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Junior Learn to Sail

SPASC Junior Learn to Sail Programs

Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club (SPASC) is an accredited Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Centre with several certified Dinghy Instructors and Assistant Dinghy Instructors, providing kids with a safe and supportive facility to practice and develop sailing skills - refer to our Child Safeguarding site HERE

Unlike other clubs, we don’t push kids into racing before they have the ability and maturity to enjoy it. We have a series of programs designed to incorporate fun, games and adventure to develop the fundamental skills of sailing. Our objective is to fully develop the foundation skills of sailing before racing is encouraged

Our Junior Sailing Program (refer details below) is a fun, friendly, engaging and safe introduction to the sport of sailing and the club for kids aged 8 to 16 years.  All programs at SPASC are run by Australian Sailing accredited instructors and incorporate games and group activities to develop fundamental skills of sailing.

Juniors begin their sailing journey using club-provided equipment (boats and lifejackets), and progress to being independent sailors over about two sailing seasons, where equipment can be hired from the club or juniors transition to using their own boats. We have club boats available for all the family to enjoy sailing on our beautiful Lake Macquarie.

SPASC’s Junior Sailing Program is specifically designed for kids who have already learned the sailing basics and provides a gradual transition from sailing lessons to sailing and racing in a junior fleet.  We provide a friendly and relaxed learning environment, and you will be able to watch your kids from the SPASC clubhouse.

We also provide a friendly and relaxed learning environment, and you will be able to watch your kids from SPASC’s clubhouse balcony or the beautiful, grassed foreshore of Lake Macquarie.

Eligibility and Entry.

  1. Participants need to be either SPASC Family or Junior members (Junior Membership is $100).  Note, membership fees are heavily subsidised by sailing training fees.  Also SPASC is registered as an Active Kids provider and accepts Active Kids vouchers to diminish costs.
  2. Casual entrants will need to obtain an Australian Sailing SailPass before participating.
  3. SPASC’s sail training program participants must be aged 8 to17 years, and who have already learned the sailing basics.
  4. Eligible persons may enter via the Online Entry Form within the Australian Sailing revSPORT website: SPASC Events Calendar
  5. The Junior Sailing Program Fee needs to be paid before participating within this sail training program.

Refer to SPASC's Youth Sailing Handbook HERE

SPASC's Club Pathway HERE shows the sailing path options available. We encourage kids to get involved as assistant instructors and instructors as the best way to learn something is to teach it

SPASC's 5 Step Junior Sailing Program commences 7 October 2023

Location: Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club (SPASC), Park Road, Speers Point NSW.

Sailing Area: On the waters of northern Lake Macquarie in the vicinity of Cockle Bay, near SPASC Clubhouse.

Step 1: Start Sailing 1 & 2 Program - for kids aged 8-16 years with no or minimal sailing experience.

  • Saturday Mornings from 21 October 2023 to 23 March 2024 from 9:00am to 12 Noon - Designed for students aged 8 to 17 years, involving a mixture of classroom learning, sailing exercises, adventure games, occasional racing and cruising to a destination.
  • The juniors in this program progress through two levels to learn fundamental dinghy sailing skills. They will build confidence on-water, confidence in themselves and have lots of fun! The program is deliberately designed to give the juniors time to develop the foundation sailing skills, build friendships and learn lots. The kids learn through games and activities on and off the water.  Club boats and lifejackets are provided.
  • Program Fee: $300 (or $200 if you bring your own Optimist, O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • We will teach the kids the principles of sailing & sailing rules, learn the names of the parts of the boat, rigging the boat, launch and return, plus help them develop their skills with tacking, capsizing, reaching, close hauled sailing, knots, understanding weather forecasts, gybing, rights of way, running, sailing a circle and sailing a triangle.
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023/24 Junior Sailing Start Sailing 1 & 2 Program

Step 2: Green Fleet Coaching Program - now it’s time to learn to sail around a course and become a little more independent!  Learn new skills and be introduced to sailing around a race course.

  • Saturday Mornings from 21 October 2023 to 23 March 2024 from 9:00am to 12 Noon - Designed for students aged 8 to 17 years who have completed the Start Sailing 1 & 2 Program with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment. 
  • Green Fleet is where the juniors move towards being independent on the water. You’ll be amazed at just what they achieve on their own on the water, and you’ll see this transfer into life!
  • Juniors will gain independence and become more responsible and resilient. Green Fleet focus is again on fun and creativity, to teach introductory racing skills and extend the skills already learnt. Through spending time on the water with friends and having fun in boats, they’ll also become active club members.
  • Green Fleet introduces kids to racing in a fun and game-sense delivery, with modified rules, challenges, activities, and even adventure races if the winds are fair! Green Fleet juniors are encouraged to use their own boat. If your family is not ready for boat ownership, the club has a couple of boats available for hire at a reasonable fee.
  • Program Fee: $300 (or $200 if you bring your own Optimist, O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • Syllabus: Better sailing, wind shifts, sail trim, gusts and lulls, gunwale capsize recovery, start tactics, centre-board position, racing rules, roll tacks, roll gybes.
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023/24 Junior Sailing Green Fleet Coaching Program

Step 3: Silver Fleet & Adventure Series - is a mixture of adventure sailing and racing for kids who are not interested in racing every week.

