Youth RACING Programs at Sail Newport
Safety at Sea

OPTIMIST, LASER and C420 RACING PROGRAMS

Email Kim Hapgood for application details for Racing Programs.


The Brenton Cove Racing Program is customized for students serious about racing Optis, Lasers and C420s. This program is designed to provide a comprehensive and intensive training, and practice racing format. From local regattas in the Bay (both team racing and fleet racing) to travelling to regional and national events, the Racing Program is about creating opportunities for racing experience. Teamwork and sportsmanship are stressed in a supportive learning environment with coaches helping each sailor set their individual sailing and racing goals.

Unlike the Youth Dinghy Program, there is no lottery for the Racing Programs. Admittance to the Brenton Cove Racing Program is by application and with the permission of the Program Directors, based on skills, experience and interest. Candidates for the Brenton Cove Racing Program are expected to be knowledgeable about the rigging of their boat, should be able to demonstrate correct sail trim on all points of sail, and be comfortable sailing in close quarters with other sailors in all conditions. Prior racing experience is required.

Pre-A.R.T.
Taught in Optimists (typically ages 9 - 13) and Club 420s (typically ages 13 - 18), this five-week class is aimed at sailors looking to transition into the A.R.T. (Advanced Race Training) Program. Acceptance is by application (it is not part of the lottery). Sailors must have completed a minimum of an intermediate level class, and ideally an advanced class, demonstrating solid fundamental skills, and a strong commitment to learning how to race. Boats (Optis and C420s) are provided.

Classes meet as follows:

  • Opti Pre-ART: July 5 - 29, includes coaching in the 2010 USODA Opti New England Championships, August 2 - 5.
    Practice meets Mondays - Thursdays 9:00 am - 3:00pm with optional practices on Fridays dependent on coach availability.


  • C420 Pre-ART: July 19 - August 19, includes coaching in the 2010 NBYA Junior Race Week, August 12 - 15.
    Practice meets Mondays - Thursdays 9:00 am - 3:00pm with optional practices on Fridays dependent on coach availability.


More information is available on the Dinghy Program home page.


Brenton Cove Racing Program:

All Information and Program Descriptions....
The Brenton Cove Racing Program is a BYOBoat program.
420s and Lasers sail at Sail Newport Sailing Center and Optimists sail out of Ida Lewis Yacht Club.
Please contact us if you currently do not have a boat. A limited # of charter boats are available for use by students on financial aid or scholarship. And, we can work with you to find a boat that will fit your budget.

The Brenton Cove Racing Program was created in partnership with Sail Newport BOD and Executive Staff and the Ida Lewis YC Board of Directors and Flag Officers. The program aims to foster increased opportunities for competitive sailors from the two programs. The program allows Sail Newport and Ida Lewis Yacht Club to take advantage of improved resource opportunities created through this cooperation. For logistical reasons, fleets will sail out of one club or the other. In 2010, Optis will sail from the facilities at Ida Lewis Yacht Club, while the C420s and Lasers will sail out of Sail Newport.

The program is about creating opportunities for racing experience for competitive sailors at all levels with appropriate coaches best suited to help them meet their individual sailing and racing goals. Teamwork and sportsmanship is stressed in a supportive environment. The Brenton Cove Racing Program is customized for sailors serious about racing Optis, Lasers and C420s. The program is designed to provide a comprehensive and intensive training, and practice racing format, coupled with local regattas in the Bay (both Team racing and Fleet racing) as well as travel to regional and national events. The coach/sailor ratio for Optis will be a min. of 6 and max. of 8, for the Lasers a min. of 4 and max. of 7 and for the C420s 4 boats min. and 6 boats max. per coach.
The program is a “bring your own boat” program for Optis and Lasers. C420 sailors should have their own boat, have someone they plan to sail with in the program with a boat, or talk to the program directors about a charter and/or finding a partner to sail with. It is expected, especially for C420 sailors in their first or second year of competitive sailing may not have settled in with a specific sailing partner (either skipper or crew) and we will work with them to find appropriate matches.
Management of the program (Optis, Lasers and C420s) is a cooperative effort with day-to-day management of the program handled by the Program Directors: Galen Largay-Ryley at Ida Lewis Yacht Club and Kim Hapgood at Sail Newport.
There will be two Open Houses: Wednesday, January 27th at 6:30 pm and Sunday, February 28th at 4:00 pm, both to be held at the Seaman’s Church Institute located at Bowen’s Wharf. This will be an opportunity to come talk to the program directors about the program, meet other parents and sailors interested in the program and get answers to your questions. If you cannot make either meeting—no problem!--questions or concerns can be directed to either Program Director by phone or email.

