Juniors

Welcome to the ASC Junior and Youth Training program

2022/23 Season Calendar

Saturday Morning Junior and Youth Training at ASC

The 2022 handbook and program will be available for download in the coming months

Sailing Development Group Vision: For ASC to grow the sport of sailing through junior development and ultimately club membership.

Youth training takes place at ASC most Saturday mornings throughout the season and is open to all junior financial members of the club. The training program is governed by the following principles:

To provide a safe, friendly and fun environment for kids of ALL ages and stages of sailing capabilities, to further their skills and enjoyment of the sport
To develop a sustainable program that guides kids through the development stages of sailing, eventually to racing by focussing on the core skills
Will focus primarily on the transition from Tackers - Green fleet - Club racing
Acknowledging time constraints and competition for family time, balance the ‘time on the water to be manageable and not inhibitory
Providing opportunities for experienced juniors to mentor new or green fleet juniors
To provide a club focus on junior sailing as opposed to a class focus
Participation in the program will come at no cost to Adelaide Sailing Club junior members
Will be overseen and supported by ASC Committee of Management, run by volunteers/supporters and enhanced by experienced & qualified sailing instructors

Saturday On water training times

9.30am - 10.00am: Arrive and be rigged ready to go by 10.00am
10.00am - 10.30am: Briefing and sign on etc. All juniors participating
10.30am - 11.30am: On water training all juniors participating
11.30am - 12.30pm: Lunch

Boats

We have a number of junior/youth classes at the club including; International Optimists, O'Pen Bics, International Cadets, Lasers & 29ers as well as a fleet of Pacers.

Sailors can choose which class of boat they begin their sailing journey with and we can offer advice on what may be the most suitable pathway for each child.

Afternoon Junior and Green Fleet Racing

In line with the feedback from the ASC junior sailing forum, the ASC race management team have agreed to reinstate the North Course. For those not familiar with this, in recent years the junior fleet had its own course, closer to shore and away from the senior classes. There are multiple benefits with this approach:

(1) to start/finish racing earlier on the day….both parents and kids want this

(2) this keeps all junior classes together. The Green fleet kids can sail with the junior fleet where they can aspire to transition to the junior fleet.

(3) to provide junior sailors with shorter but more frequent races (up to 4 per day) in a “YSA Tri-Series” type format

(4) more races, more chances, more learning, more fun, many races = many opportunities to practice all sailing elements

(5) to provide a close to shore ‘safe’ course area for Green fleet sailors.

Afternoon Club Racing Times

11.30am - 12.30pm: Lunch
12.30pm: Leave beach
12.55pm: Warning signal for Junior and Green Fleet course. (Aiming to have racing completed by 3:00- 3:30pm)

Sail for life!

At ASC we believe the retention of kids in sailing is all about them having fun with friends (even more so than adults), rather than competition. ASC want to provide a clear pathway that progresses their skills and builds their confidence so they can take the next step and hopefully be sailors for life!

Parents-how can you be involved?

Saturday morning junior training and Saturday afternoon junior racing is not possible without parent volunteers and we remind all junior sailing families that to be an active junior sailing member at least one parent needs to be a volunteer member of Adelaide Sailing Club. All parents are encouraged to become involved with their children’s sailing on and off the water as we believe this results in a strong junior program and member retention. As a member you are covered by personal accident insurance and other benefits provided by Australian Sailing.

New to Sailing?

For non-members formal sailing courses are also available through the club.

Young beginners (7-12 years) are encouraged to do a Tackers course so they can learn some basic skills and gain water confidence prior to commencing junior & youth training.

Youth and Adult beginners are encouraged to do a Start Sailing course so they can learn some basic skills and gain confidence.