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MISSION STATEMENT

The Sarasota Youth Sailing Program, Inc. (YSP) is a non-profit educational organization established to encourage youth sailors of Sarasota and Manatee Counties to experience the joy of sailing and to teach the essential elements of boat handling, seamanship, water safety skills and racing in a safe and fun environment. The YSP promotes ethical behavior among its sailors and encourages the teaching of life-long lessons, which seek to build character, foster teamwork, and strengthen respect for self, others and the marine environment.

ELIGIBILITY

Sailors must have reached their 8^th birthday by June 1, 2008 to enroll in the main program. Sailors who have reached their 5^th birthday by June 1, 2008 are eligible for the Tadpoles program. Sailors continue to be eligible to participate in the junior program through December 31st of the calendar year they reach the age of 18. All children will are required to pass a swim test which will be administered on the first day of class. Students must be able to swim 50 yards wearing the clothes they will be sailing in, including a lifejacket and shoes.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee for all classes is $250.00 if received prior to May 15^th. All registrations received on May 15^th or later are $300.00 per student.

The Summer Camp Application and the Personal Health and Medical Form must be completed and signed by the parent or guardian and must be received by the Sailing Director before the student is allowed to attend class. Additional copies may be obtained on the YSP website at www.sarasotaysp.com. These forms and full payment should be mailed to:

Sarasota Youth Sailing Program
2008 Summer Camp Application
P.O. Box 2706
Sarasota, FL 34230

Registration is not confirmed until contacted by the YSP by either phone or email.

If you have questions about the program or your child’s class placement please feel free to contact the Sailing Director, Stuart Gilfillen at 941.504.4236 or stuart_gilfillen@hotmail.com.

FINANCIAL AID: Scholarships are available for those families who may need financial assistance. For scholarship information please contact the director.

REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY

Sailing will take place rain or shine. There are no cancellations or make up days. In the case of rain, lightning, small craft warnings other unsafe conditions or lack of wind, land activities will be offered in place of sailing. Requests for cancellations due to illness or accident require a physician’s written verification. If, and only if, another sailor can fill the position then we will refund the tuition minus a $75.00 processing fee per student/per session.

ATTENDANCE

Students should be dropped off at 8:45 AM for morning sessions, and 12:45 PM for afternoon sessions. No early drop offs are permitted. Children left prior to 8:45 AM or 12:45 PM are not under the supervision, nor are they the responsibility, of the YSP sailing staff. Additionally, class ends promptly at 12:00 PM for the morning session and 4:00 PM for the afternoon session. If you cannot be at the YSP to take your child in hand, please make arrangements for another adult to take charge of your child.

Arriving to class on time is important! If a sailor arrives late to class, he or she will miss important information related to safety and the day’s activities. Students, who arrive after a class has moved onto the water, will join the class in progress at the Sailing Director’s discretion.

USE OF CLUB BOATS

Children who use YSP boats are responsible for exercising reasonable care and good seamanship. They shall reimburse the YSP for the cost of any loss of, or damage to, a boat, its equipment, or the property of others that results from the neglect of such care and seamanship. In addition, participants recognize that hazards are involved in the operation of boats and therefore make no claims against the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program based on injuries related to use of the boats. Anyone participating in the YSP must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket at all times on the water, and must return the boat and its equipment to the place and in the condition in which it was found.

THINGS TO BRING

Life Jackets (Coast Guard approved Type III), with whistle attached, are mandatory and are not provided by the Program. Sailors without lifejackets will not be permitted to sail.

Students should also bring the following:

• Bathing Suit or shorts
• Sunscreen- It is recommended that you have your child apply waterproof sunscreen before class.
• Close-toed shoes (sneakers or sailing boots are okay, but NO flip-flops, “Tevas” or sandals of any kind)
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Bottle of Water- Please keep in mind that 3 hours in the Sarasota sun is hot and that heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious concerns. We recommend drinking lots of water and not sodas or sugar drinks. A plastic bottle, frozen the night before, works well.
• Towel
• Change of clothes
• Foul weather gear or a warm jacket (as weather conditions warrant).

Wearing of jewelry in class or during races is strongly discouraged for safety reasons.

