JUNIOR DIVISION INFORMATION

Over the last few years, FBYC has worked to expand our junior sailing program into a viable alternative to traditional summer pastimes for children ages seven to seventeen.  Central to this effort has been the pursuit of high-quality instruction coupled with summer-long programs that provide opportunities for kids to develop and sharpen their sailing skills along with many chances to test themselves with great competition at exciting locations throughout the region and beyond. Best of all, children participating in Junior Week and our extended programs find they make lots of friends and a love of sailing that lasts a lifetime.

Since many of our members are dual earner families with busy schedules, weíve also worked hard to build a program that takes a load off mom and dad by reducing the time required to keep children sailing and occupied with lots of fun activities on and off the water.  Key to this has been the addition of housing and transportation provided through our partnership with nearby Christchurch School. For the second year, weíll be able to offer children and their busy working parents a fully rounded summer sailing program that provides quality sailing instruction, housing, food and transportation for much of the season.  Weíre also offering weekend practice sessions in the spring to give our kids an early jump on polishing their boat handling skills after the long winter break. 

The season begins early with practices on April weekends, followed by Junior Week, a series of clinics for all levels, and several regattas at FBYC.  Once the season is underway, weíll have a full summer of learning, practice and racing for all juniors from beginning Optimist through advanced Laser and 420s. Beyond Junior Week our extended programs provide ongoing opportunities for juniors to build sailing and racing skills through regular classroom and on the water training, clinics, traveling around the Bay to regattas with friends, and opportunities to sail with other junior sailors at FBYCís Junior Regatta, Annual Regatta, Dog Days Regatta, Fall Series and Indian Summer Regattas.

Key elements that make our program special include:

Great Coaches.  Our professional coaches work for FBYC full time in the summer - from mid June through mid August, six days a week, 9 am till 5 pm. This year, the club will employ two world-class coaches who have trained junior sailors from beginner level to top international events and have experience in teaching Optimist, Laser, Laser Radial and 420s.  The coaches are at the club to teach our juniors in regularly scheduled classes and to travel with the Junior Race Team. Please make sure you use this valuable resource.  They can be reached as follows:

ß       FBYC Junior Commander -Eric Powers at eric.powers@mma1.com C~804-363-5553

ß       Head Coach -  Luis Canuto, laserdingo@hotmail.com, C:TBA

ß       Assistant Coach - Damien Saponara, damiansaponara@hotmail.com, C: TBA

ß       L2S Coach - Hart Moore

Great Equipment.  We own 14 Optis, four Lasers, a Byte, seven 420s and one Mobjack, which are available for use by members. For any race on the FBYC schedule, the boats must be reserved on a first-come first-served basis through the one of the coaches. If you have any questions regarding the availability of boats or equipment, please contact Eric Powers.  The junior shed stores sails, rudders, dagger boards, sheets and lines.  We have two junior coach boats for the coaches to use while teaching at FBYC and to use when traveling to away events.  We also have enough trailer space to haul 17 boats.

Parent and Junior Volunteers run the program.  The clubís programs are a three-way partnership between the club volunteers, coaches and parents.  Parent volunteerism is an integral part of our program, and in many cases, is required for at least portions of the programs.  Parent volunteers are needed to help our kids get to FBYC, on and off the water, and to get to racing events around the Bay and beyond. Everyone should look at this as an excellent opportunity to be a part of our childrenís sailing career as well as a time to spend quality time with them through the summer.  We encourage everyone to work with our Junior Program volunteers and coaching staff to give our children a sailing summer theyíll never forget.  Key names for program staff are listed on page 3 of the Sailing Events Book. This year's Junior Division officers are: Commander, Eric Powers; Lt. Commander, Stephan Cost; Race Committee Chair, James Jacob.  All junior events need additional volunteers for safety boats, race committees, social duties, etc.   

Diverse schedule with something for all.   The events are summarized below: 

Key Junior Events

"I loved my 5 years at Fishing Bay's Junior Week, but I never raced.  However, the sailing skills I learned at Fishing Bay enabled me to try out for the sailing team in college.  I made it and became Captain of the Dartmouth women's team. Thank you so much!"

Alice Nelson

We host events all summer where juniors can learn to sail and enjoy the water.  As in previous years, FBYC will have our special racing coaches dedicated to juniors who want to reach their highest potential but weíll also have Summer Coach available at FBYC during the week to help both competitive and non-competitive sailors.

