Scholastic Sailing

Scholastic Sailing (grades 8-12)

High School Teams Practice Together, photo by C. Degnan

The Santa Cruz Yacht Club (SCYC) Scholastic Sailing Program was created to provide high school sailors with opportunities to expand their competitive sailing skills in an environment that promotes ethics, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Through practice and competition, sailors develop leadership qualities and exercise critical judgment and decision-making skills.

The Scholastic Sailing Program organizes, trains, and supports local middle and high school sailors under guidelines provided by the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) ( http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org/ ), a nationwide organization that governs secondary school sailing in the United States.

Under ISSA rules, sailors must be full time students attending 9th through 12th grades. High school teams sail in double-handed dinghies, Flying Juniors (FJs). In some cases, eighth graders may sail in regional regattas.

Teams and regattas are co-ed. Everyone has an opportunity to excel. All teams practice together, and sailors often substitue on each other's team. There is a lot of mutual respect and cooperation. It is a great opportunity to make friends with students from other schools. These are friendships that can last a lifetime. Sailing is a sport that one can continue to enjoy for many years.

A school's scholastic sailing program is organized as a club sport. A faculty advisor and a team parent provide liaison with the SCYC. The SCYC Scholastic Sailing Program provides instruction, boats, and equipment (with the exception of personal sailing gear).

The ability to swim is mandatory. It is highly recommended that new members take both Basic Sailing and Intermediate Sailing classes offered in the summer by the UCSC Boating Center. Look for the UCSC Summer schedule at http://opers.ucsc.edu/boating/ . These public, youth classes introduce you not only to double-handed dinghy sailing but also to sailing in the Monterey Bay.

Regatta Action, photo by S. Reed

SCYC has supported local teams from:

Aptos High School
Harbor High School
Monte Vista Christian High School
Pacific Collegiate High School
Santa Cruz High School
Scotts Valley High School
Soquel High School

SCYC supports high school team sailing and racing with an emphasis on safety and sportsmanship.

Join the SCYC Junior Program. Your parents do not have to be SCYC members. As SCYC Junior members, all scholastic sailors are insured while participating in SCYC events. Scholarships are available.

Phone or email the SCYC for more information!