2016 Opti Fall Season Meeting Notes
Thank you everyone who attended our parent meeting on Wednesday! We went over a lot of information so below is an outline of everything that we covered.
Our primary way of communication will be through the Chicago YC Opti Blog. If you are not already subscribed, enter your e-mail address in the "Follow by E-Mail" box (top right) to get posts e-mailed to you. Also use this blog as a reference for calendar updates, regatta signups and debriefs. If you have trouble subscribing, please let me know.
Practices will start this weekend for all fleets! Practices are held at the Sailing School located at Belmont Harbor, 300 W Belmont Avenue.
Please note we have added additional practice hours for for Green Fleet on Saturday. If this does not work with your schedule please let me know.
Championship Fleet (RWB)- Wednesday 4-7pm / Saturday 9am-4pm / Sunday 9am-4pm
Green Fleet- Wednesday 4-7pm / Saturday 9am-4pm / Sunday 9am-4pm
Lime Fleet- Sunday 12-4pm
Sailors should arrive early enough to be rigged and ready by the start of practice.
Lime Fleet should arrive at 11am on Sunday. On the first day we will assigning charter boats. Lime parents should plan on being there to help take their child's assigned boat off the rack and then arrive around 3:30 to help put boats back on the rack. Sailing is not a drop off sport.
Please let us know ahead of time if a sailor is going to be late or not going to be attending practice.
Please refer to the Calendar tab on the Blog under the calendar page. This calendar includes practice schedule, deadlines, meetings, etc.
Those who are chartering a boat must fill out the charter agreement. Please bring $100 check on Sunday with this form if you are chartering a boat. If you are a member we can bill your account. Coach Amy will be there to collect your charter agreement and checks when you arrive.
Sailors chartering a boat will find a boat assignment sheet posted in the cubby room. These will be there boat assignments for the entire season.
You can find the Fall Regatta Schedule for the season here. Regattas are designated for Green and Championship Fleet.
On this calendar you will find the early registration deadlines in the right column. Registering by the early deadline will save you money!
After you register for the event you must also sign up for the regatta on our signup sheet on the Blog. You can find signup sheets under the Regatta & Clinics tab on the Opti Blog. Please look at your calendars this weekend. We ask that you sign up on the Blog for all regattas you plan to participate in no later than Monday September 5th.
Please note that when there is a scheduled regatta there will be no CYC practice.
Lime fleet is scheduled to participate in one regatta this season. Halloween Spectacular is hosted by Lake Forest on October 29-30. This will be a very fun event and a great first regatta for these sailors. We encourage all lime fleet sailors to participate in this regatta. There will be no Lime fleet practice on the 30th during this regatta. There will be Lime fleet practices on Sept 4,11, 18, 25, Oct 2,9,16, 23, and Nov 6. You can find the sign up sheet for Halloween Spectacular regatta here on the Blog.
We will be sending information about the travel logistics for each event prior to the regatta. Usually this weekend goes out a week before the event.
The Opti Survival Guide is a useful document for new Opti parents. If you didn't pick up at the meeting you can get one at practice.
Evaluation checklists are what we will be using to assess when a sailor is ready to move to the next fleet. Coaches will be completing these throughout the season and will hand out to sailors at the end of the season. These will serve as progress reports for sailors to understand exactly what areas they need to work on.
What to Bring to Practice
Please note that many of these items are optional but highly recommended. In our meeting we discussed scheduling a gear swap day so you may not need to purchase some of these items.
Write you name on everything!
- Gear bag to keep everything in
- personal floatation device (PFD) type 3 with whistle
- bathing suit (for under clothing)
- towel
- watch w/ timer setting to count down
- re-usable water bottle
- hat / beanie for colder days
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- rash guard
- spray top, spray pants (wind and water proof)
- change of clothes
- gloves
- sailing booties/ neoprene socks
- fleece layers
- wetsuit (shortie or long john)
- running shoes (Green + RWB)
- notebook (Green + RWB)
All of the documents on this page can be found on the Program Documents Page located on the Opti Blog. We look forward to a great fall season of sailing! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Julia Melton
Sailing School Director
