Next Level

Our Next Level program for intermediate sailors, ages 12-17, formerly called Saturday Youth Sailing for Intermediates, runs concurrently with our SYSTEM program on Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. The program is led by Josh Becher, an L-2 certified youth coach by US Sailing, whose expertise and passion for sailing ensure a high-quality learning experience. Chalk talks and briefings take place on the second-floor breezeway of the US Sailing Center.

Our sailing equipment is the RS Feva. Team Paradise has a fleet of six boats. Each boat can be sailed single-handed with a mainsail or double-handed with a jib and gennaker. Our coach boat is a Boston Whaler Montauk 17' powered by a 90-hp Yamaha. The boat was built in 1973. Safety is our top priority, and we take extra precautions, such as being mindful when sailors attempt to tie up along the side or when docking in the harbor. We advise using the swim ladder on the transom to board the boat after swimming. The running lights are not working, so we only operate the vessel during daylight hours to be Coast Guard compliant. Before departing, ensure the first aid kit and the Coast Guard safety gear are in place aboard the boat. We also enforce the use of lifejackets and the connection to the Engine Kill Switch Lanyard while underway.

Inspect boats before launching to ensure that they are rigged correctly. Double-check that the stern plug is in place. The coach boat must follow the sailors through the harbor, avoiding the shallow water near shore. The coach knows best and should use his skill and knowledge to coach our group of sailors. There is room for individuality and a personal touch. It’s important to track skills according to US Sailing's Intermediate Curriculum. Each day on the water is about fun, safety, learning, and personal growth.

Once the sailors have cleared the Seaplane Channel, get the students tuned up. Are the sails hoisted properly? Check their outhaul, cunningham, boom vang, and trim the mainsail so that the top batten points in the same direction as the boom. Sails need to be adjusted according to their point of sail. Trim the jib so the leeward tell-tale is horizontal, then adjust the main to match the jib.

Line up the boats for a nice picture with all the boats overlapped and pointing in the same direction. It's an excellent practice involving time, distance, and clear air. It would look like this at the beginning of a sailboat race. Take pictures from Leeward. Please encourage them to hike the boat flat so their faces will show, preferably with sunlight. As the sailors progress, they should be able to stay together longer and longer. As weeks pass, drop a weather mark, and eventually, there will be a race.

Other suggestions are tacking and gybing on the whistle. Let's build a menu of more practice drills.

The safety boat will be anchored at some point during the day. Please set up a short, windward-leeward course nearby so that we can video record boat handling techniques and all the other actions around us. When teams are being selected in the morning, please be mindful that we want to avoid having sails hoisted and flogged at the sand bar or when tied up to the coach boat or safety boat. If students can’t commit to keeping sailing or lowering their sails, they could join the safety boat and trade off with another team. I believe this could work on a windy day.

Please visit our online classroom resource page: https://www.teamparadise.org/classroom