By Airwaves writer Taylor Penwell Brought to you by: SELDEN & KO SAILING
The James Island Yacht Club sits just outside the beautiful and historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. Located on an amazing spot with stunning views of the Ravenel Bridge, Fort Sumter, The Yorktown, Castle Pinkney and everything else in the Charleston Harbor. The family oriented club sets itself apart by its affordability, down to earth feel, and volunteerism.
The club started as part of an agriculture society in 1895 and raced their sailboats against other surrounding islands in the Charleston area. The club was officially incorporated in 1905. The club has an equal share of sailors, powerboat enthusiasts and fishermen. With Charleston becoming such a popular moving destination the JIYC has seen a large influx of membership applications, which is always a good sign for a club.
The many great activities at the JIYC include fantastic sailing with regular year round racing, a summer junior sailing program, fishing clubs and tournaments, and community charities. There is a playground for children, mutual use grills, small beach area for relaxing and launching boats, and of course a bar that is open year round.
The sailing race scene is competitive with many highly awarded sailors calling the club their home. Racing includes PHRF, a frostbite series for Laser, a summer Sunfish series every Tuesday that can get 20-30 boats, along with Lightings and Thistles. The club has one of the biggest groups of foiling Moth sailors in the country. The Moth class association has held their North Americans, Nationals and other large events at the JIYC. In 2014, member Ned Goss set the world Moth speed record at 35.9 knots. Award winning club members consist of a three time Sunfish World Champion, a sailor with 28 National and World titles in five different boats, and other 
sailors who have been winning events in the J70, J24, Thistle and Lighting classes. The club also has a great relationship with the College of Charleston’s Sailing Team. Kiteboarding has become a popular activity in Charleston and the JIYC included them in the Fort 2 Battery Race.
The JIYC junior sailing program has been around for years but about ten years ago the club decided to build up the program. A group of active sailors, Chris Hamilton, Ryan Hamm, Ned Goss, and Kurt Oberle and others made a concerted effort to shake things up and increase the size of the Optimist, 420, Sunfish, Laser, and Open Bic’s. Ten years ago the clubs junior sail program saw 25 kids go through the summer’s program and now its up to 120. The club wants to keep its junior sailing program growing and help sailors move from the summer program into the high school programs and college sailing.
Click here more information of the James Island Yacht Club,
http://www.jiyc.org/
A special thanks to James Island Yacht Club member and friend Ryan Hamm for supplying information on this great club.
Blog
Hudson River Community Sailing is Hiring
Founded in 2007 to serve the urban community, Hudson River Community Sailing partners with public schools to offer credit-bearing academic programs, internships, mentoring, and college readiness. Our youth development platform uses sailing, boat operation, and boat building to further academic skills and instill the qualities of character necessary for college and career success. We also serve the broader community through affordable marine education and recreation for individuals, groups, schools, businesses, and families.
Hudson River Community Sailing develops leadership and academic success in underserved New York City youth through sailing education and provides maritime education and recreation to the community at large.
Hudson River Community Sailing is hiring an Adult Sailing Instructor.
Adult sailing instructors teach sailing to adults aboard our J24 sailboats in New York Harbor. There is a lot of boat traffic and fast currents. The stress is on student participation and student-focused learning. All of our sails are hands-on, and the typical student has zero sailing experience. Your interpersonal skills will be as valuable as your sailing skills.
Club Profile: Severn Sailing Association Jr. Program
SSA Summer Junior Programs – Growing Lifelong Sailors
Severn Sailing Association (Annapolis, Maryland) has a long history of training youth sailors, whether they are just starting out in the Harbor Rookies class or competing at the highest levels of pre-collegiate racing. Thousands got their start at SSA, including alumni who have claimed regional, national, and international titles and awards such as Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.
At SSA, we believe sailing is more than just sport; it is a unique life-long activity promoting self-reliance, respect for nature, and teamwork . Our philosophy is to build sailing skills at all levels to ensure competency and comfort so that students will remain sailors for life.
SSA’s 2017 coaching lineup is one of the best ever assembled, consisting of talented men and women whose racing resumes and team affiliations speak for themselves. SSA coaches have years of experience and demonstrated character.
The 2017 coaching staff has an accumulated 55 years in experience coaching and instructing. They have sailed and/or coached in college and have competed in numerous national, international, world championship, and even Olympic regattas.
The majority of SSA summer sailors will be newcomers, and our coaching staff is prepared to deliver the right balance of fun, classroom, and on-water training needed to enjoy the sport and learn fundamental skills. For the more than 300 students, the instructor to sailor ratios are among the best in the region—all 1 to 8 or better.
For the more elite racers, three outstanding coaches were hired for Opti, 420, and Laser travel teams:
- Sam MacKay from New Zealand, a multiple-class champion and member of the Nations Cup-winning team at the 2007 Opti Worlds. For the past seven years, Sam coached Opti sailors to competitive success in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
- Carl Evans represented New Zealand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 470 Class and won the 420 World Championship twice, so his credentials for coaching SSA’s 420 Travel Team are superb.
