The Tiverton Yacht Club is a small family oriented yacht club on the Sakonnet River in Tiverton. We have a full sailing program (sail training, racing and cruising) with a twenty-one slip marina, dingy docks and storage racks and moorings in the Tiverton basin. We have a swimming pool, full social calendar and great views of the bay and beautiful sunsets.
News Flash: Tiverton Yacht Club is hiring a Sailing Instructor!
The club is busy preparing for the 2015 summer season. We are fixing, cleaning and getting club ready for summer. We have many activities planned for young and old alike.
The TYC Sail Training Program offers all levels of sailing lessons for children age 5-18. The classes are taught in Optimist dinghies, Club 420’s, Sunfish, Harpoon 4.6, Hunter 140’s, Bic Open’s and Flying Scots. Five safety boats escort the students during the lessons. Students are encouraged to bring their own Opti’s to class. Free rack storage and shared locker space provided. The instructors are certified by the United States Sailing Association, and have first aid training.
TYC has an active adult racing program for cruising class yachts. TYC recently joined forces with the Spar Island Racing Association, which enables larger fleets, more varied competition and more fun all around. During the summer, Wednesday evening races start at 6:30. Participation is encouraged at all skill levels. Boats ranging from 23 feet to over 40 feet competed. These are handicap races using the Performance Handicap Rating System. A current PHRF certificate is required. Boats are divided into three classes depending upon PHRF rating. Racers in any class may chose to race on any given day with or without spinnaker and the appropriate rating will be applied. This is a superb rule which encourages people of all skill levels to get out and race and progress.
News Flash: Tiverton Yacht Club is hiring a Sailing Instructor!
Testimonials:
“The Tiverton Yacht Club is wonderful program. Led by Meredith Collins it get’s back to the basics and genuinely teaches kids to love the water, sailing and each other. In the this world of overly competitive everything, this is a welcome oasis of great camaraderie” – Mike Zani
“I am forever grateful for the skills and knowledge I acquired while participating, then teaching in the program. The positive experiences I had in at the TYC influenced and eventually led me to a career in the marine industry.” -Brendan Prior
Blog
Club Profile: Sandy Bay Yacht Club
By Airwaves writer Tyler Colvin
The North Shore of Boston, Massachusetts offers some of the most historic boating in the country. From Nahant to Ipswich, there is a wealth of sailing to be had. On the tip of Cape Ann is Sandy Bay Yacht Club, in scenic Rockport, Massachusetts.
Operating since 1885, Sandy Bay Yacht Club has been in its current clubhouse on the end of T-Wharf since 1930. From, 100 Years of Sailing at Sandy Bay, “In 1885 Annisquam challenged Rockport to a race around Thacher’s. Annisquam must have had an organization to issue the challenge; Rockport must have had one to accept it. So we say a sailing club, from which ours is descended, existed here in 1885.”
Sandy Bay is a large bay on the tip of Cape Ann measuring about a mile long and one and a half miles wide. Average depth is around 60’ and is partially enclosed by a WWII era breakwater. In the summer it features a strong southerly sea breeze very consistently with temperatures in the high 70s/low 80s. Of all the locations on the North Shore, Sandy Bay has by far the most consistent wind. While tourist driven income is still a staple in the town, fishing and lobstering are still prevalent.
The yacht club itself sits out on the end of T-Wharf at the heart of downtown Rockport. It is home to the Cape Ann Star Fleet, as well as several healthy one-design classes such as the Bullseye, Flying Scot and Rhodes 19. There are about 800 members ranging from ages 8 to 95, all of whom participate in some capacity in the sailing, recreational boating, and social activities at the club. Membership dues are very reasonable and provide access to all the facilities, including one of the best decks in Rockport to sit back and relax. One thing it does not guarantee however is mooring or dockage, as both are at a premium.
In addition to the facilities, Sandy Bay Yacht Club also has adult and junior learn to sail and race programs. The SBYC Junior Sailing program is a 501(c)(3) charity and caters to youth from all around Cape Ann. A couple hundred kids pass through the program each summer and make use of the 18 club-owned Optis as well as 9 club-owned C420s. Lessons run for 10 weeks in the summer as groups, and private lessons at any time in the dinghies or in a club owned Rhodes 19 or Bullseye by one of the very qualified instructors. 
Sandy Bay Yacht Club is the perfect place to get away from the city life and enjoy the best the North Shore has to offer. Several beaches, countless excellent restaurants and the Yacht Club are all within walking distance of each other. So pack up the car or jump on the train and head north on 128 to beautiful Rockport and Sandy Bay Yacht Club.
ICSA TEAM RACE RANKINGS #2 of Spring 2015!
Yale holds the top spot, followed by Boston College, and College of Charleston. Check out the latest rankings!
Selden US News: The i420 Mast
For years sailors in Europe have enjoyed the luxury of personalizing their mast and rig setup to best suit conditions and the team’s sailing weight.
