About Juneau Youth SailingJuneau Youth Sailing
JYS has Vanguard "Club 420" sailing dinghies. The 420 is used extensively in youth and collegiate sailing programs, especially on the West Coast. The 420 is about 15 feet long and weighs about 270 pounds completely rigged. They are normally sailed by a crew of two, but can accommodate three beginners in reasonable comfort. There are two sails on each boat, a main sail and small jib. We also have spinnakers for use in advanced classes. The 420 is designed with large air tanks in the hulls providing positive flotation, even if the boat is swamped. Small sailing dinghies such as the 420 are expected to capsize and are capable of self-rescue. Even a lightweight crew can right a 420 by themselves. Large amounts of water can be removed from the boats by the self-draining cockpit, allowing the crew to right a capsized boat and go right back to sailing. The class instructors will be in outboard safety boats while the students are on the water, available to assist in the event a student experiences a problem on the water or to provide rescue in the event of a more serious problem. All instructors are US Sailing certified and have Red Cross First Aid and CPR training. Instructors are equipped with VHF radios or cell phones in the event that they need to summon emergency assistance. Many students, even those with some previous sailing experience, will benefit from taking each of the following courses. The course progression establishes a solid foundation in the fundamentals, adding complexity and difficulty at the advanced level. While all students are encouraged to complete each level to assure a solid foundation, with permission of the instructor, students may start above Level 1. Registration in any JYS class offers automatic membership with Juneau Youth Sailing for one year. Some of the courses may be profitably repeated by most students. At the beginning of each session, the instructors will assess the experience and ability of the students participating and adjust the material as appropriate. Students will also be paired in boats each day in ways most beneficial to learning. Student progress in Levels 1 and up will be recorded in the US Sailing "Little Red Book" which is recognized by sailing programs around the country. The instructor signs off skills demonstrated at different wind strengths. The certified training logged in the book may allow students to join other sailing programs at advanced levels or qualify to rent boats in some programs. Youth Programs - Ages 10-11Introduction to Sailing (Prerequisite - Swimmer)A half-day, one-week course introducing the sport of sailing to younger students. Safety and comfort around the boats will be emphasized while students learn to self-rescue and to maneuver the sailboat. Youth Programs - Ages 12-19A half-day, two-week or full day one-week introduction course to dinghy sailing. Covers the basics of rigging, launching and maneuvering the sailboat. Self-rescue and water safety skills are emphasized. Level 2 Continuing Performance Dinghy Sailing (Prerequisite Level 1)A half-day, two-week or full day one-week class reviews and expands upon material in Level 1 class. Materials are covered at a faster pace and at a greater level of difficulty than in Level 1 class. Depending on weather conditions and progress of class, spinnakers may be introduced. Race Team (Prerequisite Level 1 and Level 2)Competitive race team with a goal of participating in at least one sailing race event in the Puget Sound area during the summer. Participants should be accomplished sailors interested in racing. All aspects of racing will be discussed such as rules, sportsmanship, sail handling and tactics. Membership in US Sailing is required to participate in regattas as well as purchase of personal drysuit. Adult ProgramsLearn-to-SailAdult fundraiser for youth sailing programs. Basic learn to sail for Adults. Prerequisite for participation in Commodore's Cup. Overall Goal...The overall goal of the foundation is to bring sail training to Juneau youth in particular, and the community in general in a manner that promotes safety, fun and learning. Programs for all participantsCommodore's CupA regatta featuring racing for adult and youth participants in JYS programs. All JYS students who have completed a Level 2 are eligible to participate. The Commodore's Cup will be awarded to the top team in the top youth racing class. The overall goal of the foundation is to bring sail training to Juneau youth in particular, and the community in general in a manner that promotes safety, fun and learning. The program goals for the basic and intermediate sailing classes of Juneau Youth Sailing are to teach basic water and boating safety and the safe handling of a sailing dinghy. Students are encouraged to develop teamwork, self-confidence and judgment to independently maneuver the sailing dinghy. For students participating in the Racing program, the goals are to build upon the boat handling skills learned in the basic and intermediate classes and to add knowledge of racing rules and develop a Corinthian spirit among competitors. For students with the ability and desire to advance to regional or national competition, JYS will support their activities with the goal of training champion sailors from Juneau. Juneau Youth Sailing is a non-profit corporation established in 1997 to promote youth sailing activities in Juneau. JYS is a member of US Sailing, the sanctioning body for sail racing and Olympic sailing in the United States. US Sailing provides instructor training and certification for sail training programs all around the US. All JYS instructors are US Sailing certified. |