Hello Sailors and Parents,
Below is a recap of the pre-season meeting.
ABOUT
All local high school sailing is organized and managed by Whatcom Sailing. We focus on racing, not learning how to sail. The high school sailing team is a recognized club sport at each school and we treat it the same as any school sport. Therefore, the expectations are the same regarding attendance at practices and races as any sport. Practices and regattas are required. Everyone is expected to work together as team, including helping your peers, traveling together, staying together, and competing together. All three high schools practice and compete together in most regattas.
Other sailing or sports: Sometimes kids try to juggle multiple sports or other sailing opportunities while being on the sailing team. This is not allowed, and please understand that if you miss practices or regattas, that will be taken into consideration when deciding things like who races with who, who can go to regattas, etc. We have to reward those who are committed to the team.
Unlike summer youth circuit racing, all the organization and registration for regattas is done by Whatcom Sailing. This way the students can focus on school and not have to worry about planning for the next regatta.
EMAIL
Most all our communication is done via email, so please help us out by responding to emails quickly and make sure we have your current email address (students and parents).
FEES
Cost is $200 per season. If you do not make the team you will be refunded the full amount. We never want cost to be a reason why someone is not participating so please contact me if you need financial assistance. We have scholarship money for kids that are on the free or reduced lunch program.
REGISTRATION STEPS
1. Register and pay with Whatcom Sailing. Click here to Register.
2. Complete the school athletic registration online. This is now being done with a new Final Forms program. See attached documents for more information. 8th graders DO NOT need to do this step. Home schooled kids DO need to do this.
3. Get cleared with your school. Go to your school and get cleared with your AD secretary. 8th graders and home schooled kids DO NOT need to do this step.
REGISTRATION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE YOU CAN PRACTICE.
TRYOUTS
The first week of practice is tryouts week. All sailors must be completely registered and paid before trying out, if you do not make the team you will be refunded.
PRACTICES
Our first practice is this coming March 3rd. For the first practice please meet at the BYC downstairs. We will practice Tues/Thurs 3:45 - 6:30 through May 14th. PARENTS - Please help us by scheduling dentist and doctors appointments around our regular practices. Practices are held at Zuanich Park dock. If you need a carpool, please contact us and we will put you in touch with another sailor from your school.
We require all sailors to have a Type III Coastguard approved life jacket, a whistle attached to your life jacket and a wetsuit. There will be days where we will require a wetsuit or you won't be able to sail. We strongly encourage proper gear, such as gloves, booties and no cotton. On our gear page on the website, we suggest places to buy gear and what kind of gear to get. (westcoastsailing.com offers high school students 15% off gear and free shipping, just enter code ISSA) Please ask us or your fellow sailors what gear we recommend if you have any questions.
NEW REQUIRED ITEM THIS YEAR: Running shoes and workout gear. We will be having workout days this season where we will be running and doing other cardio exercises. You will be expected to run and workout with the team at any practice.
We would like you to consider buying and wearing a helmet as well. Especially if you are new to sailing or have had a previous concussion. Concussions can happen by getting hit in the head by the boom and can be very serious. Here is more information about sailing concussions:
8TH GRADERS
Please arrive at practice as soon as possible after school gets out. 8th graders can participate in all regattas as long as there is space.
SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
We follow the same requirements as the high schools for athletes. This means that students must attend all classes the day of a practice AND must be passing all classes. If either of these are failed then you may not practice. If you miss a class you need to get it excused and cleared with the AD secretary before practice.
REGATTAS
Please see the website for a schedule of all regattas. www.whatcomsailing.com
TEXT MESSAGING NOTIFICATIONS
We use a text message notification system for all the sailors. The messaging service is called Remind. To sign up send a text message
TO: 81010
Message: @sailboats
If you are a high schooler, we would like you to be on an additional list so please send another message
TO:81010
Message: @bhssailing (if you go to BELLINGHAM)
or @shssailing (if you go to SEHOME)
or @sqhssail (if you go to SQUALICUM)
PARENTS
We are excited to have your sailor on the team, and will be kept very busy organizing practices & regattas, and teaching them how to become awesome racers! So, we will need your help! Regatta travel is usually based on parent drivers. We try to reimburse for gas, and food is usually free for parents or very cheap. Please take a look at the regatta schedule and make note on which regattas you would be able to drive.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email or visit the website for information. I am excited to be starting another season of sailing!
See you on the water!
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