ASF Promotes New Generation Of Sailors

The Arizona Sailing Foundation is offering sailing education classes for kids starting in early October. Now is the time to sign-up and enable your kids to learn how to skipper a boat on their own. Tell your friends and neighbors about the program and let’s get the youngsters out on Tempe Town Lake learning to sail.

Sign-up at the Arizona Yacht Club site for Opti 1 sailing. http://arizonayachtclub.org/?page_id=827

Kids’ Introduction To Sailing: Focus is on learning the basics — parts of the boat, making the boat go, safety on the water. Short on-shore sessions followed by sailing in the Optimist — and to have fun doing it! Total time 2½ hours, including rigging.

Dates For Fall 2011 Classes: Oct. 9, 16 and 24, Nov. 6 and 13 with a weather make-up day (if needed) on Nov. 20.

About The Class: Optimist boats will be provided by ASF. The teacher is a US Sailing Certified Small Boat Instructor. The class is for kids 8-12 and no experience is required. Class size is limited to 12.

You’ll need to provide your own PFD (life jacket). Everyone will take a very simple swim test in the lake at the start of class to make sure they’re comfortable in the water. The cost for Opti 1 or Opti 2 is$195/student.

The goal in Opti 1 is to learn how to sail around a course (floating marks), to sail comfortably in wind up to 15 mph, and to understand safety techniques. Once the kids have these skills, they’ll be ready to move up to Opti 2, which provides more advanced instruction on boat balance and speed, as well as general sailing skills practice.

Times: Opti 1 typically starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoons, followed by Opti 2 at 3:30. Opti 2 students are expected to be ready to sail at 3:30, which means rigged, launched and ready on the dock! Opti 2 finishes around 5:30.

Head Instructor: Natalie Harper

Note: AYC Members may be able to receive a $50 scholarship for a child to attend an ASF Junior class.

Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times
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