All students should come to class wearing clothes that they can expect to get wet. (“quick dry” materials are recommended)

RULES OF THE PROGRAM

All students who participate in the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program agree to the following rules:

• Demonstrate teamwork, helpfulness and cooperative behavior. All Students must work together during rigging and de-rigging the boat. This includes getting the boats in and out of the water and on and off the rack. All sailors are expected to arrive on time and no one leaves until the work is finished. Any sailors who are deemed to be violating this rule will lose certain privileges for either the remainder of the day or the week depending on the decision of the instructor.
• Treat other students, instructors and Squadron members and employees with respect, regardless of race, religion, age, gender or abilities.
• Refrain from using inappropriate or profane language, including swearing and name-calling.
• Refrain from physical or verbal abuse of others.
• Respect the property of others and that belonging to the YSP and the Squadron.
• No running or pushing.
• Lifejackets (PFDs) must be worn and secured at all times while on the water.
• Sailors may never leave the sailing area without the instructor’s permission.
• No bikes or skateboards are to be ridden on the Sarasota Sailing Squadron property.
• Use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco by any junior member while engaged in any activity sponsored by the Program is grounds for immediate dismissal.
• Have a willingness to HAVE FUN.

The discipline policy is as follow:

First “strike”– Your parents will be called by the instructor and the transgression will be reported. This will be recorded on your file and the Program Director will be notified.

Second “strike”- You and your parents will be asked to meet with the instructor and the Program Director to discuss the first and second transgressions and to make a plan to avoid any further misbehavior. The notes from this meeting will also be documented in your file.

Third “strike”- Dismissal. We will notify your parents that they need to come pick you up. You will no longer be welcome in the program.

 The definition of a “strike” is up to the discretion of the class instructor and the Program Director. No refund will be given for a discipline-based dismissal. The SYSP Board of directors reserves the right to expel a sailor from the program with no appeal.

SAILING DIRECTOR AND YSP OFFICE

The office of the Sailing Director, Stuart Gilfillen, can be found in the small boat storage area at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron located at 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34230. During the summer, the office is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The telephone number is 941.504.4236 and the director’s email is stuart_gilfillen@hotmail.com.

2008 TUITION AND FEES

Private lessons are also available at a rate of $45 per hour for an individual private lesson and $60 per hour for a semi-private lesson (Two sailors). Sailing Instructors are available after 4:30 PM on weekdays and on weekends for private lessons. These may be arranged either directly with an Instructor or through the Sailing Director, and depend upon Instructor availability. Private lessons are useful for extra help, but should not be used as a substitute for regular classes in the Sailing Program.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Did you know? Mote Marine Laboratories offers marine science education camps for kids that meet both before, and after, those held by the YSP. Call 941-388-4441 ext. 229 for more information or visit them on the Web at http://www.mote.org/families

The Youth Sailing Program will be doing two overnights at Mote Aquarium for the younger sailors in the YSP Summer Camp Program (8-12 yrs old). You can register for both of these overnights via the YSP's online registration program and the cost is $35.00 per person. If you are interested in chaperoning for your child (one is needed for every 5 sailors) please contact stuart_gilfillen@hotmail.com.

Space in each overnight is limited to 50 participants.

To register for the overnight on June 27, please select "Mote Overnight 1" listed under session #2.

To register for the overnight on August 2nd, please select "Mote Overnight 2" listed under session #3.

Tadpoles- Pre-Beginner Program
Pre-requisite: 5 years old by 6-1-08 (no students older than 7 years old allowed in the class)
Max Class Size: 8
Age Guidelines: 5-7 years old

Tadpoles is a “pre-beginner” program designed to introduce younger children to formal sailing instruction. Tadpoles meet either five mornings or afternoons a week, either from 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (which allows sailors to enroll in the Mote Aquarium program), and are designed to challenge the cognitive abilities of children five to seven years of age. Children who have reached the age of five before June 1 and who are capable of functioning within a group, will be admitted. Tadpoles introduce children to the activities of the YSP rather than providing a broader “day camp” atmosphere. Children will be introduced to boats and water activities, including swimming, rowing, sailing and basically “messing about in boats.” Classes are taught in several different types of boats including Optimists, Bauer 12s and Hunter 21s.

Level 1 Optimist- Beginner
Pre-requisite: 8 years old by 6-1-08
Max Class Size: 14
Student Age Recommendation: 8-11 years old

The goal of the Level 1 Optimist- Beginner class is for each child to have positive early experiences on the water and while sailing. Building confidence, ensuring safety, demonstrating respect, courtesy to others, and good teamwork are primary goals. Novice sailors learn basic nomenclature, seamanship, and sailing skills.

