Hello Sailors and Parents,
We had our pre-season meeting on Monday night - thank you to all who came! Here is a recap for everyone:
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 except for the that are indicated as Optional on the schedule. 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 recommended, but just 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).
FORMS
All sailors must fill out the forms attached, meet their school athletic requirements, and submit team fees. All forms must be filled out and turned in before our first practice. Team fees are $235; make check out to Whatcom Community Sailing.
As a club sport, each sailor is required to comply with the schools' athletic eligibility requirements. Sailors can register online at your schools website as an athlete. This registration includes a Physical Form, Concussion Form and ASB Card. These items get turned into your school AD secretary. If you have not already scheduled a physical, do so ASAP so you can practice on Thursday. Go in to your athletic director secretary this week to verify that you have met all the school requirements.
PRACTICES
Our first practice is Thursday, Aug 27rd. We will practice Tues/Thurs 3:15 - 6:30 through October 29. We will be conducting a swim test of ALL sailors at the first practice. Please bring a wetsuit, towel and warm clothes. PARENTS - Please help us by scheduling dentist and doctors appointments around our regular practices. Practices are held at Lakewood. 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.
8TH GRADERS
Please arrive at practice as soon as possible after school gets out. 8th graders can participate in all regattas on the schedule with the exception of district championships or national events if we qualify. However, even at district championship events there are typically JV fleets that are open to 8th graders. 8th graders will check in with the 8th grade coach when they arrive. That coach will either be Elsa Balton or Courtney Starks.
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.
REGATTAS
REGATTA SIGN-UP - Please fill out this regatta sign up form so we know which events you absolutely cannot make. We expect you to attend all required regattas, so if you can not make a regatta please come talk to us so we can discuss why.
MONDAY/WED WORKOUTS
Monday and Wednesday we will meet at Sehome at 2:45 to workout. These workouts are not mandatory like practices. Mondays will generally be running workouts, and Wednesdays will be strength training. Workouts are slightly weather dependent, so if it is a miserable Monday, we will resort to the weight room. Respond to either Shea or Nick if you will be attending the workouts so we don't leave without you!
First workout is Monday Aug 31st, we will meet by the Anchor at Sehome. Respond to Shea at 360-441-1272 with questions about the workouts.
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 in 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!
Scott WilsonCoach - WCS
360.303.1759 c