That performance advantage is now available to sailors in the United States via Seldén Mast Inc. headquartered in Charleston, SC.
Seldén offers THREE rig packages which allow sailors to choose their ideal mast characteristics dependent on the weight of the team. These options are highly valuable as Seldén propelled nine of the top fifteen finishers at the 2014 European Championship event where 108 teams competed.
Seldén has been building masts since 1960 when founder Per Seldén first looked to replace his wooden dinghy mast with aluminum. Today Seldén now leads the way in producing top quality aluminum and carbon fiber rigs around the world for boats ranging in size and performance from the Optimist to large luxury yachts. In addition to masts they also have a complete range of deck hardware which makes them the only single company able to outfit an entire boat from the deck-up.
In the United States, top level collegiate programs including MIT, Coast Guard, Eckerd, Brown, Yale, and Christopher Newport look to Seldén to provide customized top performing 420 and FJ rigs to meet their unique needs.
For more information on the US Youth Championship Regatta see:
http://www.ussailing.org/racing/championships/youth/youthchamps/
For Seldén Mast Dinghy information or to purchase spars, rigging & deck hardware call Seldén Mast Inc. at 843-760-6278 or email [email protected].
One Design Class Profile: Sunfish
There may not be a more iconic or well-known sailboat than the Sunfish. Since 1952, hundreds of thousands of hulls have hit the water in bays, lakes, ponds and rivers around the world. One of, if not the, most popular boat ever built, the Sunfish has provided countless families with hours of summer fun on the water.
The Boat
Offered initially as a kit boat, the Sunfish grew from the Sailfish design by Alex Bryan and Cortlandt Heyniger. At 13’ 9” long, 4’1” wide and drawing 2’11”, the Sunfish weighs in at 120lbs and is easily transported by car top or trailer. It features a Lateen style rig and shallow v-shaped fully sealed hull. This makes the boat particularly beginner-friendly because despite fully swamping, it will not sink. Additionally the low-aspect Lateen rig helps the boat perform well in light air and off the wind.
Roger Williams University Head Coach Amanda Callahan has fully embraced the Sunfish class and thrived with top finishes at local, regional and national events, as well as qualifying for the 2015 Worlds. “After crewing in team racing for years, I was really looking to get back to driving,” says Callahan, “I’m 5’3”, and there aren’t a lot of affordable boats that I can skipper. I’m on the small side for a radial, and I wasn’t too excited about sailing against the Laser 4.7 crowd. I like that I can be competitive in the boat until 14 knots…”
While there is a strong Sunfish racing fleet, it is not the primary use for the boat. Of the 300,000+ boats that have been produced, there are only fraction (<2000) Sunfish class members. This is a testament to the flexibility of the platform. “On Sunfish you can raise your halyard up to get the boom way off the deck and bring 3 of your friends out on the water for a fun afternoon,” said Callahan on the recreational benefits of the Sunfish.
Class Association
Everyone everywhere sails the Sunfish. You are just as likely to find a racing fleet in Peru as you are to finding a relegated hull in a New England back yard. Internationally the Sunfish is raced across North America, South America and parts of Europe. Within the US, there are strong fleets in New England, Chicago, Texas, New York, California and the Gulf Coast.
Callahan got her Sunfish start in New England, “One of the members, Jack Willy, of the club where I grew up (Wessagusett Yacht Club), suggested that we (my friend Kate and I) try out the Sunfish. He lent us some boats for a couple of regattas down the Cape.” She now calls it her “retirement boat” (from competitive team racing) and hasn’t looked back.
Why Sail?
The Sunfish is a great boat for people of all ages and ability levels. “You can easily car top a ‘fish and go anywhere,” commented Callahan, ”the Sunfish was a perfect fit for me. Plus, the sunfish class is very supportive, especially my sunfish friends in NE.” She adds, “I would love to see more women get into the class. I was boat homeless for a while, and this class is my new home. Also, I know there are many college grads who don’t know where to turn to continue sailing, this is a perfect outlet.” Affordable and everywhere, the hundreds of thousands of Sunfish owners worldwide have to be on to something. It is an ideal platform for the casual sailor, the “retired” competitive racer, or “boat homeless” college grad.
Learn more about the Sunfish Class History
Laurie Jury on Command Coaching & Giving Feedback
By Laurie Jury
Editor’s Note- Sail1Design is pleased to present coaching technique and style from Laurie Jury. Laurie is a product of the esteemed Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Youth Training Programme, which he commenced at the age of 15. Match racing became his chosen discipline, pushing through the ranks to become Telecom New Zealand National Match Racing Champion in 2009 and, in 2010 his team won the Mumbai International Match Race. His team’s other sailing accomplishments include first places at the Nations Cup Grand Final, USA Grand Slam, Knickerbocker Cup, Oakcliff Match Race and the Qatar Match Race.
