TYC Youth Sailing HANDBOOK

HANDBOOK OVERVIEW:

This handbook contains all the information you need to know about the Sail Training season. It includes required apparel, expectations about behavior and use of the boats and equipment. Safety is our top priority. Safety practices must be implemented to ensure an educational and fun experience for the children. We encourage students to participate in races hosted by Narragansett Bay Yachting Association (NBYA). Our instructors will strive to assure that all students, regardless of age and class level, will have ample support and encouragement for competitive and non-competitive sailing opportunities.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
■ Teach student sailors the life skills required in boat handling, sailing, and seamanship.
■ Develop sportsmanship, respect for the sea, and ownership of boats and equipment.
■ Develop self-confidence and teamwork skills in a cooperative learning environment.
■ Foster respect for instructors and fellow students.
■ Provide a FUN experience for racers and recreational sailors.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT:
Parents are responsible for the following items:
■ Parents must report allergies/medications on the Medical Consent form.
■ Morning drop off times are 8:45am, 9:00am and 9:15am Mon-Fri.
■ Afternoon pick up times are 3:45pm, 4:00pm and 4:15pm Mon - Fri. Pick up and drop off times are emailed to all classes at the beginning of the season.

■ Life jackets and other gear should have name labels.
■ Review this handbook with your child.
■ Volunteer! Volunteerism keeps our program going. There will be opportunities to volunteer throughout the year at TYC. (Regatta parents, carpooling, regattas, boat work, awards night, beach clean up, events - fundraising, dock work)

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT/CLOTHING FOR STUDENTS:

★ Life jacket (PFD- personal floatation device) US Coast Guard Type III (vest style).
★ Whistle attached to PFD.
★ Closed Toe Footwear must be worn all times- no bare feet or flip flops at any time.
★ Sun block SPF 30, or stronger.
★ Reusable Water bottle– no glass, no single use water bottles.
★ Lunch plenty of snacks in a cooler or lunch box
★ Hat- adequate to protect from sun.
★ Rain gear
★ Long sleeve SPF or swim rash guard top. Dress or send adequate clothing with your child for the daily weather. Remember sailors are
outside all day.
★ Towel

- Bring a face covering as directed by the CDC and state of RI.

SAILOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURE:

■ All children must be dropped off and picked up in the designated zone and met by a TYC Instrcutor to be checked in or out each day. All drop offs and pick ups take place in the beach parking area. Bicycle riders must also meet with an instructor upon arrival and be checked in.
■ Parking is permitted in designated areas on Riverside Drive only.
■ No Parking in front of the clubhouse or at the bottom of the clubhouse steps.
No Parking or drop off is permitted in the TYC shared driveway or behind the clubhouse.
■ If you have any relatives or grandparents or caretakers that will be picking up your child, you must notify the TYC Sailing Program Director, in writing. Any adult we are unfamiliar with may be asked for i.d.

SWIM TEST AND RELATED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

All parents attest that their child can swim when signing up for the sailing program.

■ All students must participate in a swim check given at the pool on the first week of class, consisting of lap swim and treading water. Tiller Tamers will have an age appropriate swim check.
■ Life jackets must be worn and fastened at ALL times on the water, in boats and on the docks.

DESIGNATED SAILING AREAS & RELATED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

■ Most exercises will be done in Blue Bell Cove “the cove on this chart” or off of Island Park Beach. Boats should sail in close formation
and with nearby safety boat supervision when crossing the Basin.
■ Boats should use the main channel at all time when passing under the Hummocks Bridge.
■ At Program Director and Instructor’s discretion, sailors may also sail the Sakonnet River and Mt. Hope Bay just North of Sakonnet
Bridge. Usually once per season Optimist Racers will sail to Nanaquaket Cove/Pond.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOATS:

■ Each student is responsible for the boat he/she has been assigned each day. Students must report any damage or equipment failure
immediately to their instructor. A checklist of boat parts and equipment will be used daily to properly maintain the boats. Students will be held accountable for damage caused due to negligence. Parents will be billed for the cost of repairing the damage.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEHAVIOR:

■ Students are required to follow ALL behavioral/conduct policies.
■ Students are required to treat instructors and other students with respect and consideration at all times, and to obey all instructions
promptly, especially when on the water.
■ Observe the boundaries, both on and off the water on the shore, as determined by the instructors.
■ No running across the road. Cross the road ONLY at the crosswalk.
■ Running and excessive noise are not permitted on the docks or in the pool area.
■ Strong and disrespectful language is forbidden.
■ Students are responsible for cleaning-up lunch/snack litter.
■ Salt-water swimming is allowed only with an instructor’s permission.
■ The club pool can only be used at designated times for the Sailign Program, instructors and lifeguards are present.
■ Boats and equipment are to be treated with care and respect.
■ No skateboards allowed during Sail Training hours.

