High School Sailing- what's working where?

[White Lightnin']

Having recently retired and gotten myself somewhat squared away. I have been approached/volunteered to be an assistant coach for local HS team. Anyone out there doing things that seem to be working better than the same old, same old?

Yes, I know Google is your friend, but I am looking for CURRENT first hand experiences.

Thanks in advance

WL

 

[Grande Mastere Dreade]

No HS level teaching.... but teach them starts and how to read / react to windshifts... if they can get that down, they'll be way ahead

 

[White Lightnin']

We have a pretty good program with a coach that's a former HS National champ. So that side is rolling ok, but thanks for that. I am wondering about the logistics ie; how many coaches, how many shore side support, funding models, ideas to keep it fun while learning. Etc, etc

Also, is anyone coaching or helping a HS program? Curious if they let any of you deplorables near a school.

WL

 

[alteredst88]

Long time hs coach here with a couple of thoughts. First, good sailors don't necessarily make good coaches. Coaching is a different discipline. There are training programs for coaching hs athletics that can be helpful. I can dig them up if you're interested. Get the parents involved. Sailing can be time and travel intensive. I found that the more buy in I had from parents (willing to drive, help coordinate regattas, bring snacks, host team get-togethers, raise money), the better my team was. What's your logistics situation? Sailing out of a club? Sailing center? School facility? With other teams? Sharing boats? Hosting regattas?

Gerry

 

[White Lightnin']

I would love any info you could provide. The program is somewhat unique in that it is sponsored by my YC and has full access, the boats and program are run through the Cities parks and Rec program. The HS recognizes it has a scholastic sport.

2 or 3 parents that are at everything. 12-15 kids in the program. Other parents are about 50%.

Anacortes has a great small boat center and hosted the Baker Cup last year. Racing is in FJ'S with off season Lido racing for almost year round sailing.

Just hauled 3 older boats to my house for some "sprucing up". Hoping to get some of the kids involved in that.

Hoping that prompts the holders of the purse strings to buy new sails instead of new boats (we have 4 new boats)

We frequently train together with a nearby school.

Trailer to regattas in a 100 mile radius. Occasionally farther.

Good competitive teams in NWISA.

WL

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I coach 3 HS teams in VT. Most of our regattas are in Maine. One team has 18-20 kids and all attend the same school. Another team is also single school but has 5 kids on it. The last team is made up of kids from regional HS's that don't have enough sailors, about 10 kids. Run through the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. We practice the big team 2 days a week independently of the smaller two teams, who practice together on the other 2 days. Friday we get them all together if we can. Many weeks we are sending a group off to Maine, so it doesn't wind up being the whole group. I have an assistant coach who can run Friday's in my absence or attend regattas if I cant go. It's a 6 day a week job for me.

 

[White Lightnin']

Thanks Zero

These kids actually practice 4 days a week. Given your two days a week, How many hours are in the boat vs the classroom? Also, other than starting practice and figure 8's (follow the leader) what are your on the water drills (if you don't mind sharing)

WL

 

[Hawaiidart]

HS sailings a varsity sport for the independent (private) schools out here. We run about two months of practice/learning sessions, two afternoons per week. Then we have six regattas over three weeks, again 2X per week. The Varsity I teams are in the ocean just past Magic Island, using 420s. The Varsity II team is in the Ala Wai, also in 420s. The JV teams use Toppers (cat rigged, roto-moulded and indestructible). Classrooms sessions are at the individual schools, although most of us do some kind of chalk-talk after practices on site. For drills, we do follow the leader, tennis ball chase and retrieve, and tacking drills with a whistle. We also set up WL courses later in the practice season. The kids are on the water by 4PM and out the door at 6:30 PM. Our boats are owned by the Waikiki and Hawaii Yacht clubs, but are chartered by the league, paid for by student fees. What else would you like to know.

Are you out of AYC? Sounds like a good program!

 

[PaulK]

Our club in CT hosts two HS teams which have up to now chartered our club 420's for a relatively small fee each season: spring & fall. They alternate practice days, with Friday being held aside for regattas or scrimmages with other teams. (The two teams figure out that schedule.) We are replacing our fleet (thank you, charter fees) so one of the teams (a private school) is buying our used boats. That means we would now be able to host three teams - four if the private school charters out their boats too. Growing the sport is part of the game. How many other teams are not only co-ed but allow public and private schools to face off against each other in regional - not just statewide - competition? The two teams we host went to the Great Oaks Invitational in New Orleans in mid-November and raced against teams from IL, MN, FL, NC, IL, MI, and NJ - more than 30 of them - and both finished in the top 10. Not bad for a couple of small-town, low budget teams.

 

[White Lightnin']

Dart- thanks for the PM

Paul- Very nice. Good to hear how other programs are doing it. Anacortes High School has a very competitive robotics program that goes to National every year. Half of the sailors are in that and the schedules conflict, sailing typically loses out. We are hoping to try and elevate the program and attract more kids.

If you build it they will come (I hope)

WL

 

[White Lightnin']

Just to be clear. The program is a good program that fields some very good sailors. It is well coached and fairly well supported.

I am here looking to educate myself about HS. I helped out where I could last season, but work kept getting in the way. Now that my schedule is clear, I should at least try and act like I know what I am doing. So I appreciate any and all help!

WL

 

[MPH]

Just to be clear. The program is a good program that fields some very good sailors. It is well coached and fairly well supported.

I am here looking to educate myself about HS. I helped out where I could last season, but work kept getting in the way. Now that my schedule is clear, I should at least try and act like I know what I am doing. So I appreciate any and all help!

WL

I recommend reading the ISSA Procedural rules and the NWISA Supplemental rules. While stale and boring there is some good stuff in that you can refer back to. In the game of competitive high school sailing every little edge counts.

See you around this next spring, and remember: boat-speed is king.