2007 TRAVEL RACING PROGRAM
Welcome to Baltimore County
Sailing Center's 2007 Travel Racing Program. This intensive,
eight-week program is designed for students who wish to
race or learn how to race in a competitive environment,
traveling several times a week throughout the Chesapeake
Bay to race with the best in our area. It is assumed that
candidates for this program have a good background in sailing
and want to try racing. We offer them a challenging program
staffed by accomplished racing sailors who are also committed
coaches.
SEASON: training
takes place during normal sailing camp hours (9 AM to 3
PM) at Rocky Point. On regatta travel days, sailors will
be taken to the various racing venues on the Bay and sometimes
must leave their designated car-pool location as early
as 5:30 AM. Although the bay-wide regatta schedule is not
finalized until early spring, the training program will
begin as soon as camps start, June 25. The cost of this
eight-week program is $1,900.
DIVISIONS:
in 2007, our racers will be divided into three fleets,
based on experience, size and age. A junior fleet of beginning
racers will sail OPTIMISTs in the Green (beginner) Fleet,
traveling to a few regattas in their first season. They
may also lease one of the Center's few Optimists ($300
per season).
After their first year, depending on size and age, racing
sailors will have an option of moving into the Senior OPTI
fleet where the regattas are more frequent and the competition
is greater. They will travel to regattas in St. Michael's,
Annapolis, Oxford, Rock Hall, and West River. Members of
this fleet must provide their own boat, a class-approved
OPTIMIST. A third fleet will be created from six racers
who have surpassed the age or physical size limitations
for Optimists and will race Lasers. Racers must provide
their own class registered Laser and will travel to regattas
that may be different than the Optimist schedules. An experienced
racing coach will train and travel with this team. BOATS:
all boats can be kept at Rocky Point for the duration of
camp, but must be removed immediately thereafter. A lease
agreement is required so that the Sailing Center can provide
for adequate and convenient storage of these racing boats
on County property. Beach dollies and covers are also required.
MEMBERSHIPS: Each senior Optimist and Laser fleet racer will need to maintain membership in several organizations: US SAILING, Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA), International Optimist or Laser Class Association and Glenmar Sailing Association (or another CBYRA-member yacht club). If you are not already members, we will show you how to join. Combined cost is approximately $60 per year. Green fleeters need only join Glenmar ($15).
REGATTAS: Racers are invited to attend each regatta scheduled for their fleet. The Sailing Center has purchased and maintains customized trailers capable of transporting boats around the state. These trailers are available for use in the Travel Racing Program. The coach often brings one of the Center's coach boats to the regatta also. There may be entry fees for these events which are to be borne by the racer, usually $10 to $20, per event. T-shirts, snacks and/or lunches are sometimes offered at these events, and trophies are usually awarded to winners.
PARENTAL PARTICIPATION: Parents are expected to participate in schedule coordination, transportion of equipment and racers, and in the regatta management. The Center's Youth Program Director will supervise on-site training; and on travel days the coaches will provide training and guidance throughout the competition; but it is anticipated that parents will step forward and provide travel support and on-the-beach supervision of the young racing sailors
COSTS: Costs
include: 1) approximately an eight-week training camp for
$1,900. 2) membership fees of approximately $60. 3) regatta
entry fees of approximately $75.
