Junior Sailing Programs are ready for Windsurfing

Sailing needs to be more cool!  There is a dramatic drop out rate in Junior Sailing participation from ages 11-17.  Reasons for this decline are often attributed to a/  sailing traditional boats in sailing programs just isn’t that exciting (compared to alternative activities), and b/  too much focus on Jr. Sailing is on competition.

The Techno 293 is the perfect compliment to Optimists, Sabots, 420s, and other Junior Sailing classes.   While many juniors lose interest as teenagers/pre-teens, windsurfing and the Techno 293 help keep Junior Sailing Programs exciting and attractive.   This is already proven in Europe.  The Techno 293 does not replace an Optimist/420 program, but supplements a strong sailing curriculum.  More and more sailing programs offer windsurfing as an important component to their instruction.   Windsurfing keeps sailing fun, makes better sailors, and fosters confidence. 

At age 11+ children generally start to exercise their own choice, and many opt out of sailing at that time.  For some, the next level of sailing generally focuses on competition and maybe that’s not their thing.  Others just aren’t the right size- physically- to properly sail the next level of boats.  Also, newbie sailors at age 11+ often get discouraged by nine year old hot-shots, and drop out without giving sailing a fair chance.  And still others just prefer alternatives, such as board sports- skate boarding, wake boarding, snow boarding, etc.   Windsurfing is a board sport, within sailing, that is very attractive to juniors.  Also appealing, ninety percent of windsurfing happens outside of competition.  With different rig sizes, any body size over sixty pounds can windsurf.

U.S. Sailing’s Mission Statement:  To encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the United States.    Windsurfing helps achieve this mission!!!!

Why Windsurfing is ready for Junior Sailing Programs

1.  New technology allows the same windsurf board to easily and comfortably be sailed by a seven year old, twenty-seven year old, and seventy-seven year old in all conditions.  Different size rigs for different size sailors.

2.  New technology allows board and rig construction that is light-weight yet very durable.

3.  New technology has brought equipment prices way down.  An approved Jr. Sailing Program can now purchase a fleet of eight boards and fourteen complete rigs for under $10,000.   So for less than the price of 1 ½ Club 420s, you can have 8 kids having tons of fun.

4.  At most Sailing Programs, sails can be left rigged up.  That means one button attaches rig to board and you’re on the water.  No more 30+ minutes rigging/de-rigging instead of sailing.

A test case, Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, Massachusetts:

The Vineyard Haven Yacht Club started their windsurfing program with a fleet of Techno 293s in 2005.  Among other notable benefits, five things really impressed them:

1. Whereas the Optimists and 420s very rarely left the racks other than for an organzised class or race, the Techno 293s were out on the water playing all the time.

2.  Moms were dropping kids off at Opti class and taking out the windsurfers.

3.  Eight years olds were learning to sail on Techno 293s in under one hour.

4. Juniors who had dropped out of the sailing program were coming back for windsurfing.

5.   Adults, even ones who were not otherwise sailing all summer, were taking out the windsurfers for an afternoon sail. 

Due to the popularity, VHYC expanded their program, hired a certified windsurfing instructor, and set up a designated windsurfing curriculum for their second season of windsurfing.

Why windsurfing makes better sailors:

One needs to look no further than National Olympic teams and America’s Cup rosters for proof how windsurfing skills make better sailors.  Many top dinghy and keel boat sailors cross train with windsurfing to tone their sense of the wind, improve balance, and develop better wave negotiation.  Not to mention it’s a whole lot of fun and sure beats the gym!

Windsurfing makes learning to sail easier when a student feels the dynamics of sailing hands on…. literally.  Windsurfing intuitively teaches the balance of Center of Effort against Lateral Resistance, and steering without a rudder.  Instructors are impressed that in many cases kids learn how to sail on a windsurfer more easily than in a dinghy.

Confidence and overcoming the fear of capsize also come from windsurfing experience.  When a new sailor has just an hour of fun playing around on a board, falling in, getting wet, (and realizing that he/she hasn’t drowned), put them in an Opti and the chances are strong that they won’t be fearful of capsizing. 

Windsurfing offers these basic skills which makes better sailors:

1.  Intuitively understanding proper balance of Center of Effort and Center of Lateral Resistance.  Windsurfing is all about that balance!

2.  Easy, hands on understanding of luffing and sheeting in for more power.  Proper air flow and oversheeting/stalling.

3.  Wind force and hiking out against the sail.

4.  More advanced, planing and riding waves.

5.  Safety and comfort on and in the water.  Staying with your vessel.

Here are some of the prominent U.S. sailors who windurf:

n      Mark Reynolds   -  Olympic gold medalist, Star

n      Ed Baird – Alinghi America’s Cup skipper

n      Jonathan McKee – Olympic gold & bronze medalist, FD & 49er

n      Charlie McKee – Olympic silver & bronze medalist, 470 & 49er

n      Paul Forester & Kevin Burnham – Olympic gold, 470

n      Mark Mendelblat -  U.S. Olympic Laser representative

n      Randy Smythe & Keith Notary  Olympic Tornado reps.

n      Jens Hookanson – J-24 World Champion

n      Anthony Kotoun – J-24 World Champion

n      Morgan Larson – 505 World Champ, 49er vice World Champ

n      Cam Lewis – Finn Gold Cup Champ, in-shore/off-shore god