After-school sailing club registration open now

Contributed photo

The Sailing Foundation shares the latest news about their after-school sailing program.

The San Juan Island Sailing Foundation is again sponsoring low-cost after-school sailing for middle and high school students with any amount of sailing experience — from complete novice to experienced racer. Younger students will be considered based on their maturity and their own passion for sailing, as well as their size and weight. Interested sailors should go ahead and register and the program leaders will be in touch.

The program takes places Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-5:30 p.m. for all of September and October, depending on weather and tides, starting immediately. It’s okay to start at a later session, even for beginners. All classes take place at the far end of the road at Jackson Beach. Instruction and practice in sailing techniques and racing will be provided. Boats used include RS Teras, Lasers, RS Fevas, and V15s.

Racing is the best way for sailors to assess their sailing ability. Interested sailors will be coached to compete in the multiple regional regattas available; participation in races is optional.

The cost is $100 per season. Full aid is available, generously provided by the SJI Community Foundation and multiple donors. Just ask.

Ideally, sailors bring their own gear, but the Sailing Foundation has plenty to lend out. Required gear includes:

• PFD (not the inflatable kind)
• Wet suit
• Booties or water shoes
• Gloves
• Sun block
• Dry towel and dry clothes for afterwards

No cotton clothes can be worn during sailing.

Sailing takes place in Griffin Bay. Sailors should show up dressed for sailing — in wet suits — and get rigging as soon as they arrive, unless they are new to the program.

Weather and tides are important, and coaches will text parents and sailors if there will be changes to the start times or if sailing will be cancelled. Sometimes the weather will be too poor to sail, or the tides too low to launch, but sailors will still have a shortened class with on-land lessons called chalk talks. There’s need to dress for sailing for chalk talks only.

All sailors must have a parent-signed waiver, provided once you register. All sailors must also take a swim test on the first day they attend practice, which is surprisingly popular with the kids. The swim test requires wearing a PFD, jumping off the dock, and swimming to shore. The Island Rec float test and swim team membership don’t waive this requirement.

If you have questions, contact Susan West by email, and feel free to ask for a phone number if you’d like to talk instead of write.

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