FAQ's | Sail at Bristol YC

JUNIOR SAILING & RACING

East Bay Sailing Foundation offers a variety of classes for all skill levels, starting at age 6 and up! From Novice classes for the littlest sailors, to Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced classes, there's a class for everyone.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT TO WEAR TO CLASS:

comfortable clothes that can get wet

a bathing suit/shorts (made from quick drying light-weight fabric)

a rash guard or sun-shirt is ideal

WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS:

Life Jacket (Personal Flotation Device)

Whistle attached to lifejacket

Sneakers or closed toe shoes (No flip flops or sandals)

Sunglasses

hat

sunscreen

Towel

a dry change of clothes

Water Bottle

Lunch and Snacks

(Race Team members should get a spray top, hiking shorts if desired and a hiking harness if needed)

WHAT IF IT IS TOO WINDY OR BAD WEATHER?

In light rain we still sail, but not in thunderstorms. We aim to get as much on-the-water time as safely possible for our sailors at EBSF. If it is forecast to rain lightly, please send your sailor with a rain jacket or foul weather gear. This is when a change of clothes will also be crucial for comfort.

When we can’t sail, we play games organized around our learning goals: sailing theory, racing rules, seamanship, knots, repairs, and US Sailing’s REACH curriculum.

CAN MY SAILOR TRY A DIFFERENT BOAT?

Yes! Our instructors are always looking for the kids who look ready to move up and try something new. They should let us know if they want to hop on another boat to try!

IS THERE A ONE WEEK OPTION?

We offer an “add on” week for kids who have already taken one session at EBSF this season and when our registration numbers accommodate this option. This option will be added once the season has started.

WHAT IF MY CHILD DOESN'T LIKE SAILING? CAN WE GET A REFUND?

We hope this doesn't happen, but it can. We will try our best to get your sailor involved, confident and having fun. Talk to the Program Director with your specific situation and we will do our best to accommodate.

PARENT & FAMILY SAILS:

All of our 4 day classes that meet in 2-week sessions have a PARENT SAIL in the 2nd week of sailing. You and your family will be invited to come sailing once the session has started. This is an optional afternoon sail with your child so they can show you what they've learned.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES:

Drop off is any time between 845-9am by the swingset at Bristol YC. There is NO PARKING in the Executive Committee Spots near the drop off. Please park in designated parking, walk your child to the check-in desk with their instructor and then you may leave. Pick up is in the same area at 4pm. A designated adult on your list must be there to pick up your sailor. For special exceptions, please speak with the Program Director and the Instructor.

LUNCHTIME ACTIVITIES:

Shaded lunch outside, frisbee, soccer, games and more. STEM activities, knot tying, Chalk talks and fun! Lunchtime is an unstructured hour of fun for the kids with the whole sailing group together on the lawn. Allergies should be noted and can be seated away from other foods.

WHAT IS RACE TEAM ?

EBSF has Opti Green, Opti, 420 and single handed race. The sailors learn the basic of race and travel to three regattas on Narragansett Bay. There is some parental participation when your sailor hits this level. We depend on parents to help transport either sailors or boats to the regattas. We also offer A-cat training and Tuesday night A-cat charters, as well as 29er training through the Great Northern Skiff Squad.

IS THERE A RACE TEAM AWARDS DINNER?

The Race Team has an awards dinner at the end of the season to celebrate their accomplishments. The two week sessions celebrate with a parents sail on the last Thursday of their session.

DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM:

Yes! We conduct swim tests at the beginning of each session. Students must be able to tread water without a lifejacket for 30 seconds and put a lifejacket on while they are in the water. As long as your child knows how to swim and is confident about being in the water you can expect they will pass the swim test.

WHO CAN SAIL AT EBSF?

East Bay Sailing Foundation is open to everyone. We encourage everyone to come see why we love sailing so much!

WHERE ARE GOOD PLACES TO BUY SAILING GEAR?

Locally:

Zim Sailing (Broad Common Rd)

Jamestown Distributors (17 Peckham Rd)

West Marine

Online:

APS (Annapolis Performance Sailing)

Team One Newport

Team One sell EBSF gear on line under “Club Stores”

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS TIMID ABOUT SAILING:

No worries! All of our instructors have been in their shoes before. Almost all of us grew up learning how to sail at EBSF and know all the tricks to help a new comer brave their first yachting experiences. Sailing is our passion here and our jobs is to help your children develop that same love of sailing we got growing up here.

CAN I REGISTER BY CHECK?

Of course! Please email the Sailing Director to make arrangements.

CAN I PLAY IN INSTALLMENTS

Yes, you can make session payments to our Program Director. Please email the PD to set up your registration.

ADULT SAILING SPECIFIC FAQs

WEATHER

Classes can and will sail in the rain. Students should bring a jacket for those days.
The sailors will not go out on the water if there is thunder or lightning in the area, or if winds are dangerously strong.
We will attempt to notify you in advance if we intend to cancel a class. However, since the weather is unpredicatable, and because experience has taught us that cancelling a class early has often been followed by a perfect sailing night, we may not make the decision to cancel until as late as 3:30 or so.

I CAN'T MAKE A CLASS

We’ll try to accommodate you by letting you make the class up on a different day of the week.
If that doesn’t work, we’ll briefly review the lesson you missed in the following week’s class.
We do appreciate advance notice if you are going to miss a class or want to come on a different night, so that we can properly schedule our instructors.