DISCIPLINE POLICY:

■ Consequences for failure to observe the above rules and guidelines vary according to the nature of the infraction, but can include loss of privileges.
■ Any verbal or physical abuse, or if your child’s behavior jeopardizes his/her own or another’s safety, will result in early dismissal from
the class and a warning to both the parent and student.
■ If a second serious infraction occurs, the parent will be required to meet with an instructor and a designated member of the Youth Sailing program
Committee to discuss the misbehavior and develop a plan to avoid further incidents.
■ If a third serious infraction occurs, the parent will be asked immediately to remove the child from the club premises. No refund will be made and the child will be ineligible to participate in the future.

PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO travel to Regattas (Optimists, O’Pen Skiffs, Lasers & 420’s):

■ Parents of the racing students are responsible for helping transport boats and sailors to and from regatta events. If the trailer is used,
parents should participate in loading and unloading of the boats.
■ Parents must accept full responsibility if their child is using a club boat in a regatta.
■ Parents will be responsible to cover the cost of any damage/breakage to club boats caused by negligence or misuse.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOATS:

■ Instructors are responsible for all boats used during each daily class session, including sailboats and safety boats. Damage/equipment failure must be brought to the attention of the attention of the instructor and program director.
■ Safety precautions must be maintained at all times. Passengers and operators are to remain seated in a moving boat. Tomfoolery is
forbidden.

POWER BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT:

■ First Aid Kits will be on all safety boats. Instructors will maintain first aid kits during the course of the summer. A first aid kit will be also
at the club in an accessible area.
■ Hand-held Marine VHF two way radios. Channel 16 is the coast guard. Channel 67 is used to reach other boats.
■ A throwable device, towline, tool kit and pump or bailer and any equipment that is required by state or federal rules.

INCLEMENT WEATHER:

■ The TYC instructors and Program Director will monitor the day’s weather forecast and make the decision to keep classes on shore if the weather
conditions/forecast is unfavorable. Alternative onshore activities will be planned in advanced. If inclement weather arrives while on the water instructors are trained for such situations and shall communicate with each other and the sailing program director and all boats and will provide an appropriate plan for the situation.

PROCEDURES IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS OR EMERGENCIES ON THE WATER:

■ All US Sailing Instructors are trained and hold current First Aid and CPR certifications.
■ If an accident/emergency occurs while on the water, Sailing instructors will immediately render assistance and use their hand-held VHF
radios to contact the Program Director on channel 67. In a life threatening emergency instructors should call 911 immediately, then notify
the program director via VHF radio or cell phone if necessary.
■ In the event of a life threatening emergency an instructor will call 911 and request an on the water rescue. State your position to the 911
operator and go to the nearest public ramp if available, relay this information to 911 personnel.
■ If the Instructor cannot get through to emergency personnel, he/she will call the Coast Guard on Channel 16.
■ If an accident occurs in Tiverton Basin, the Sakonnet River or Mount Hope Bay, an ambulance will be sent to the Riverside Drive boat ramp (under the Sakonnet Bridge). or to the closest ramp available boathouse or riverside bait shop.
■ If an accident occurs in Blue Bill Cove, the ambulance will be sent to Portsmouth Town Ramp on the west shore of the Cove.
■ Before classes begin, instructors will test their VHF radios boat to boat and boats to Director to assure that the units and frequencies work.
■ All significant safety-related incidents will be recorded by a member of the Sail Training Committee and reported to the Board of Directors.

ELECTRONICS & SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES: (everyone at TYC is required to follow these guidelines)

■ I will not post anything online that may intentionally cause harm, distress or embarrassment to others.
■ I will not “like” or “share” anything that may be disrespectful to others or cause them hurt or embarrassment. I will remember that by
doing so I am endorsing the same sentiments as the post.
■ I will only use my device at times and locations where I have been given permission by an instructor or adult. I will stop using my device
immediately if an instructor asks me to do so.
■ I understand that I am responsible for taking care of my device throughout the day.
■ I will not post photos or videos of my friends without their permission, especially if I think they wouldn’t approve.
■ I will speak to a trusted adult if I see anything online that makes me feel nervous, uncomfortable or threatened in any way.
■ I will understand that the world is full of people with vastly different values and beliefs. I will keep that in mind before making judgments
of other online.
■ I will take the time to walk away and think before posting anything online when I am angry or mad.
■ I will remember that nothing is ever really private online, so I will only post things I am happy for the rest of the world to see.

*I agree to abide by these guidelines throughout my time at the TYC.