  • Saturday Afternoons from 7 October 2023 to 23 March 2024 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm - Designed for students aged 8 to 17 years who have completed the Green Fleet Coaching Program with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment. 
  • The aim of this program is to grow sailing foundation skills through coaching during the racing and adventure sailing activities and keep kids interested in sailing through other fun activities.  We hope to incorporate some exciting non-sailing activities into this program like kayaking, fishing and more...
  • The sailing program will alternate each week with racing one week and adventure sailing the next and also encourage participation in Open Skiff Regattas.  The Silver Fleet will race with the Gold Fleet on Saturday afternoons, however, the Silver Fleet will sail a shorter course (so they don’t feel slow).  The Silver Fleet will also be encouraged to participate in local O’pen Skiff Regattas (there will be no Silver Fleet Program on these days).
  • Silver Fleet focus is on fun and creativity, to teach racing skills and extend the skills already learnt.  Through spending time on the water with friends and having fun in boats, they’ll also become active club members.
  • Program Fee: $300 (or $200 if you bring your own Optimist, O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • Syllabus: Better sailing, wind shifts, sail trim, gusts and lulls, sailing standing-up.
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023/24 Junior Sailing - Silver Fleet & Adventure Series

Step 4: Friday Junior Twilight Coaching Programs 1 & 2 - is designed for competent junior sailors that have completed the Green Fleet Program or who can demonstrate competent sailing foundation skills in winds of 12 knots or more.

  • Friday Afternoons during daylight saving from 13 October to 15 December 2023 and 19 January to 29 March 2024 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Designed for mature students aged 10 to 17 years who have completed the Green Fleet Coaching Program or who can demonstrate competent sailing foundation skills in winds of 12 knots or more, with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment.
  • The Friday Twilight Coaching Program provides an entry point to junior racing with a coach on the water to provide advice before, during and after the race.  Each session consists of a coaching session, adventure sail, or participation in a club race. When possible, game-based learning will be used in the coaching session.
  • Eligible classes are: Optimist, O’pen Skiff and Laser. Sailors can charter a club boat or bring their own
  • Each Season Program Fee: $200 (or $100 if you bring your own Optimist, O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • Syllabus: Better sailing, wind shifts, sail trim, gusts and lulls, sailing standing up, steering without the tiller, race starts.
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023 Junior Friday Twilight Sailing & Coaching Program 1 or SPASC 2024 Junior Friday Twilight Sailing & Coaching Program 2

Step 5: Junior Race Series (Gold Fleet)

  • Junior racing will be held on both Saturday afternoons from 7 October 2023 to 23 March 2024 commencing at 2:00pm and Friday Twilights from 6 October to 5 April 2024 from 5:00pm .  They are two separate series and known as our “Gold Fleet".
  • There is no coaching permitted during the racing however there will be a few coaching clinics before or after racing throughout each series.  Sailors requiring coaching should register for the Friday Twilight Coaching course.
  • Sailors are expected to be competent, aged 17 or under, know the racing rules of sailing and have their own boat, although club boats may be available for charter. Eligible classes: Optimist, O’pen Skiff and Laser (Optimists Excluded from Friday Twilights).
  • Friday Twilight Series Fee: $300 (or $100 if you bring your own O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023/24 Junior Friday Twilight Racing Program - Gold Fleet
  • Saturday Afternoon Series Fee: $300 (or $90 if you bring your own O'pen Skiff or Laser).
  • Register via this link: SPASC 2023/24 Junior Saturday Racing Program - Gold Fleet

Course Recognition. Awards will be provided in recognition of completion of components of SPASC’s Junior Sailing Program.

Safety. Approved Personal Flotation Devices (buoyancy vests) shall be worn by all Participants while on the water and SPASC have a Safety Management Plan and COVID-19 Safety Plan to manage risks and/or avoid injuries.

Contacts. SPASC Junior Sailing Manager, Andy Clark, email clark.a@inbox.com or phone 0468 440 030 for any enquiries.

SPASC ACKNOWLEDGES AND APPRECIATES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF LAKE MACQUARIE CITY COUNCIL AS MAJOR SPONSORS OF THIS JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM.

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

  • Who is the program for? – Kids aged 8 to 16. Start Sailing 1 and 2 is for kids with no sailing experience. Green Fleet is for kids that have already completed Tackers 1, 2 and 3 or Start Sailing 1 & 2. Silver fleet is for children that have completed green fleet but are more interested in adventure sailing than racing and gold fleet is for children that have completed green fleet and enjoy racing.
  • What boats does the club have for use in the sail training program? – We have Optimists, O'pen Skiffs and Laser’s (Lasers for ages 12+).
  • Parental assistance? – Younger children will require parental assistance in getting boats rigged and on and off the water. We welcome parents with sailing experience that want to help with instruction, they will need to become certified assistant instructors. This is a one day course run locally by Australian Sailing.
  • Annual Costs? – Our membership year is June to May and the sailing season is August to April. All annual costs like membership or the sail training season are based on the sailing season.
  • Does SPASC accept Active Kids Vouchers? – Yes, SPASC is registered as an Active Kids provider.
  • How do I use the Active Kids Vouchers? Process your child’s membership, enrol them in a course, choose pay later and email details of your active kids voucher to spascsailing@gmail.com. After your voucher has been processed you will be asked to pay the balance, after the voucher value has been deducted.
  • Life Jackets? – Life jackets are provided for the Start Sailing 1 & 2 course. Green fleet, silver fleet and gold fleet sailors are encouraged to bring their own life jacket.
  • What to wear? – Most kids feel the cold more than adults, so please dress them with this in mind, including bathers, rashie’s, hat’s, sunglasses. They may also wear wetsuits, spray jackets, sailing gloves, booties etc.
  • Sunscreen? – Please apply sunscreen to your child before sail training commences.
  • Can we bring our own boat to the club? – Yes, junior sailors are welcome to bring their boat if it is an Optimist, O’pen Skiff or Laser.