to an elite level race team that will represent AYC as one of the top Yacht Club teams in the USA! Participation in the St. Thomas USVI International Optimist Regatta and Clinic June 12-18th is strongly recommended; the HP season will start June 20th in Annapolis.
Prerequisites:
Sailors will be invited to join this team by the start of Summer Registration from the Head Optimist Coach. Factors to selection will include: results at major regattas, practice attendance records, ability shown at practices and clinics, attitude and ability to learn as judged by the coaches.
Expectations: Please see RWB Expectations above.
Class Objectives:
- Prepare all sailors to compete at USODA level events and qualify for International Teams in the Fall.
- Prepare for events including venue research, on-site practices and conditions-based regatta prep.
- Improve boat-handling skills and steering with weight + sail trim to an elite level.
- Learn downwind surfing and “S Turning” techniques, upwind body, steering techniques for waves, micro-trimming of the mainsheet.
- Understand tactics, strategy and fleet management and how to prioritize these things in different situations.
- Learn to apply all rules, including Rule 42. Learn protest procedures.
- Learn to evaluate and change sail shapes.
- Learn mental skills of athletes: recall & self evaluation, positive self talk, setting achievable weekly process goals.
- Represent AYC and ourselves at the highest level both on and off the water. Be ambassadors of our club at travel regattas, positive role models and teachers to Race Team and Green Team sailors when practicing at AYC and while away on the travel circuit!
420 Chesapeake Race Team (Local)
Ages: 13-18
Time: 11:00 - 5:00
The 420 Chesapeake Race Team is a developmental team that bridges the gap between Bay 420 and the 420 Race Team. Sailors in this program will develop their racing ability, C420 knowledge, and expertise in the use of spinnaker and trapeze. If sailors do not have a skipper/crew pairing, they will be assigned a position by their coach. The team will travel to and compete in several local Chesapeake Bay Regattas. Boat ownership is recommended but not required. Otherwise, Club-owned 420s can be used, and a limited number of charters are available through AYC.
*Additional travel and regatta fees apply.
Class Prerequisites: 420 Chesapeake Race Team
-Enthusiasm and passion for the sport
-Is confident at upwind and downwind
spinnaker and trapeze sailing
-Can roll tack/gybe each time making
the maneuver
-Confidently uses the spinnaker and
trapezes
-Is comfortable in windy conditions
-Is on time and focused during
practice
-Takes notes and is focused at team
meetings
-Is respectful to teammates and
coaches
Class Objectives: 420 Chesapeake Race Team
-Prepare sailors for sailing at the
travel team level or in high school/college racing
-Develop strong habits that are
conducive to improving and being prepared for racing
-Fine
tune boat handling
-Have
an understanding of tuning and sail shape
-Improve tactical and strategic
knowledge
-Develop communication skills between
skipper and crew
C420 Race Team (Travel)
Ages: 13-18
Time: 11:00 - 5:00
Prerequisites: Coach’s approval, must purchase AYC spinnaker, AYC pinnie, and AYC team gear.
The 420 Race Team will refine their racing skills and represent AYC while competing in regattas around the Bay and country, with a focus on competing in the major C420 summer regattas. As with all of our programs, there will be a focus for the 420 Race Team on the Corinthian Spirit and being positive role models on and off the water. Boat ownership is recommended but not required. Otherwise, Club-owned 420s can be used, and a limited number of charters are available through AYC.
*Additional travel and regatta fees apply.
Class Prerequisites: 420 Travel Race Team
-Has a strong dedication and passion
for sailing
-Will travel (sometimes far) with the
team and represent AYC at away regattas
-Is very comfortable using spinnaker
and trapeze in all kinds of conditions
-Has developed habits of good boat handling in light to heavy winds
-Tunes boat and spends time
perfecting rigging before practice and regattas
-Prepares for starts, has a prestart
checklist
-Is very aware of wind shifts and
wind velocity changes
Class Objectives: 420 Travel Race Team
-Prepare sailors for college racing
and other high performance sailing opportunities
-Preparation for big events including
tune up regattas, practice days, and conditions based regatta prep
-Improve boat handling skills to
become second nature and habitual
-Understand more detailed aspects of
tactics, strategy, and fleet management