 What is Sail Newport? Sail Newport is Rhode Island’s premier public access community sailing center. Sail Newport was established for three fundamental purposes: To allow public access to the sport of sailing by providing low-cost, high quality sailing instruction and rentals, To provide a fully equipped facility with hoists, ramps and drysail storage for local and regional and visiting sailors, To serve as a site for local, national and international regattas and sailing events. Since 1983, Sail Newport has been a guiding force for sailing in Newport, promoting sailing competition and fostering community involvement and instruction at all levels of the sport. In this short time, Sail Newport has become a recognized model for community sailing programs around the country. Where is Sail Newport and Where do I go For Class? The center is located across the harbor from downtown Newport, in Ft. Adam’s State Park, on waterfront property leased from the State of Rhode Island. The body of water that is Sail Newport’s “classroom” is Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay.
Who Runs Sail Newport? Sail Newport’s policy and procedures are overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of active members of the Newport and Rhode Island community whose common interest is a commitment to the sport of sailing. The Youth Committee is comprised of parents of children in the program, and other interested members of the community. This active committee is responsible for developing ideas and programs, making recommendations to the Board, and generally helping to facilitate all aspects of the Youth Program. You are encouraged to get involved! Day to day operations of the sailing center and programs are the responsibility of the full and part-time Sail Newport Staff. The summer staff is comprised of instructors for the youth and keelboat programs, dock office and operations staff. Program Goals: The primary goals of the Youth Program (in no particular order):
Parental Involvement: Sailing is truly a unique sport - skills learned now can be used and enjoyed for a lifetime. Sailing challenges both the mind and body, allowing individuals with different strengths and weaknesses to “find their niche”. It can be competitive or recreational; you can sail on big boats or little boats, by yourself, with a friend or on a team. Most importantly, everyone has the capacity to learn to sail on some level, no matter what individual challenges they face. To help your child get the most out of the Sail Newport Youth Program, first and foremost, parents should be involved with their children in the program. Talk with your child about what they are doing in class. The opportunity to share newly learned skills is invaluable for several reasons:
Following is a handy checklist of important daily “To Do’s” for you to remember in preparing your child for class each day!
Sail Newport is not responsible for anything lost or stolen. We strongly recommend that no valuable items are brought to class. Daily Schedule: The daily schedule is generally as follows:
Expectations for all children in Sail Newport Programs: Sail Newport has developed the following behavioral rules and guidelines to help ensure a safe, rewarding, and fun learning environment. It is important that both you and your child review these rules and guidelines. Appropriate behavior is expected at all times.
Consequences for failure to observe the above rules and guidelines vary according to the nature of the infraction, but can include loss of privileges, and “time-out”. Any verbal or physical abuse, or if your child’s behavior jeopardizes his/her own safety or that of anyone else in the program, will result in early dismissal from class with a warning to both the parent and student. A second incident will result in the student’s dismissal from the remainder of the session. There will be no refund of tuition. Boats We Use: Sail Newport uses several different boats in its youth sailing program. Different boats “handle” differently, and certain boats lend themselves to sailors of different sizes and/or experience levels. On the first day of class, the instructors will evaluate the skills and experience of the students, and consider factors like size and age, in determining into which group a student will be placed. In the case of returnee students, we usually already know which group the student is best suited for. With new students, it can sometimes take a day for the instructors to determine which group is best for your child. Sometimes, this can be an issue with a student (e.g. they perceive the Optimist to be a “slow boat”, or the Hunter “just for beginners” or the Laser “too wet”.) Please allow the instructors the time and space to work with your child in determining what is best. If, after a few days you still have concerns, feel free to talk to the Head Instructor and your child’s Instructor. The Optimist is the boat used for sailors in the Youth Program from rank beginners to racers, who weigh less than 110 lbs.. The Optimist is a 77lb., 8 foot, sprit rigged pram. Easily rigged, it is designed to be sailed by one sailor, although for the first day or two of class, students are often doubled up till they gain a certain comfort and skill level. The Optimist is the largest one-design class in the world with more than a half million boats being sailed and raced competitively around the world by kids ages 5-15! Last year, more than 450 boats participated in the New England Championships held right here at Sail Newport!. Hunter 140s are generally used by the older students (11-16yrs) in the Youth Program, and those who have physically outgrown the Optimist. It is a 14 foot, sloop-rigged boat, that is designed to be sailed by up to three youths. This allows for sailors to develop teamwork skills, in addition to their boat handling skills. These boats are BRAND NEW this year and we hope that the students appreciate the fantastic new equipment. Club 420s are fast, fun sloop rigged double-handed (two sailors!) boats that are very popular in youth programs around the country. Some of the 420s are rigged with spinnakers and trapezes for use by intermediate and advanced and racing instruction, for ages 11-17 (size dependant). Bic "Techno" are sailboards, specifically designed for beginning instruction are used as an additional teaching and learning tool for the instructors and students in all classes. Boats Used in the Keelboat Program Classes in the keelboat program are taught on board the J/22s and occasionally the Rhodes 19s. All boats are sloop-rigged day-sailing keelboats that can be comfortably sailed by 3-5 sailors. In addition, the J/22 is rigged for spinnaker use by advanced students. Typically, the instructors teach from onboard the boats until the students have progressed to a point where the instructor can teach from a safety/powerboat. This is different from the dinghy program where the instructors teach from safety/powerboats almost exclusively. Advanced Race Training The Advanced Race Training Program (or “ART” as it is commonly referred to) is the Sail Newport program for kids interested and committed to racing. Most ART participants have at least one two week race training session under their belt (or the equivalent) before they commit to the program as it is more