Welcome Packet
Englewood Sailing Association is excited to welcome students and their families to our Learn to Sail programs! Through the course of a week on the beautiful waters of Lemon Bay, you’ll learn the basics of small boat sailing. Along the way, we’ll build confidence, character, and community.
You can find additional information about ESA and our programs on our website, www.englewoodsailing.org. Our e-mail is [email protected], and our phone numbers are 617-799-0286 (C.H. Ritt, President) or 410-428-6742 (Cathy Cross V.P.). Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.
.We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook (Englewood Sailing Association - ESA)
What to Expect
Life Jackets (personal flotation devices)
We will fit PFDs at check in on the first day. Your name tag will be attached to your PFD.
You may take your PFD home each day and let it dry, or leave it in the shed at the sailing center. You will return your PFD on the last day.
- pass a swim check to make sure they’re comfortable in the water over their head.
- learn the basics of sailing the boat: the No Go Zone, balancing the boat, sitting forward of the tiller
- learn how to recover from a capsize, be able to climb back into a boat from deep water
- rig the boat and learn basic sailing terms: port, starboard, mainsheet, tiller, centerboard.
After that you’ll sail with one of our coaches.
What to Bring
Students should bring the following to each day of camp:
• Closed toe and closed heel water shoes* No Crocs.
• Refillable water bottle* Ice water is available for refills throughout the day
• Sunscreen. Students use about half a spray can per day.
• Sunglasses with a strap
• Hat
• Towel
• Change of clothes
• Lunch and snacks
What NOT to bring:
Anything you don’t want to get wet
Anything you don’t want to lose in the water (examples: jewelry, phones, expensive sunglasses)
In case of inclement weather:
If there is inclement weather, adults will bring youth sailors to the large Pavilion. While we wait out the storm, sailors will practice: knot tying, sail folding, rules of right of way, throwing and receiving a tow line, review sailing terms
If bad weather continues, parents/guardians will be called to pick up their youth sailor from the large Pavilion by the boat launch.
Bathroom Policy
Bathrooms are located in the large Pavilion by the boat launch. These are public restrooms used by everyone at the park. Youth will ALWAYS be accompanied by an adult to the restrooms. Englewood Sailing has a strict youth bathroom procedure due to Indian Mound Park being a public park, and that the bathroom facilities are a distance away.
Cell Phone Policy
ESA youth and adults will refrain from using cell phones during sailing lessons.
How to Prepare
We only ask three things of our students before coming to our programs..
First, read through the “Learn to Sail Handbook” https://www.englewoodsailing.org/learn-to-sail-handbook.html. Only 22 pages, with lots of pictures, this short guide introduces terms and concepts. No need to have mastered that book by the first day, but reading through will result in being better prepared to get the most out of our instruction.
Second, hydrate! Start the day before by drinking lots of water, and continue to drink lots of water throughout the day. It’s Florida, and although sailing isn’t extremely physically demanding it does require some exertion. It’s impossible to learn when you’re dehydrated.
Third, Sunscreen! Each morning, apply sunscreen thoroughly at home. Reapply sunscreen during the day: at each water break and at lunch.
Sunburn is the most common reason that sailors miss days of instruction.
Pickup and Drop off for Youth Programs
The Youth Program starts at 11AM. Please walk your camper to the pavilion with ESA staff. Parents will sign in their campers.
Avoid dropping campers off in the parking lot. Indian Mound Park is a busy public park and the parking lot is some distance from the Sailing Center.
Pick up is at 3PM. Parents will come to the Sailing Center and sign out their sailor.
Sailors will be released when their boats have been put away.
Your sailor will be very excited to see you each afternoon to tell you about their day. Please help us remind sailors that all the boats need to be put away before any camper may leave. Of course, clean up goes faster when everybody helps!
Behavior Policies
Sailing is fun! We want everyone to have a good time during summer camp, and to make sure of that we have a few rules to keep everyone safe and free to get the most out of camp.
• Life jackets must be worn at all times while in or on the water.
• Closed toe and heel shoes must be worn at all times.
• No hitting, pushing, roughhousing, or littering.
• No name calling, bullying, or abusive behavior.
• No swimming without the permission of an instructor.
• No swearing.
• No smoking, vaping, drugs, or alcohol.
• No jumping off boats without the permission of an instructor.
• Always stay with the class unless being escorted by an adult.
In general we follow a three-strike policy. We first warn the student. If the student continues the misbehavior we let the parent or guardian know when they come to pick the student up that day. If the misbehavior continues beyond that we’ll consider further measures, including sending the student home for the day or for the entire camp.
Summer Camp Schedule: What to Expect
Campers will sail with youth coaches on the first few days. Our youth coaches are intermediate/advanced level sailors who have been specially trained as coaches. After a few days, the camper will begin to sail without a coach in the boat with them. Each day your camper will learn new skills to safely handle a small boat. Games and competitions help them hone their skills.
Tuesday
Campers will practice tacking, learn how to rig the boat, and learn to jibe, and practice trimming the sail.
Wednesday
On Wednesday morning we take a break from sailing and welcome Naturalist Bobbi to lead our Seagrass Adventure. Students are given nets and buckets and explore the seagrass beds in the shallow waters of Lemon Bay. Students collect plants and animals that make up the environment they’ve been sailing in. The instructor discusses the role of those plants and animals in Lemon Bay’s ecosystem. Students return all living things to their environment.
By Wednesday, most students are ready to sail by themselves. We always have coaches available to get back on the boat with students and help refine their skills.
Thursday
Students rig the boat themselves, Safety position, rules of the right of way.
Friday
Morning: Rigging terms, skills course
Graduation ceremony at noon: All family members welcome.
ESA provides Lunch for campers and families.
Sailors will take families out for a sail after lunch.
Families please wear closed-toe and closed-heel water shoes (no Crocs). ESA has life jackets for family members above 40 lb. (please bring your own life jacket for family members less than 40 lb.)
