Boats We Sails
All instructional sailing is conducted in Optimists, Lasers, and
420s. These three classes represent the standard for Junior/Youth
racing in the United States. Between these three classes of boats
we can structure curriculums to suit all ages (7-18), abilities,
and sizes.
 Optimist
The Optimist is the largest junior racing fleet in the world and
the international standard in junior instruction. The boat’s
simplicity and stability make it ideal for teaching young beginners
while the popularity of the Optimist class makes the boat extremely
challenging for pre-teen racers. SSA owns a fleet of 16 new Optimists
to use for the summer program. Most racers who travel bring privately
owned boats for practice and racing.
A skipper can race Optimists until December 31st in the year they
turn 15. On December 31st of that year, they age out of Optimists
and can no longer race the boat. To promote participation across
a wide range of skill levels and ages, Optimist racing events are
typically divided into fleets.
Green fleet is a special fleet for beginners. Green fleeters can
be any age up to 15. A green fleet might have skippers who are as
young as 6 and as old as 15, but sooner or later they'll' move into
either the red, white, or blue fleet depending on their age. Green
fleet typically sails relatively close to shore and on short courses.
Sailors may be coached at any time including during a race.
Skippers who are 10 or under sail in the white fleet. Skippers who
are 11 and 12 sail in the blue fleet. Skippers who are 13, 14, or
15 sail in the red fleet. In all fleets, the determining date is
the skipper’s age on the first day of the regatta. Skippers
move up to blue fleet on their 11th birthday and red fleet on their
13th birthday. At most regattas, the red, blue, and white fleets
all start at the same time and race on the same course. Coaching
for the red/white/blue fleets is permissible before and after, but
not during individual races. Coaches can observe the racing from
designated areas and provide feedback to the sailors at the completion
of the race(s) observed.
For more info visit the class website is www.USODA.org
Laser
The Laser is the single-handed option for sailors who are too big
or too old to sail the Optimist. The Laser can be configured with
three different sail plans, providing great versatility across a
wide range of sizes. Lasers are best suited to sailors 13 years of
age or older, over 125 pounds, and focused on racing. All participants
in SSA’s Laser Radial Instructional program must supply their
own boat.
Lasers are one of the fastest growing one-design classes
in North America and the primary single-handed boat used in youth
sailing
events. In 2008, the Laser Radial will debut as the Women’s
single-handed event at the Olympics. Because of this, a number of
young women are now sailing in the Radial. It is not atypical to
see a significant number of female sailors at Laser Radial events,
something that was not as prevalent even a couple of years ago.
Additional information about the Laser Class Association is at www.nalaser.org
 Club 420
The club 420 is the most popular and versatile double-handed junior
boat in North America. The 420 is sturdy and safe while providing
the challenge of having a spinnaker and trapeze. The boat is best
suited for sailors 12-18 years of age and over 100 pounds. SSA has
a fleet of 14 competitive Club 420s for use in the summer program,
all of which are less than 4 years old. 420 skippers participating
on the National traveling team are our most experienced 420 sailors
and due to the number of events in which
they participate away from SSA, they must supply their own boat.
However, since 420s are a double-handed boat there are plenty of
opportunities for those not owning a boat, to crew on a nationally
competitive team.
Additional information about the 420 Class Association is at www.club420.org
 Collegiate 420 (High School Teams)
The Collegiate 420 is used for our High School sailing program in
the spring and fall. The boat is the same as the club 420 with the
exception that the trapeze and spinnaker gear is removed. Sailors
enrolled in the High School sailing program use club owned boats
and therefore, are not required to own their own boat. All 14 SSA
420s are used for High School Sailing to maximize on the water participation.
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