The Golden Gate Yacht Club is in its sixth season (2008 - 2009) of Pacific Coast Interscholastic High School Sailing). Specifically designed for high school sailors, the program provides boats, facilities, coaches, training, and scheduled practices.
The Golden Gate Yacht Club makes this program available to all San Francisco Bay Area high school students (and incoming freshman) with a sincere desire to get involved in the world of sail. GGYC’s program promotes high school sailing. Beginners are welcome. High School students gain access to the Bay, a dedicated team, have a lot of fun and further the camaraderie characteristic of the Golden Gate Yacht Club. They share campaign responsibilities, and last but not least - find balance between the wind and sea.
With membership in the Pacific Coast Interscholastic Sailing Association www.pcisa.org the team competes against high school sailing teams from California and Hawaii, in regattas around the Bay, in Stockton, Monterey, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Coronado and the Silver PCC Championships. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has the two finest high schools in San Francisco registered with PCISA under the GGYC Burgee: San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA) and Lowell High School. The team is mainly comprised of these students with the remainder of the team from various other San Francisco high schools, Washington, SI Prep, and SHC Prep. The program has no affiliation of any kind with SFUSD or its contingencies, but is an excellent option for PE credits.
THE SAILING TEAM
Some of our sailors arrive with considerable experience. Many come as beginners with no experience - only enthusiasm and a sincere desire to learn to sail and participate in regattas. Students from any high school are welcome. Once a sailor demonstrates commitment by regularly attending practice, developing skills, and making every effort to participate in regattas, they are encouraged to become "junior" members of the Golden Gate Yacht Club. High school sailors are responsible for managing/maintaining facilities, safety gear, tools, the junior dock, "Junior Warehouse", and our fleet of FJs.
GGYC’s High School Sailing coach is Dan Brandt, a much-sought Bay Area coach, and mentor for high velocity 29er & 49er skiffs. Our program relies on efforts of team members to recruit new sailors. The team would not exist without the enduring support of parents: countless hours of driving, planning, e-mailing, phone calls and coach support, makes a big difference in what we are able to do. Our most ardent fans are the Flag Officers and club members of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, who have made this program free for all of us.
HISTORY
In December of 2003, a small group representing San Francisco High School sailors - disillusioned with High School sailing venues in San Francisco - sat down with flag officers of the GGYC to hammer out a plan making it possible for four high school sailors and GGYC to join forces. GGYC's High school sailing plan was drafted by December's end. Less than three weeks remained before the PCISA Alamitos Bay Yacht Club Rose Bowl Regatta on January 3, 2004. The team needed to reregister under GGYC, obtain a class-legal FJ, documentation, update registration, arrange lodging and transportation for sailors, chaperones, boat, equipment, and coaches for the Long Beach Regatta.
By the weekend of January 3rd 2004, all conditions had been fulfilled. The course was clear for San Francisco School of the Arts, teamed with San Francisco Waldorf High School, to compete in the Rose Bowl Regatta. During the five months that followed, GGYC youth sailors would hold a mid fleet position in the NORCAL Varsity League and PCISA Silver Fleet. The rest is our history, in the making.
WHO
In addition to high school students, our program accepts pre-high school students (8th grade) but these young people understand training is honed to prepare them for high school racing when they become old enough to participate. No sailing experience is necessary.
WHERE
Golden Gate Yacht Club Junior Dock, 1 Yacht Road (on the jetty, between Crissy Fields and the Marina Green). For directions, go to www.ggyc.com/directions.
WHEN
Weekday practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to dusk at the Golden Gate Yacht Club and are coordinated and scheduled by our High School Sailing Coach or posted on the Youth Sailing bulletin board in the Burgee Room. GGYC trains exclusively on CFJ's. PCISA racing is done on CFJ's.
FEES
The Program relies on a dedicated team of parent volunteers, club member contributions, and unyielding support of GGYC’s flag officers and GGYC’s Youth Sailing Foundation. Regattas outside the Bay Area require hotel, plane fare, and regatta entry fees per participant (youth sailor).
REQUIREMENTS
Only enthusiasm, commitment, and a sincere desire to learn to sail, and participate in regattas. To participate in the program, the following forms must be completed & signed by youth sailors & their parents:
- Student Information Sheet (Youth Sailors must be able to swim.)
- Consent & Liability Form
- High School Sailing, Rules & Guidelines
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
All sail clothing can be purchased at any West Marine Store, and Svendsens Chandlery in Alameda. You will need (mandatory) a Coast Guard approved PFD (life jacket) designed for dingy racing and a wet suit. Dinghy boots, spray jacket, and sailing gloves are highly recommended. Life jackets, spray pants and gloves are available for borrow and are located in the "Junior Warehouse," but you are encouraged to purchase your own. Other items to bring are a towel, change of clothing (you will get wet), lunch/snacks, water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat/visor.
Boats sailed are "Flying Juniors" - safe, durable vessels built for two people: a driver and one crew. These boats are used at PCISA Regattas and 80% of all college and university regattas. The Program provides 4 class legal CFJs/Club Flying Juniors for practice, and 1 class legal CFJ for regatta racing, coaching and facilities (clubhouse, docks, bathrooms/showers).
NorCal #3 - Appleton Regatta CFJ San Francisco YC (Belvedere)
Sat/Sun, Nov 15-16, 2008
NorCal #4 - Big Game Regatta CFJ PYSF/Sequoia/Stanford (Redwood City)
Sat/Sun, Jan 3-4, 2009
PCISA #3 - Rose Bowl CFJ Alamitos Bay/USC (Long Beach)
Saturday, Jan 17, 2009
NorCal #5 - Little Daddy CFJ Richmond
Saturday, Jan 31, 2009
NorCal #6 - CFJ Cal Maritime YC (Vallejo)
Sat/Sun, Feb 21-22, 2009
PCISA #4 - Cardinal CFJ Stanford/Sequoia YC (Redwood City)
Sat/Sun, Mar 21-22, 2009
PCISA #5 - Gaucho CFJ Santa Barbara YC/UCSB
Sat/Sun, Mar 28-29, 2009
NorCal Champs CFJ StFYC (San Francisco)