Key events youíll want to consider include:

ß       Opti-Kids (June 7^th-8^th and 14^th-15^th). This event is designed to be the springboard for beginning for sailors ages 6-8 to start their sailing careers. You can sign up for either morning or afternoon classes on four class days during the two weekends prior to Junior Week. 

ß       Junior Week (June 16^th-20^th) - is our centerpiece summer season event. This large five-day event for juniors ages 8 and up is dedicated to learning to sail, making new friends and having a great time on and off the water.  Students, depending on their age and interests, are placed in Beginning Opti, Intermediate Opti, Advanced Racing (Optimists, Laser, Laser Radial and 420), or Group Sailing (Triple-handed sailing).

ß       Race Team Extended (June 24^th-August 16^th) - This program is designed to take racing juniors to their highest levels with extensive on and off-water training six days a week with highly skilled coaches.  Extensive travel to competitive events regionally and nationally.

ß       Race Development Team (June 27^th -August 10^th) - Gets beginning sailors that have already mastered the basics up and running on the race course (Fri, Sat, Sun - 9AM - 4PM).

ß       Learn2Sail - Kids and parents will have the opportunity to use club boats and equipment under the guidance and supervision of our summer coach (June 27^th - August 10^th from 9AM - 4PM).

ß       Leukemia Cup Sail-a-Thon Thursday afternoon of Junior Week (June 19^st) is a strictly fun event. Sailors see how many times they can sail around a course in an hour.  Each lap, candy gets tossed into their boat.  Sponsors pledge an amount per lap, and the top fundraiser receives a fantastic trophy.  This event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and is the perfect way to top off Junior Week.

ß       Cruise With Kids - is a weekend filled with water battles on the high seas, buried treasure, beachcombing and lots of great food.  Kids sign on as crew aboard big boats and strike out for the nearest island where the booty is.

ß       Annual awards banquet in late October - juniors have their own tables, fun party, and awards are given out.

FBYC One Design Events - Racing

The Spring Series, the Annual Regatta, the Fall Series and the Indian Summer Regattas are One Design Events for all One Design sailors, adults and juniors.  As described below, two regular Junior Regattas are also held, as well as a new Dog Days Regatta in August.  This season, we want to promote spring practice for Juniors on One Design Spring Series race days.  On these days, we plan to provide an opportunity for Juniors to get out on the water with instruction so theyíll be in top form by the time of the first summer regatta.

FBYC Offshore Events - Racing

The FBYC Offshore Division hosts a Spring and Fall Series, a number of Long Distance races, the Leukemia Cup and the Stingray Point Regattas, Offshore skippers are always looking for young and energetic crew to grind winches, tail sheets and dance the foredeck.

FBYC Junior Regattas - Racing

"I think I speak for the kids I raced with, when I say that we really got into doing the regattas because of the other kids on the FB team, the great coaches, and the laid-back environment which still kept a focus on racing excellence when on the racecourse."

Caroline Garrett

Among the many activities we have planned through the summer, FBYC hosts its regular annual junior racing events that are complimentary to a Bay-wide regatta series that runs from June through mid August.  FBYCís events include junior regattas in the spring April (26^th) and late June (28^th).  This yearís June Junior Regatta will be followed by a Team Racing Clinic and Race on Sunday the 29^th.  For these events, FBYC juniors are joined by those from other regional sailing clubs who come to FBYC to join us for some friendly competition, camaraderie and great food.  Our regattas are popular with visitors because of the great sailing conditions on Fishing Bay for smaller boats - protected smooth waters, good winds and great visibility for parents.  Junior Regattas are designed to be fun. A first time racer can join the Green Fleet in an Optimist and attend our clinics to be held in association with the races.  Green Fleet kids always have a separate start which makes it easy for beginners. At FBYC regattas, on-the-water coaching is allowed for Green Fleeters in the back half of the fleet. More experienced juniors can join the Red (Ages 13-15), Blue (Ages 11 and 12) or White (Ages 10 and under) Optimist fleets or sail a Laser, or Laser Radial.  A team of two juniors may borrow one of FBYC's 420s, if theyíre not already reserved by Racing Team members.  Club Opti's and Lasers are also available for loan. At the end of the regattas there are always great trophies and a fun cookout at the clubhouse.