I recently spent a bit of time observing different coaches around the country. One thing I saw a lot of was “command coaching.”
What basically happens with command coaching is the coach drives next to a sailor and tells them exactly what to do: ‘ease the main’ , ‘hike harder’, ‘point lower’, ‘move forwards,’ and so on.
While there is nothing wrong with this (and it can be a fast way to get sailors up to speed) you have to know why you are doing it, and there has to be a reason for it.
I use command coaching a lot; additionally, most of the coaching I do is “impact coaching” at clinics. I am there for a few days to make a difference, and with command coaching, this goal can be achieved. But, this must be followed up with both submissive and cooperative coaching, and a lot of explanations.
Another reason to use command coaching is to improve the sailor’s confidence. If, in a two or more person boat, you can sail with them and tell them exactly what to do, they will do well and the sailors will gain more confidence. You can do the same from the chase boat in a single handed boat. Beware: this will backfire if they don’t do well, so you have to be confident that you will help their performance.
Command coaching can also be used it to demonstrate a skill to a sailor. This is normally followed by a lot of submissive coaching (i.e. practicing the skill on their own), then cooperative coaching, talking to the sailor about the skill and how they think they can do it better.
What I have been seeing a lot of is command coaching with no explanation, follow up, or reason. This is not good.
Classic example, ‘weight in jimmy,’ then the wind gets up, ‘weight up Jimmy’, then ‘hike jimmy’- I was pretty sure Jimmy was waiting for the coach to tell him where to sit and what to do. If every time this sailor goes training the coach tells him where to sit, he is not going to learn. So what should you do? Manipulate the environment, or create a drill to get the sailor to understand the skill.
For body weight make the sailor sail the boat flat – blow the whistle every time the boat heels for more than a certain time or put levels on boats and make the sailors keep the bubble in the middle. Explain to the sailor why sailing flat is fast; show them a video of themselves compared to the top sailors.
Giving Feedback
Feedback always needs to be positive, negative, positive – the classic “feedback sandwich”. It does not matter if you are coaching Olympic sailors, the best sailors in the world, or beginners. It is the same. There is an art to doing this, you don’t want to waste time and the worst thing you can do is be airy fairy and not precise with your feedback.
You should not give feedback that the sailors already know, so the first thing you need to do when giving feedback is ask the sailor what they thought, if they already know what the did wrong they really don’t need you to tell them, so don’t. If you are good at giving feedback the sailor won’t know you are doing the positive, negative, positive feedback sandwich, and neither will you; it will just be natural.
Example this is actual feedback transcript from one of the better optimist coaches
Coach: How would you say your tacking is? Really good or not very good?
Sailor: Really really bad
Coach: Really bad, if tacking is not your strong suit that’s maybe not the worst thing in the world, OK. Because you do quite a lot of tacking upwind, but tactics and starting are always going to be more important, what I am saying is, the most important thing is, if tacks are not your strong suit and there is a boat coming in like this, doing a crash tack in front of them just means he’s going to roll over top of you. OK, it’s all about boat handling, if a boat’s coming in on starboard and you are thinking your tacks aren’t that great I’m not going to be able to tack underneath here then maybe just dip him and get some more speed and tack out here ok.
Sailor: Yip
Coach: Yeah, you are doing a lot of crash tacking and it’s not working out for you ok
Coach: Alright, sweet
Maybe Better option
Coach: Hey what did you think about the race?
Sailor: It was going ok but my tacks are really bad
Coach: Hey yeah, but I thought you’re starting and speed was right up there with the best. When you tack turn the helm a bit slower, also you really don’t need to do so many tacks on the beat, remember you can dip boats as well. Before we go in we can practice some tacking together.
For this next race just remember two things-
- Slow the helm down in the tack,
- Think, do I need to tack or can I dip.
Keep up the good work, once you get these tacks sorted, you will smash these guys and we will have to move you up to the top group.
This is seriously important for young optimist sailors. When coaching in a regatta, no matter the level, you must always remain positive and consistent, with the focus being on how the sailor can improve. Be careful not to get into the trap of always pointing out what they are doing wrong.
Your job as a good coach is to figure out why the sailor might be doing something wrong, not just telling them every time they do it. What were they thinking when they crash tacked? Why don’t they want to dip boats? Can they tack well when not under pressure? How can we improve this?
Avoid asking leading questions i.e. ‘were your tacks really good or really bad’; when it was obvious they were not good. Ask questions if you actually want to know what they think, or if you are checking for to see if they understand.
Key points for feedback to sailors
- Positive, negative, positive – feedback sandwich. Don’t get emotional, you need to be consistent whether or not the sailor is having a good or bad day.
- Two or max three key points to focus on. Prioritise what will help the sailor right now and what you can talk to them about later.
- Don’t waffle on – keep it short and to the point.
Check out Laurie’s notes on coaching the Monsoon Cup
