Director: Dave Santori
contact: davesantori@gmail.com, (510) 693-9104

The Golden Gate Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program is in its seventh season (2009-2010) 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, sea and school responsibilities.

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 Area, Stockton, Monterey, Long Beach and Santa Barbara. The Golden Gate Yacht Club has two of the 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 such as Washington, SI Prep, SHC Prep, Urban High School, and Gateway. 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 Youth Sailing Foundation. Students who wish to compete in regattas pay their own regatta and team registration fees. Regattas outside the Bay Area may also require hotel, travel & food expenses. Most families who attend "away" regattas are willing to transport and lodge "solo" sailors who help share the expenses.

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 and Liability Form
• Medical Information and Directives
• High School Sailing, Rules and 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 to borrow and are located in the "Junior Warehouse," but participants are encouraged to purchase their own gear. 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 practice boats and 3 class legal CFJs/Club Flying Juniors for regatta racing.

SAILING TEAM PHOTOS

 

Sunday, October 18, 2009
NorCal #2 - Pumpkin Regatta, Encinal Yacht Club (Alameda)

RESULTS: SOTA 15/24 (14TH OF 24 TEAMS) LOWELL 14/24 (14TH OF 24 TEAMS)

Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
NorCal #3 - Appleton Regatta CFJ San Francisco YC (Belvedere)


Sat/Sun, Nov 21-22, 2009
NorCal #4 - Big Game Regatta CFJ PYSF/Sequoia/Stanford (Redwood City)


Sat/Sun, Jan 2-3, 2010
PCISA #3 - Rose Bowl CFJ Alamitos Bay/USC (Long Beach)


Saturday, Jan 16, 2010
NorCal #5 - Little Daddy CFJ Richmond


Saturday, Jan 30-31, 2010
NorCal #6 - CFJ Cal Maritime YC (Vallejo)


Sat/Sun, Feb 27-28, 2010
PCISA #4 - Cardinal CFJ Stanford/Sequoia YC (Redwood City)


Sat/Sun, Mar 20-21, 2010
PCISA #5 - Gaucho CFJ Santa Barbara YC/UCSB


Sat/Sun, Mar 27-28, 2010
NorCal Champs CFJ StFYC (San Francisco)