During the summer of 2008, the Junior Division will encourage juniors to join offshore race crews in at least two matched offshore boats, crewed by Junior Race Team members and other interested juniors.  We also wish to promote two special around the buoys races on big boats with special sailing instructions requiring one junior crewmember for every adult crewmember on board, and a junior sailor driving at least fifty (50) percent of the course to insure junior sailors get lots of experience.  More details of this event will be provided later.

FBYC Traveling Junior Events - Racing

"Go on the road with the FBYC team.  You won't want to come back.... home that is."

Parker Garrett

Any junior with sufficient sailing skills is welcome to join the Extended Junior Race Team.  In years past, we have had as many as 10 to 15 FBYC Juniors travel together to regattas at other Clubs - Hampton, Norfolk, Annapolis, West River, Miles River, Tred Avon, etc.  The coaches transport the boats, and parents go along as drivers and to support the group. The parents and coaches help the racers get organized and the coaches coach the participants between races.  A parent volunteer helps coordinate logistics for each regatta.  To assist in planning, we have selected key events from the CBYRA Junior schedule to attend as set forth in the following pages.  As in past years, we will be organizing car pools and other volunteer support for away events and Deltaville practices in advance of the summer.  As mentioned above, we can now offer housing/transportation/food service for juniors participating in the extended racing program. Please contact Eric Powers at eric.powers@mma1.com if you can help or need more information.

Junior Championship Events - Racing

"Growing up in the Fishing Bay Junior Program was one of the greatest times of my life.  Traveling, giving Chessey (Charlie's Dog) shotgun, joking around with Parker and Malcolm, and racing was an experience that I will never forget.  I have developed a lifelong love for sailing, and it is the Fishing Bay program I have to thank"

 Blake Kimbrough

"Fostered by competition and committed to coming back by the times had with friends on the road and at Fishing Bay, I was able to compete and win at the top of college racing.  With my love for sailing fueled by my memories of time spent on and off the water as a junior, I spent 1000 days on the water over the past four years.  Competition brought me to the regattas and practices; friends are the reason I always come back."

Parker Garrett

"The only way you see real competition is to participate in a national or regional event. My first national event was in 1993 Laser Radial Nationals in Miami.  It was a real eye-opener because although you may be the big cheese at your yacht club or even on the Bay, there's a bigger fishbowl you can't forget about."

Caroline Garrett

This season, FBYC will host at least two race clinics.  Clinics will be run by our head and assistant coaches Luis Canuto and Damian Saponara and will include team racing, the refinement of racing skills including sail trim, tactics and racecourse strategy. All of these are significant regional events in junior sailing and draw junior sailors sailing Optis, Lasers, Laser Radials and 420s from around the Bay. Volunteers will be needed so we can make a good showing in these terrific opportunities to showcase our club in major junior sailing events.

At the end of June, weíll also be hosting a Team Racing Clinic and Regatta.  Team racing is an exciting aspect to racing we want our Juniors to learn to enjoy.  Groups of boats and skippers join as team to pursue a game of strategy towards gaining the highest standing for the team overall.  The June 29^th Clinic and practice regatta will provide kids with a chance to learn this aspect of the sport and try out their skills in an actual team race.

We also list some championships to which FBYC should send representatives. In past seasons, FBYC has produced some great sailors.  Last yearís racing team started with spring practices in Annapolis and then attended FBYCís Junior Week.  After Junior Week they pursued a busy schedule of regional, national and international championships.  2007 saw FBYC kids compete at the Optimist State Championship at FBYC, Optimist Nationals in Lake Minnetonka, MN, Flanders Youth Regatta, Flying Scot North American Championships at FBYC and the IODA North American Championship in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This year we plan to attend the Optimist Nationals to be held in Patchogue, New York, and the Optimist New England Championships in Newport, RI. In July, US Sailing also offers the Sears, Bemis and Smythe Cups as the National Championships for Juniorís sailing single-handed, double-handed and triple-handed events.  Ask our coaches if you think you could go to some of these events. 

Safety Requirements

We have always prided ourselves on running a good junior program and have established safety standards.  Mandatory safety requirements for the Junior Program include:

1.  Life jackets will be worn on the water by all ages during all Junior events.

2.  One safety boat with working motor with a "qualified" driver is required for each racecourse.

3.  Each race committee, safety boat and shore-based adult will have a working VHF radio.

4.  The full time coaches and each Junior Week Head Instructor will be a Level I certified instructor.

5.  Emergency contact information will be available for all juniors in every junior event.

6.  Any traveling junior team event must be supervised by an adult over age 25 as "adult in charge."