intense and focused than the two week dinghy classes. Students who are interested in the program are encouraged to talk to one of the ART coaches or the Program Director for more information. ART runs from 10 am to 4 pm and meets for eight weeks (unlike the regular two week dinghy classes). Optimist, 420s and Laser racers meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fridays is sometimes the day when racers are packing up to travel to “away” regattas, or visiting other clubs to team race. Please contact us for more information about ART. Saturday Free Sail This summer Sail Newport will again be offering the Youth Free Sail Program. The Youth Free Sail Program will be run on Saturdays running July 2-August 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Students must make arrangements with the Head Youth Instructor, or by calling the Main Office at least 24 hours in advance to be eligible to use a boat on Saturday. This program is for students who have successfully completed one or more of Sail Newport’s Summer Youth Sailing Sessions (but NOT including the keelboats), and has demonstrated the ability and maturity needed for this privilege. Each student will also need to go on a “check out sail” during class time and sign a Youth Saturday Program Waiver of Liability. Both the student and the Head Instructor are responsible for ensuring the check out sail is completed and the waiver is signed before participation in a Saturday Free Sail Session. The student must check in at the Youth Building and sign out equipment before sailing. When they have finished, they are to return to the Youth Building and sign equipment back in. REMINDER: Before anyone can sail on any Saturday they must have a Youth Saturday Program Waiver of Liability signed by a parent or guardian and the Head Youth Instructor!! No exceptions will be made. Sail Newport will provide one instructor and/or volunteer each Saturday. If any parents are interested in volunteering time to help supervise, it would be greatly appreciated! FAQ: Q. I want to volunteer! A. Contact the Program Director! Volunteers for different programs and events are always needed and welcomed! Q. I have a concern or issue who should I talk to? A. Serious concerns should be brought to the direct attention of the Program Director. That said, the Head Instructor should usually be your first stop for resolving most issues. S/He is the hands on day- to-day program facilitator, and usually will have the answer, as well as being empowered to make decisions and correct problems. The best time to talk to the Head Instructor (and your child’s individual instructor) is at the end of class. If this is not convenient, please call and leave a message at the Dock Office asking that the Head Instructor or the Program Director follow-up with you. Q. It’s raining! A. Classes are held in all kinds of weather: even if it’s raining. The one exception is if there is a threat of severe storm or hurricane. In this event, class participants will be called at home, and informed of the decision to cancel class. Q. We’re late! A. Please call the Dock Office at 849-8385 and let them know your child will be late getting dropped off, or being picked-up, so that the instructor can be informed. Q. My child is sick! A. Please call the Dock Office at 849-8385 and let them know your child will be out for the day so that they can inform the instructors. Q. Students arriving by Launch or on a Bicycle A. Parents are requested to inform the Head Instructor if their child will be arriving and/or departing other than by car, or if someone other than the parent or guardian will be collecting a student from class. Q. My child is reluctant to come to class! A. A student’s unwillingness to come to sailing can be caused by any number of things: fear, an incident with a fellow classmate, or simply being tired. Sail Newport instructors are well versed in the art of coaxing and motivating reluctant students. If you can get them to Sail Newport, in all but exceptionally rare cases, we can get them out and sailing, and enjoying it too. Q. Learning Disabilities and Special Medications A. Should your child have any learning disability or medication that might not be indicated on their application, or that needs further certification, please speak with the Program Director or Head Instructor. This will enable us to help your child have a positive and rewarding experience at Sail Newport. Q. What is the Dock Office anyway? A. The Dock Office is Sail Newport’s “Grand Central Station”. It is the little stone building next to the blue and white tent, and the hoists. It is where you can buy Sail Newport merchandise, gift certificates, sign-up for an adult sailing lesson, rent a boat, or leave a message. There is always a staff person on duty in the Dock Office from 8:30a.m.-8:30p.m., so it is used as a message center for the instructors. The phone number is: 849-8385. Q. My child was hurt! A. Any time an instructor is required to administer first aid for a cut, bruise, or banged head, they will complete an injury report. A slip indicating the nature of the injury and what treatment was given will be sent home at the end of the day with the student. Q. What is Start Sailing Right? Start Sailing Right is the text used by Sail Newport in all of its instructional programs. It is a valuable resource for helping reinforce the material that is learned in class, as well as providing another vehicle by which a student can share their Sail Newport experience with you! We highly recommend that you pick-up a copy for your child ( they are available in the Dock Office). Copies can be borrowed for the duration of the course by leaving a refundable deposit with the Head Instructor. Q. My child has a Youth Program “Rating Card”: what is it, and how do they use it? A. At the end of each session students are given a Youth Program Rating Card. This card states whether the student can be a skipper or crew during the Saturday Free Sail Sessions, and what boats they are permitted to sail on, based on the experience they have gained in class. These ratings are for your child’s safety. We only allow students who have mastered skills on a specific boat to sail as a skipper on Saturdays. However, all students who have attended classes at Sail Newport are welcome to sail as crew on boats they have used in class. Q. Little Red Certification Books A. Students who have mastered particular skills, will be given U.S. Sailing’s “Little Red Book”. This book is a record of the skills attained by a student. Usually, the book is given out beginning at the intermediate level. Because students need to have mastered a skill, and there is provision for mastery of skills in varying wind strengths, most students will only have a few skills signed off by their instructor, by the end of a session. Returning students who were issued a Little Red Book last summer, or have one from another program, should bring their books for the instructor the first day of class. Students who go on to take classes in other programs should carry their books with them, as they are recognized by most youth programs. Thank you for reading through this. We are looking forward to seeing you over the summer! Think Summer.........Think Sailing
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