Programs

Summer Sailing

SSA provides a year-round program offering instruction and coaching for children and teens ages 7-18 at all levels, from beginning sailing through advanced racing. Regardless of age, we have introductory and follow on courses that will match students to other students that are close in age and in a boat that is appropriate to them in terms of physical size and strength.

Our Junior Program Director, Brent Ostbye is a full time employee of the club and a US Sailing Small Boat Instructor Trainer. He not only ensures the SSA Junior Program is compliant with Maryland State regulations for instructional/camp programs, he also teaches the courses and certifies other instructors on his staff. Frequently, SSA offers the use of it’s facilities to run US Sailing Certification courses for instructors from around the country. All SSA instructors are US Sailing certified as well as certified in First Aid and CPR. We follow US Sailing prescribed teaching methods.

The various instructional programs available at SSA are described below:

Optimist

Harbor Rookies is a one week course designed to give the youngest sailors in our program an introduction to sailing and the Chesapeake Bay. Instruction will be in Optimists, with two sailors per boat. The class is comprised of students ages 6-8. Emphasis will be placed on teamwork and enjoying everything that the Bay has to offer.

Introductory Optimist classes are offered in two week sessions throughout the summer to sailors between the ages of 8-11 years old. This course is designed to teach students with little experience the basic skills needed to sail. In an environment where fun and teamwork are paramount, students are introduced to:

Wind awareness
Sailing terminology
Points of Sail
Tacking
Gybing

Intermediate Optimist is designed for sailors between the ages of 8-11who have completed at least two two-week sessions of the Optimist Beginner course. In this course students will become proficient in all points covered in the Optimist Beginner course. They will also be introduced to:

Weather
Sail Trim
Hull Trim
Equipment Maintenance

Optimist Racers (Chesapeake Bay Team) must bring their own boats to class. Teams will be divided by instructors into Green and Championship Fleets. This team will compete in events around the Chesapeake Bay as determined by the parents and coaching staff at the beginning of the summer. In this course, students will practice skills necessary to become proficient racers such as:

Starting Techniques
Boat Handling
The Racing Rules of Sailing
Racing Tactics

Parents are asked to help with travel arrangements for regattas on the Chesapeake. These regattas are typically only one day in duration and generally do not require overnight stays.

Optimist Racers (National Team) curriculum is designed for sailors between the ages of 10-15 weighing less than 130 lbs. and interested in competitive racing. All participants in SSA’s Optimist racing team must supply their own boat. Coaches will teach boat-handling, tactics, and physical fitness while stressing the importance of sportsmanship. Classes will focus on perfecting the processes involved in sailboat racing. This team participates in many regattas held on the Chesapeake Bay plus a few others requiring extended overnight stays including the National Championships, typically held over 5 days in late July and the New England Championships. Because of the sailors’ young ages, event durations, and distances traveled at least one parent/guardian of each sailor is expected to volunteer at the distant regattas to assist with boat and sailor transportation and chaperone duties. Parents work with the team coordinator to optimize the adult to child ratio and ensure all the logistical issues are taken care of.

Laser

Laser Racers (Chesapeake Bay Team) is designed for Laser sailors between the ages of 13-18, over 125 pounds, and focuses on racing. All participants in SSA’s Laser Instructional program must supply their own boat.. During this course, teamwork and sportsmanship will be emphasized while practicing skills necessary to become proficient racers such as:

Starting Techniques
Boat Handling
The Racing Rules of Sailing
Racing Tactics

Parents are asked to help with travel arrangements for regattas on the Chesapeake Bay. These regattas are typically only one day in duration and generally do not require overnight stays.

Laser Racers (National Team) is designed for sailors between the ages of 13-18, over 125 pounds who have prior racing experience. All participants in SSA’s Laser Instructional program must supply their own boat. Coaches will teach boat-handling, tactics, and physical fitness while stressing the importance of sportsmanship. Classes will focus on perfecting the processes involved in sailboat racing. This team participates in many regattas held on the Chesapeake Bay plus a few others requiring extended overnight stays. Because of the event durations and distances traveled parental involvement (chaperones, transportation, organizational) is required.

420

Beginner 420 classes are offered in two week sessions throughout the summer to sailors between the ages of 12-18 years old. This course is designed to teach students with little experience the basic skills needed to sail. In an environment where fun and teamwork are paramount, students are introduced to:

Wind awareness
Sailing terminology
Points of Sail
Tacking
Gybing

Intermediate 420 is designed for sailors between the ages of 12-18 who have completed at least one two-week session of the 420 Beginner course. Students will become proficient in all points covered in the 420 Beginner course. They will also be introduced to:

Weather
Sail Trim
Hull Trim
Equipment Maintenance

420 Racers (Chesapeake Bay Team) is designed for sailors between the ages of 12-18 who have completed the Intermediate 420 or other similar course and are interested in learning to race. There are two four week sessions available. Race ready boats are available for charter, but students are encouraged to bring their own boats. During this course, teamwork and sportsmanship will be emphasized while practicing skills necessary to become proficient racers such as:

Starting Techniques
Boat Handling
The Racing Rules of Sailing
Racing Tactics

Parents are asked to help with travel arrangements for regattas on the Chesapeake Bay. These regattas are typically only one day in duration and generally do not require overnight stays.

420 Racers (National Team) is designed for sailors between the ages of 13-18 who have prior racing experience. Coaches will teach boat-handling, tactics, and physical fitness while stressing the importance of sportsmanship. Classes will focus on perfecting the processes involved in sailboat racing. To participate either the skipper or crew must bring their own boat to class. Typically the boat is owned by the skipper, but sharing arrangements between skippers and crews are not uncommon. Interested sailors who do not own boats are paired with skippers needing crew. This team participates in many regattas held on the Chesapeake Bay plus a few others requiring extended overnight stays. Because of the duration and distances traveled parental involvement (chaperones, transportation, organizational) is required.