- Conner Blouin, assistant varsity sailing coach at St. Mary’s College and recent Pan Am Games athlete representing the United States in the Sunfish class. Conner has also campaigned his Laser Radial to podium success in recent CORK Olympic Classes regattas, so he will bring relevant and recognized expertise to the Lasers at SSA.
Check out SSA’s 2017 full coaching team line-up.
Whether your child is looking for fun as an adventure sailor or aspiring to be a national champion, come visit SSA and get to know us better.
Because our club is focused on developing sailors, we offer pricing that can work within your budget. Consider joining SSA as a member and receive a 25% discount on program fees, as well as many other benefits.
Click for more information and/or to register before classes fill up.
The Sailing Off-Season is Here: Amp Up Your Workouts Today
In most parts of the country sailing has slowed down for the season. Winter is here meaning less or no sailing for a couple months for most people. Sailing is a unique sport, however, like all other sports we do have our off-season. The off-season is so important to your sports performance, and should be used efficiently to improve your performance out on the water. Sometimes people think of the off-season as a time to take off from your training on the contrary it can be even more important then your in season training.
Why It’s Important:
Off season training for sailing is critical to the improvement of your sailing performance on the water. During this time you can recover from any injuries that may have occurred during the season. It is also a time to deal with muscles imbalances that may cause injury in the future. During the off-season you can increase your strength, power, and speed to help you be unstoppable during the regular sailing season. By doing the work in the off-season you are setting yourself up for better results in the future.
What To Focus on:
During the off-season you need to have goals on what you want to improve with your training routine. Depending on the sport the goals for the off-season will be a little different. For sailing some good goals to focus on are:
1. Increasing Aerobic Capacity: Your aerobic capacity refers to your ability to sustain a certain level of aerobic activity for a certain length of time, also referred to as VO2max. By increasing your aerobic capacity you will be able to last longer on the water. Increasing your aerobic capacity is not only beneficial to your performance in sailing, but everyday health. Your aerobic capacity can be increased by frequently working out, increasing your intensity, training for longer periods, and adding interval training to your routine.
2. Improving Overall Strength: In the off-season we really want to spend time improving are overall strength. We just went through a season using certain muscles everyday or mostly everyday for long periods of time. We now want to focus on improving our body’s overall strength. Strength training is so important to add to your weekly routine, by doing this you will see improvements out on the water.
3. Correct Muscles Imbalances: We all have muscles imbalances that we need to correct. A muscle imbalance occurs when one muscle is stronger then its opposing muscle. For example after a season of hiking our boats flat we may find we have some posture problems. In the off-season we want to spend time fixing these muscles imbalances to help prevent any injury in the future.
The Plan:
Now what’s your plan? Off-season for a sailor can vary depending on several factors, however, typically most sailors will be in off-season at least two to three months a year. So where you can start is to look at the amount of time you have off and make a training plan for those 8-12 weeks. With your training again you want to focus on workouts that are going to increase your aerobic capacity, improve your overall strength, and correct any muscles imbalances you may have. Here is an example of a training plan for a week:
Sunday – Rest/Stretching
Monday – Cardio Workout (HITT workout, running, biking, or swimming)
Tuesday – Full Body Strength Workout
Wednesday – Core Stability Workout
Thursday – Full Body Strength Workout
Friday – Core Endurance Workout
Saturday – Cardio Workout (HITT workout, running, biking, or swimming)
Now check out below and in the video for a full body strength workout to amp up your off-season training routine.
Full Body Strength Workout:
-Warm up with Dynamic Stretching (5 minutes)
Core Activation:
Plank (60 secs)
High Knees (60 secs)
Single Leg Squat (30 secs each side)
Repeat x2
Ski Abs (60 secs)
Side Lunge To Balance (30 secs each side)
Shoulder Taps (60 secs)
Repeat x2
Workout:
Renegade Row (30 secs) —Alternating Shoulder Taps (60 secs)
Switch Kicks (60 secs)
Overhead Tricep Extension (30 secs) — Tricep Dips (60 secs)
Switch Kicks (60 secs)
Repeat 3x w/ 60 secs Rest b/w Sets
Weighted Alternating Lunges (30 seconds) — Forward Lunge W/ Balance (30 secs each side)
Jumping Jacks (60 secs)
Dumbbell Deadlift (30 secs) — Burpees W/ Pushup (60 secs)
Jumping Jacks (60 secs)
Repeat 3x w/ 60 secs Rest b/w Sets
-Cool Down with Foam Rolling and Static Stretching
For more information on fitness for sailing contact rachel@sail1design.com. Also check out Sailorcise on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily tips on fitness, nutrition, and sailing.
Profiles in Pro Sailing: John MacCausland
By Airwaves Writer Taylor Penwell
John MacCausland is one of the best US Star sailors, crewmember aboard Dennis Connors famous Stars and Stripes Americas Cup team, lifelong Laser sailor and part owner of the Moorhouse-MacCausland Sailing based in New Jersey. John was kind enough to take on a Q&A for Sail1Design Airwaves and here is what he had to say. Enjoy!
Who is John MacCausland
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Cherry Hill, NJ.
Q: What made you want to get into sailing?
A: My father was a sailor and it was fun to race with him.
