Program Levels EXPLAINED

WHICH LEVEL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR SAILOR?

Windsurfing is not an easy sport.  It requires balance, agility, strength, focus, perseverance and tactical knowledge.  Everyone sailor learns at a different rate.  BBYC offers beginning, intermediate, recreational, and race programs.

Beginners

YOU CAN BE A BEGINNER AT ANY AGE

No prior experience needed.  Beginners start by coming one day a week, a full day on Sunday.  Beginners are usually 9 to 14 years old.  They learn upwind and downwind sailing and basic sailing/windsurfing terminology.  They use wider, heavier boards that are more buoyant and smaller/lighter sails.  As they improve their technique, they advance to bigger and more powerful sails that allow they to go faster.

Intermediate

BEGINNING TO FLY

Intermediate sailors have a minimum of one session of experience.  They use more powerful sails and eventually move onto a lighter and faster race board.  Race boards are also tippier.  Intermediates learn to sail with a harness, which allows them to manage more powerful sails and use less energy.  They begin to plane (surf) in bigger breeze.  They can begin to learn the basics of racing which gives them better board handling skills (better control and skilled maneuvers).  Intermediate sailors may register for one-day, two-day, or the full program, which includes after school sailing.

Advanced    Recreational

HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS

ON THE WATER

Not every kid is competitive or has time in their schedule to devote to race training.  Our recreational program is open to kids who have advanced past the intermediate stage.  They are comfortable using a harness and can sail in and out of the club basin on their own.    They sail at the same time as the Race Team and participate in some practice races and drills, so they continue to hone and maintain their skills, but flexibility is given to them for free sailing.  They can choose one or two day programs, and attend holiday camps.

Race Team

The Race Team consists of sailors ages 12 to 17, although there is no age requirement. Most team members train 2 to 4 days a week.  Training sessions include, drills, practice races, and a bit of free sailing.  Racers have the opportunity to race locally, regionally, and abroad.  This year's World Championship is in Cadiz, Spain.  Families of Race Team sailors must invest in personal equipment.