Junior Sailing Development

Optimist

Worser Bay has a strong Optimist fleet with growing numbers in the ‘Learn to Sail’, Green Fleet and Open Fleet divisions. The club program includes a variety of events throughout the season, designed to improve skills, provide competitive racing, make friends and provide sufficient variety for the enjoyment of all sailors regardless of their age and ability. Parent participation at all levels of the program is essential. In 2009 Worser Bay hosted the New Zealand Optimist Nationals which was an extremely successful regatta and contributed to the building of the WBBC Optimist fleet which now numbers in excess of 30 boats.

As a class the Optimist is the fastest growing junior class in New Zealand and worldwide it attracts a huge number of young sailors up to the age of 15 years. From 8 through to 15 years of age the Optimist is the ideal boat to develop sailing skills and as a club we are committed to its continued growth here in NZ.

The Optimist Green fleet is the first division that our young sailors encounter having completed a ‘Learn to Sail’ course. Through a high level of coaching and support the sailors are able to gain the basics of fleet racing while under the watchful eye of the coaches, their parents and club members.

Once competent at Green fleet level our sailors are encouraged to move into the Open fleet division where they will compete against some of our more experienced Optimist sailors. The majority of our Open Fleet sailors compete at interclub and national level.

All our Optimist sailors in, both Green fleet and Open fleet, are offered a mid week coaching program which runs throughout the season. Through this program the sailors learn to develop their boat handling, boat tuning and tactical skills. Run in small groups this program is managed by a group of experienced coaches.

P Class

The P Class is generally accepted as the next step after the Optimist with most skippers making the transition between the ages of 11‐13 years. The maximum age for P Class skippers is 16. The move from the Optimist to the P Class allows young sailors to develop their knowledge and skills in sail trim and boat handling.

Whilst the P Class offers a challenging platform on which to develop sailing skills, it is also very rewarding as sailors learn the benefits of body position, boating handling, sail trim and rig tuning, aspects which are not as critical on the more stable and simply rigged Optimist.

The number of sailors at Worser Bay in the P Class fleet has started to grow again and this season we are looking forward to some strong competitive racing. The Club runs an active training programme for the sailors general development as well as their build up towards the Nationals in January each year.

Starling

The Starling is a monotype sailing dinghy ideal for skippers who have become too heavy or too old for the P Class or for larger skippers progressing directly from the Optimist Class. The Starling is a good transition for sailors before they progress into youth and senior classes. Skippers must be under the age of 19 to compete for the National title, otherwise there is no age limit.

The Starling is three metres long and is a particularly attractive boat built in either plywood or fibre-glass. The class is governed by strict one design rules, which also specify both the mast and sail manufacturer.

The club program includes a variety of events throughout the season, designed to improve skills, provide competitive racing, make friends and provide sufficient variety for the enjoyment of all sailors regardless of their age and ability. All Starling sailors are offered a mid week coaching program which runs throughout the season. Through this program the sailors learn to develop their boat handling, boat tuning and tactical skills. Run in small groups this program is managed by a group of experienced coaches. Additional coaching is also programmed to help prepare the keen skippers for the Starling Nationals which are held in January each year.