Junior Coaching - Wednesdays and Friday
Coaching is being organised for Wednesdays and Fridays in January 2011 for juniors that have completed the Tackers 2 program. Limited positions are available. Please contact Debbie Benger on 0438 250 295 for details.
Junior Race Series: Dec 28th, 30th, & Jan 5th - Fun for everyone!
Dates: Wednesday Dec 28th. If all goes swell we will repeat the format for the 30th and 5th.
Classes: Particular focus on Optimists and club Sparrows, but all classes and kids welcome.
Courses: Off the beach start, using the rock buoys and an "X" buoy" as the course markers.
Race format:
Races will be short, and will begin from the beach from a count down. Sailors will sail around the course and across the finish line (typically the last rock buoy and the official timer on the beach). Crews will then be swapped around in Sparrows etc, and Optis if desired by those parents. The aim is to have kids participate in a few races over the course of the morning, ideally in different boats and with different skippers/crew when in Sparrows. It is anticipated that sparrows will have an adult skipper as required to take less experienced kids out in the races.
After Race: A BBQ with sausages in bread, & soft drinks will be provided for all participants and helpers. Encouragement prizes for junior sailors will be awarded by the sailing committee.
Timing:
10:00 Assess weather and begin rigging boats on beach
10:30 RIB is put in water and "X" mark is laid.
10:45 Briefing on the beach, outlining course details, and starting procedure
10:50 Crews for first race allocated to boats. Racing continues to ensure all kids get plenty of on water time.
12:30 BBQ gets fired up
12:30 - 1:00 (depending on how many races are required to satisfy kids) Racing finishes, and boats packed up and returned to club. Lunch begins. Prizes and words of encouragement handed out by sailing committee. Format for the day discussed with kids and parents in preparation for Junior Race day 2, on Thurs Dec 30.
Assistance required:
Rigging boats: All parents and available members to help get boats on the beach and ready for racing
RIB crew and course setting: Two people required (at least one must hold a boat driver's licence) for setting "X" buoy, and monitoring boats on the race course. Owning your own water pistol or super soaker would be a bonus.
Sailing Coordinator: Debbie Benger will officiate the racing for the day, confirming course required, race course used, and starting procedure.
Official time keeper and score keeper: Person required to record crew details, start each race using amplifier and stop watch, and record finishing orders of crew.
BBQ operator: to run BBQ and cook sausages, onions etc.
Food coordinator: Rosemary Nolan to coordinate person to purchase sausages, bread, sauce, onions, soft drinks for the day.
Experienced sailors: People who can skipper a Sparrow or other two man boat to get more kids on the water.
Promoters: Everyone who can encourage their kids and other members to participate in the day. Spectators should also be encouraged!
It is important as many people as possible join in and help out to make this event to successful. None of the jobs are very technical or time consuming. Many hands make light work! It is the sailing and general committee's intention that junior sailing and development is supported at Merricks. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If you have an interest in a specific task required, please contact Debbie Benger ( 0438 250 295, or juniorsailing@merricks.org)to volunteer. If there are others (adults and kids) who you think would like to participate, please invite them along!
