Programs

High School Sailing

High School sailing closely parallels the collegiate sailing format. For fleet racing, teams are divided into A and B divisions comprising of different skippers and crews for each division. A team may substitute sailors as long as prescribe substitution rules are followed. Courses tend to be relatively short emphasizing starts and tactics. Teams also participate in Team Racing events where each team fields three boats to sail against three boats from another team. In team racing teammates work together to outmaneuver the other team so that their combined race scores are better than the other team’s combined scores. In 2006, SSA and AYC initiated a Team Race Challenge series held each Wednesday of the season that is attended by all Annapolis area sailing high schools.

SSA coaches divide high school teams into Varsity and Junior Varsity squads based on observed performance and personal knowledge regarding skill levels. At SSA, Varsity squads practice after school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Junior Varsity squads practices on Tuesday and Thursday, but also have the option to participate in team racing activities on Wednesday.

Teams training at SSA are part of the Central League of the Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA) District. Teams participate in a number of regattas throughout the seasons which run from September to November and March to May. The end of each season culminates in a District Championship and in the spring, for those teams that qualify, the National Fleet Racing Championship (Mallory Cup) and National Team Racing Championship (Baker Cup). SSA high school teams have a long record of being very competitive at the national level.

As well as daily coaching at practices, SSA provides coaching at weekend regattas. Junior Varsity squads typically travel to local events lasting one day. Varsity squads attend local events and travel to venues requiring overnight stays several times a season. Organization of all local and overnight trips is the responsibility of team captains and parents. Tuition covers all coaching expenses for regattas during the regular season. Additional coaching fees may apply for teams participating in the National Championships. Tuition also covers the use of the 14 club owned boats.

The following High Schools train at SSA: Archbishop Spalding, Broadneck, Indian Creek, Key School, Southern and Walt Whitman.

Rosters - posted March 7, 2008