Optimist Prams are used for instruction. Fun sailing games and other skill-related activities are incorporated into the course. Upon completion students should feel comfortable sailing alone in an Optimist dinghy.

Focus:

Parts of the Boat	Steering
Points of Sail	Upwind/Downwind Sailing
Rigging/De-Rigging	Capsize/Recovery
Knots/Lines	Safety
Casting-off/Landing	Having Fun

Level 2 Optimist - Skipper

Pre-requisite: Level 1 Optimist or Sailing Director’s Approval
Max class size: 8
Student Age Recommendation: 9-12 years old

The Level 2-Skipper class is an extension of the Level 1 Optimist class that helps students develop skills while also building knowledge and confidence. Skipper class sailors focus on refining boat control, boat handling skills, and learn more safety practices. Sailors will be introduced to sailing around a course. Optimist dinghies are used for single-handed sailing, and there may be opportunities to sail in 420s at the instructor’s discretion. As in the Novice class, fun sailing games and other skill-related activities will be incorporated into the teaching.

Focus:

Knots/Lines	Upwind/Downwind Sailing	Wind Direction
Rigging/De-Rigging	Tacking/Jibing	Points of Sail
Casting-off/Landing	Getting out of Irons	Sail Trim
Starting/Stopping	Man Overboard Recovery	Basic Rules of the Road
Safety	Having Fun

Optimist Green Fleet Racing
Pre-requisite: Optimist Level 2 or Sailing Directors approval
Max class size: 8
Student Age Recommendation: 9-12 years old

Green Fleet Racing builds on the skills learned in the Skipper class to improve boat handling as well as introducing sailors to the application of the Optimist Dinghy in a racing environment. Sailors work on boat control, developing boat speed, maneuvering, and sailing around a course. They practice all the points of sail by tacking, jibing, and rounding marks. As the class progresses, sailors learn more about rules of the road and are introduced to racing, learning how to start and complete a race.

Sailors receive on-shore chalk talks in preparation for on-the-water drills. As sailor’s skill levels develop, sailors may be encouraged to participate in area regattas. Here the sailors work on sail trim, boat speed, tactics, rules, and strategy under actual racing conditions.

Private boat ownership is strongly encouraged and signing up for more than one session during the summer is recommended. In addition, sailors at the Green Fleet level are provided the opportunity to compete in area regattas. In such cases, parental support is mandatory for participation.

Focus:

Refining and Develop Previously Learned Skills

Improving Boat-Handling and overall sailing ability

Introducing basic racing ideas and practice

Seamanship

Safety

Having  Fun

Level 1 420- Beginner
Pre-requisite: Level 2 Optimist or Sailing Directors Approval
Max class size: 12
Student Age Recommendation: 13-15 years old

The Level 1 420 team is designed for those junior sailors who are experiencing sailing a double-handed boat for the first time. Through demonstrations both on land and on the water students develop an understanding for how to work a part of a team. The class will focus on the introduction of a jib, proper sail trim, using a spinnaker as well as the proper terminology.

Focus:

Teamwork	Tacking and Gybinh
Terminology	Using a spinnaker
Introduction to Jib	Safety
Proper Sail Trip	Having Fun

Level 2 420- Advanced
Pre-requisite: Level 1-420 or Sailing Directors Approval
Max class size: 12
Student Age Recommendation: 13-16 years old

The Level 2 420-Advanced class gives experienced sailors and Optimist racers to this an opportunity to further their education in a high performance boat. Sailors train in both the skipper and crew positions learning how to use a spinnaker and a trapeze, proper position on roll tacks and gybes, and weight placement. Sailors receive on-shore chalk talks in preparation for on-the-water drills, and they are instructed on sail trim, boat speed and rules. The class will also cover the basic concepts of racing.

Focus:

Teamwork	Spinnaker skills
Trapezing	Introduction to racing
Skipper/Crew assignments	Safety
Roll Tacking/Gybing	Having Fun

Race Team Clinics

Pre-requisite: Director’s Approval
Max class size: 12

Throughout the summer, the YSP will offer racing clinics for experienced Optimist, Laser and 420 Racers. Each clinic will be a week in duration and take place from 4:30-7:30 pm each day. The clinics will feature guest coaches from the area and provide sailors the opportunity to work on specific skills in preparation for travel regattas.

The cost of clinics and the dates are subject to the coach and their availability. All clinic dates will be posted as they become available.