Junior Week

Junior Week, June 18-22, is for Juniors age 6 to 17 and consists of five days of sailing instruction in the following classes: Beginning Opti, Intermediate Opti I & II, Racing Opti, Advanced Racing Opti, 420 Racing, Laser Radial Racing, and Group Sailing (for teens who wish to sail with crew). Junior Week is a great way for Juniors to kick-off their sailing season, with lots of on- and off-the-water instruction, hanging with their friends and spending time with their parents. Kids completing Opti Kids who want to continue their training may participate in Beginning Opti.

A parent or guardian must be on site during the program. Coaches for Junior Week will include professional coaches and volunteers.  It is hoped that all Juniors will participate, and Junior Week is open to non-club members. In addition to sailing instruction and other fun, there will be nightly entertainment such as swimming, ice cream, movies, and DJ night. The class choices are as follows:

• Beginning Opti - Sailors age 6-10 with limited experience sail doublehanded and learn basic boat-handling skills with close supervision in Club Optis.
• Intermediate Opti I & II - Sailors age 8-15 with some boat handling and sailing experience sail singlehanded and learn more about boat setup, sail trim, boat-handling and racing within a closely supervised group.  Intermediate I is for those having completed Beginner, and Intermediate II is for those who have completed Intermediate I. Sailors must bring and use their own Opti.
• Group Sailing - Sailors age 12 and up, who ideally have completed Intermediate Optimist class, sail with friends in club member boats, such as J-24's, learning boat setup, sail trim, and boat handling, with an emphasis on sailing to destinations. Although we strive to accommodate demand for this class, enrollment is limited by the number of boats available to the program.
• Racing Opti & Advanced Racing Opti - Sailors age 10 and up who have completed Intermediate Opti or have equivalent experience learn starting techniques, sail trim, boat speed, and race strategy in preparation for regattas.  Sailors must bring and use their own Opti.
• Laser Radial Racing & 420 Racing - Sailors age 10 and up who have outgrown Optimists and are ready for singlehanded racing in Laser Radials or for doublehanded racing in Club 420s learn starting techniques, sail trim, boat speed, and basic racing strategy in preparation for regattas.  The Club will provide a limited number of Laser Radials and 420s for participants.

Note to Parents

Parents are encouraged to seek guidance from the Junior Division staff in selecting the class that is best suited to their child. FBYC has taken care to develop a program that fills the needs of a wide range of ages and skill levels. It is important that parents work with staff to properly place their children in the most appropriate class to avoid frustration on the part of the child and disruption to the class. If you are uncertain of your child's skill level or have concerns about their progress at any point in the program, please ask for an assessment by our coaches so that adjustments can be made to ensure that your child's introduction to sailing is a positive experience. You should not register your child for a class beyond the child's abilities in order for your child to be with a friend or sibling, and the program leaders and coaches will counsel you against that mistake.

Daily Schedule

More details will be provided in the enrollment package sent to registrants, but note that Junior Week classes are from 9:00 AM to Noon, and from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Parents or guardians must provide lunch for their children, as well as supervision during the lunch hour. Junior Week officially ends at noon on Friday.

Boats

Junior Week is a popular program, and FBYC does not always have sufficient boats to meet demand. FBYC now has an on-line method to either buy, sell, rent or borrow a boat. See Classified Ads.

After Junior Week

Following Junior Week, there are several excellent options for continued learning and sailing during the summer:

• Opti Development Team
• Race Teams
• Regattas
• Private Lessons

Parents and Juniors interested in participating or helping with Junior Week or who would like additional information should contact Mark Hayes at mhayeslaw@triad.rr.com, or (336) 333-2900.