Q: What boats did you sail as a junior sailor?
A: I sailed Penguins, Moths, and Lasers.
Q: What drew you to racing?
A: I liked the competition.
Star Sailing
Q: How did you get involved in Star sailing?
A: My father raced a Star and would crew for him at times.
Q: How many years did you chase the World Championship before winning it in 2013?
A: I sailed my first Star Worlds in 1981 with my father as my crew.
Q: What keeps you in Star sailing? A lot of new faster boats being sailed now.
A: It’s in my blood, even with all the years I have sailed the Star I learn something new each time I go sailing my Star. It is a wonderful class and I have many lifelong friends that I enjoy racing against.
Q: What do you like most about the Star Class?
A: I enjoy the challenge of making a faster boat, there are a lot of things you can do with the boat. I was very involved in the building of my Star, from the development of the keel –rudder – skeg, along with the building of my mast. I enjoy building a better mousetrap.
Americas Cup
Q: How did you get yourself involved with the Americas Cup?
A: Through Star sailing I was friendly with Dennis Conner, he gave me a chance to try out for his crew for the 1987 Cup in Perth, Australia.
Q: Who did you sail with and what was your job on the boat?
A: I sailed on Stars and Stripes with Dennis Conner, I was the port jib trimmer.
Q: What was it like to be involved with the Americas Cup?
A: It was a full time job for 2 years of my life. We spent 1 year training in Hawaii and almost a year training and racing in Perth. It was a great experience, learning from the best. Dennis was very focused in winning the cup back, which he had lost in 1983. We were boat builders, sailmakers, sailors we all had to pitch in to accomplish the goal.
Q: What did you take away from your experience with the Americas Cup?
A: Hard work, focus and attention to detail go along way in reaching your goals. It was amazing how much work Dennis Connor put into his quest to win the cup back. He taught me that hard work and dedication are the way to accomplish your goals.
Laser Sailing
Q: How long have you been sailing Lasers?
A: My father bought me my first new Laser in 1972 it’s number was 852. I was 11 years old, way back then there was not Radial rigs or 4.7 rigs, needless to say a full Rig Laser is a big boat for an 11 year old!
Q: You still race Lasers competitively in the Masters Class, what accomplishments have you gotten in the class and what keeps you sailing the Laser?
A: I have won the Master Mid-winters twice and many district championships. I sail the Laser for many reasons, first of all it keeps me in shape, and second it translates to Star sailing very well. It’s easy to find big fleets to race with. Just like the Star it’s in my blood.
M&M Sailing
Q: Why did you start M&M sailing?
A: October 2011 I purchased Moorhouse Sailmakers which became Moorhouse MacCausland Sailing. The reason for this was after 25 years working for my father in Marine Spars our company that was the go place to buy any Star boat part you could imagine was closing. So I wanted to stay in the marine industry Moorhouse Sailmakers were a natural fit.
Q: How does it feel to have your work life connected to your favorite sport sailing?
A: To be honest I know no other way of life. From the time I left school to know this is all I have known. I feel very fortunate to have lived the life I have.
Final Questions
Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to improve his or her racing?
A: Learn how to start well and make whatever boat you race go fast. Speed Kills!!!
Q: What in your mind is the most important thing or things to consider when racing or campaigning for something like the Star Worlds or any other large goal.
A: Preparation is key. I always like to take all the variables away that I can before I even reach the race course. Your body needs to be physically prepared for the task at hand. You have to have the best boat that will not break down. You have to have the proper sails for the conditions you are going to race in and know how to use them. Then you are ready to handle what mother nature throws at you on the race course.
Q: Where do you see the sport of sailing going in the next twenty years?
A: In my lifetime I’ve seen sailing become more and more professional, more coaching and support. At the top end I think this will continue to go in this direction. This is a hard question to answer, I think a lot will change of the next 20 years. There are too many boats to choose from, which makes for small numbers in each class. I guess each area will have it’s own favorite class. Also midweek sailing is becoming very popular, with people having less and less time I could see this growing also.
Q: When you are not sailing or working what else do you like to do? What are your other hobbies?
A: Cycling, which is great exercise for sailing, also I enjoying hiking along the way I have climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa. I ski when I can. I enjoy the outdoors as you can see.
Hudson River Community Sailing is Hiring!
Hudson River Community Sailing develops leadership and academic success in under-served New York City youth through sailing education and provides maritime education and recreation to the community at large. Hudson River Community Sailing is hiring a full-time Youth Program Director. The Youth Program Director oversees the safety, quality, and educational effectiveness of all youth programs. Primary responsibilities include supervision, data-tracking and reporting, and program evaluation.
In A Nutshell
Founded in 2007 to serve the urban community, we partner with public schools to offer credit-bearing academic programs, internships, mentoring, and college readiness. Our youth development platform uses sailing, boat operation, and boat building to further academic skills and instill the qualities of character necessary for college and career success. We also serve the broader community through affordable marine education and recreation for individuals, groups, schools, businesses, and families.
Our Mission
Hudson River Community Sailing develops leadership and academic success in under-served New York City youth through sailing education and provides maritime education and recreation to the community at large.
