Optikids

Opti Kids will consist of Saturday and Sunday sessions, either mornings or afternoons, on two consecutive weekends: June 7-8 and 14-15, 2008, for young beginners, ages 6 to 8. Sailors will learn basic boat handling, boat set-up, boat safety and basic sailing. This is a great opportunity for parents to become familiar with the Optimist dinghy as well and they’ll get to spend some fun time on the water with their children. Parent participation in the water is required each day. Boats are provided by FBYC.

Opti Kids is a 4 day session for our youngest sailors. Over the years, FBYC’s Opti Kids program has provided a gateway for hundreds of children to begin a lifetime of sailing enjoyment. This entry-level program is held on two successive weekends (June 7-8 and June 14-15) before Junior Week begins with a goal to learning basic sailing skills aboard the Optimist dinghy.

When you register on-line you will be asked to select Beginning Opti Kids or Advanced Opti Kids. Beginning is for first-timers and will meet in the mornings; and Advanced is for the more experienced Opti Kids and will meet in the afternoon. The form also asks the name of your boat - put in a name if you can bring one, or None if you do not have one.

• Morning Opti Kid Class - meets on Saturday and Sunday mornings on two successive weekends and is geared for first-time beginners.
• Afternoon Opti Kid Class - meets on Saturday and Sunday afternoons on two successive weekends and is geared for beginners with some previous experience.

Children will join their friends and parents in on-shore classroom sessions followed by in the water training to learn basic boat handling including:

• boat set up and launch
• finding the wind
• steering the boat
• sail trim
• balance, and
• avoiding the “no go zone.”

At least one parent will be required to join the kids and instructors in the waist deep water for the in-water sessions. Kids that complete this program should have a good grasp of what sailing is about and be equipped with the basic skills needed to progress through Beginning Optimist at Junior Week or the Learn to Sail Program.

FBYC will provide up to 13 boats for this program (26 kids per class) so parents should sign up early to reserve a space for their child. This is a great opportunity for parents to join their children at this beginning stage of their sailing careers.