This page has been updated with 2012 information. 

KSEA

KSEA is a non-profit sailing school serving Blue Hill and the surrounding region. During 9 weeks of summer we offer classes for beginners to advanced sailors, for children and adults. All of our instructors are U.S. Sailing Level 1 Instructor certified, and many have their Level 2 certification.

The KSEA Sailing School season begins with Learn to Sail Week, June 18 to June 22, a week of introductory sailing classes open to beginners of all ages. Our regular program of Optimist and 420 sailing classes begins June 25th, and runs through August 17, in one 2-week and two 3-week sessions. Rowing classes, open to 6 and 7 year olds, meet on Monday through Friday mornings in  four two-week sessions. Opti and 420 Race Teams practice in the afternoons and compete in interclub and regional regattas.

 

Registration

Registration may be done online, and payment can be made by credit card or by check. Registration for KYC members will begin on March 20, 2012. Registration will open to non-members on April 1, 2012. Please be sure to register ahead for all classes, since many classes fill up early, and no exceptions to class size will be made. Click here to see classes and register.

 

Junior Membership

A child whose parents are not members of KYC must pay $25 to become a junior member. Once a junior member, whether currently enrolled in a class or not, the sailor is entitled to participate in race days and other KSEA-sponsored special events throughout the summer. The maximum charge for junior membership is $50 per family. Junior membership is not required for rowers or Learn to Sail Week participants.

 

Calendar

The regular season 2012 sailing school program is held in 3 sessions each as follows:

Session 1	June 25 - July 6
Session 2	July 9 - July 27
Session 3	July 30 - August 17

Register promptly. Some classes, especially Opti A and B, fill up early, and no exceptions will be made to class size. Boat ownership does not guarantee a spot in a class. There are waiting lists when classes are full.

 

Class Placement

Students progress through the levels of sailing class at different rates. It is expected and desirable that a student spend a number of sessions at a given level before moving on to the next. All class placements will be determined by the instructor at the end of each session.

 

Racing

Participation in racing teaches important sailing skills. Some racing, in a fun and non-competitive atmosphere, is incorporated into all classes. For the advanced sailor who does not want to compete against other yacht clubs or travel to race, Opti C and 420s classes are most appropriate. KSEA Race Days will be on Wednesdays at 12:30-15:30 for everyone. It is expected that all afternoon sailors participate in the Wednesday afternoon session, either as racers or as race support.

 

Race Days

Wednesday race days are part of the week's curriculum. Confident beginners, intermediate sailors, advanced Opti and 420 sailors and race teams will race in the afternoons from 12:30-15:30. Wednesday student races will count as series races and prizes will be awarded based on individual scoring.

 

Prizes and Awards

KSEA sailors will compete in the Kollegewidgwok Cup Race and the Founder's Cup Race, and prizes will be awarded for the Wednesday series races.  The Becton Cup Race is for KSEA sailors only. In addition, KSEA sailors will be eligible for the Jean C. Becton Award, the Niehoff Award, and the Commodore Milliken Award.

 

Race Teams

Opti and 420 race teams are for experienced and eager racers. Team membership is determined by the instructor. Team members will train at KYC and travel as a team to compete in a number of local, regional and national regattas throughout the summer. Race Team is best considered a single session of 8 weeks. Participation for a shorter time is at the option of the instructor, and must be coordinated with the travel and training schedule. Parents will be expected to volunteer time to help organize and carry out the travel plans. The cost of regatta registration and travel expenses will be in addition to the class fee. Scholarships are available. For the Opti race team sailors must provide their own boats or charter racing boats from KSEA. 

 

Special Events

There will be regularly scheduled movie nights (every other Tuesday), with sailing videos and popcorn at the club for parents, sailors, instructors and friends. Watch the calendar for other events like the Long Island Family Picnic and Pirate Day. There will be a slide show and awards dinner on August 19.

 

Safety

Your child's safety is our highest priority. You will be given drop-off and pick-up procedures on the first day of class; please follow these procedures and avoid allowing children to walk in the parking lot. Please pick your child up promptly. Life jackets that are appropriate for sailing and properly sized are required at all times on dock, floats and boats. Life jackets must have waterproof whistles attached by a short tether. (Whistles are available for purchase from the Club Store). No bare feet or flipflops are permitted. Every child must pass a swim test on the first day of class. Safe behavior on docks, floats and boats is required: no pushing or rough play will be tolerated.

 

Boats

Optimists (Optis for short) are small, one-person sailing dinghies. The Optimist Class is the largest class of boats in the world. Optis are unique in that they are ideal beginner boats, but also a class for competitive racing. Visit the USODA web site for an idea of how widespread Opti racing is. Sailors can compete in Opti regattas through the year in which they turn 15. Sailors are encouraged to stay in Optis as long as they are comfortable in the boat. Optis are the best boats to learn in, and Opti sailors go on to be among the best sailors around.

Club 420s are larger dinghies with two sails, a mainsail and a jib. 420s are sailed by two people, one person (the skipper) steering the boat, and another (the crew) managing the jib and controlling weight placement. The safe and effective sailing of a 420 requires a certain combined weight in the boat, so for small, light sailors Optis are more appropriate and better vehicles for learning. 420s are among the boats commonly used on high school and college sailing teams.

Students in Opti classes will use their own boat, a program-owned boat or a boat owned by another family. The program supplies 420s for use in classes. In all cases students will be responsible for the proper treatment of the equipment and for any damage caused by reckless behavior or neglect. The $15 boat use fee helps to pay for the seasonal repair and maintenance, and eventual replacement, of the fleet of sailing dinghies.

The Rhodes 19, used in adult sailing classes, is a two-person boat as well suited to an evening sail as it is to competitive one-design racing. The boat is very stable and perfect for family racing.  

Clothing and Equipment

Life jackets are required. Students should bring a duffel or backpack with a towel, bathing suit, change of clothing and jacket or slicker. Label all personal items! Hats and eyeglasses should be secured. Sailors must accept responsibility for lost personal items. It can be chilly on the water. Please make sure that your child has the appropriate clothing for each day, especially the day of the swim test and capsize drill.

In general, especially for beginners, no special gear besides a good life jacket is required. Booties, gloves, spray tops and other foul-weather and racing gear can be found at Zoum and Annapolis Performance Sailing, and other local and mail-order sources.

 

Snacks and Water

Rowers should bring a nut-free snack and drink in a labeled, reusable container to class. All sailors should provide their own labeled, re-usable drink container. Fresh water fills and re-fills are available at the sailing school.

 

Inclement Weather

Sailing Class will not be canceled due to inclement weather! However, classes may be conducted on shore at the discretion of the Head Instructor.

 

Updated 2/5/2012