Practice Schedule
There is one session for the BRCP: Tuesday, June 22nd – Sunday, August 15th, 2010
Opti and C420 Racing Classes both meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (plus regattas) from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm each day. Laser (Radial and Full Rig only – no 4.7) practice on Wednesday and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. There are often optional practices offered on Mondays or Fridays, schedules permitting.

Regatta Schedule
Sailors are encouraged to work with their coaches to determine what regattas would provide them with the best opportunities for competitive sailing based on their goals, expectations and skills. At a minimum, participants the BCR Program are expected to participate in the NBYA events and Jr. Race Week. First and second year racers will be encouraged to sail at least one regional event, while it is expected that returning and experienced racers will typically focus on regional and national events. Again, if you have any questions about the regatta schedule and commitments, please talk to us!

NBYA One Day Regattas, Team Racing and Clinics TBD or as indicated below
C420 & Laser NBYA # 1, Saunderstown YC June 27

Opti, Laser & C420 New Bedford Junior Regatta July 10 - 11

Laser & C420 Newport Regatta, Sail Newport July 10 – 11

Laser NBYA # 2, Wickford YC July 14

Opti, Laser & C420 Marblehead Junior Race Week TBD

C420 C420 North American Championships Brant Beach, NJ July 20 - 23

Opti Opti Nationals, Deltaville, VA Team Racing July 17 – 19
Girls July 20, Open July 21 – 24

Laser & C420 Falmouth Regatta July 24 - 25

Opti, Laser & C420 Hyannis Regatta, Hyannis, MA July 30 – August 1

C420 NBYA # 3, Bristol YC August 3

Opti Opti New England’s, Sail Newport August 2 - 5

C420 & Laser Buzzards Bay, Marion, MA August 6 – 8

Laser NBYA # 3, Sakonnet YC August 10

C420 CJ Buckley Team Race and C420 TR Nationals, East Greenwich YC August 9 – 11

Opti, Laser & C420 NBYA Jr. Race Week, Ft. Getty Jamestown, RI August 13 – 15

Admittance
A maximum of 24 Opti sailors, 30 C420 sailors and 6 Laser sailors will be accepted to participate. Admittance to the BCR Program is by application and with the permission of the Program Directors, based on skills, experience and interest.
Opti sailors typically will range from those with a season of Green Fleet racing under their belts, to those who have sailed on the USODA National Team and travelled extensively. C420 and Laser sailors are expected to have at least completed a course of introduction to competitive sailing and participated in local racing, while many will have experience travelling to regional and national caliber events already. If you have any questions about the programs suitability or whether your sailor is ready to participate, please do not hesitate to call us!
Interested sailors should complete the online application—one per sailor—not household—please! The online application will be posted shortly.

Equipment
Please contact us if you currently do not have a boat. A limited # of charter boats will be available for use by participants, especially those on financial aid or scholarship. And, we can work with you to find a boat that will fit your budget.

Fees
$1125 first child, $1010 sibling(s)
Additional fees to cover the expense of coach housing and/or transportation may be included for regattas outside of the NBYA area, where necessary. These fees will be determined by the number of sailors attending the event.

Please email: Kim Hapgood with any questions about eligibility and choosing the right program.