FAQ
Where is the Sailing School?
Light
House Island.
Lake Minnetonka Sailing School,
Inc.,
PO Box 842,
Wayzata, MN 55391, 952-404-1645.
What forms do I need to complete prior
to class?
Registration, Waiver, and
Emergency/Health Information forms
should be completed prior to students’
first lesson. Racing classes will need
to have both a student/athlete as well
as a parent code of conduct form.
What gear does my child need?
Gear can
vary slightly with the type of class
your child is taking. For instance,
Intermediate and Race Team sailors
typically need more specialized
equipment than Beginners. The basics,
however, are the same:
- a USCG approved Type II or III
PFD that fits (“room to grow” is a
bad thing!). A nice and comfortable
athletic type life jacket is a good
investment—you don’t want you sailor
to want to take it off! More PFD
information is available on the USCG
PFD information page .
- Rubber-soled, closed-toe shoes
that stay on in the water (sport
sandals are NOT acceptable).
- Sunscreen.
- Water Bottle—this is necessary.
One juice box for lunch is NOT
enough fluid for a full day in the
sun. Cups are NOT provided, please
bring your own water bottle, we do
have filtered water tanks on hand in
every classroom.
- Change of clothes and a towel.
- A bag to carry gear to and from
the sailing school each day.
- LABEL EVERYTHING!!!
- Clothing should be athletic.
- Dry fit, fleece and spandex
clothing are best.
- Please do not send sailors in
jeans and a sweatshirt which can
become very heavy and uncomfortable
when wet.
Which
class should my child enroll in?
This year the Lake Minnetonka Sailing
School will be introducing a new “Track
System” to help students find the
correct class placement. Below you will
find a guide to which track and which
boat are right for each sailor. If you
have additional questions/concerns
please do not hesitate to contact our
Director Lisa Crear at 952-404-1645.
Please do not enroll your child in
Advanced Race classes without approval
from Sailing School staff.
Pick your track:
Recreational Track - These programs are
designed for Students to learn sailing
skills in a safe, fun and positive
environment.
The sessions concentrate on good sailing
form, boat speed and the mechanics of
boat handling using the LMSS Three
Basics
System. This track accommodates brand
new sailors as well as experienced
sailors who want to stay in a fun,
non-competitive environment. This track
includes pre-pram, pram camp, 420 camp,
and adult sailing. To move from this
program, sailors must complete our new
Level 1 seamanship requirements
(Ensign).
Race Track I - Building on Recreational
track skills, our instructors continue
the LMSS Three Basics System: weight
placement, sail trim and steering
technique. We also teach tactics and
basic sailing rules for competition.
This track includes Opti Fundamentals,
Opti Racing, 420 Fundamentals and 420
Racing classes. The skills covered in
Race Track I programs will allow sailors
to complete Level 2 seamanship
requirements (Captain).
Race Track II - This track is for our
most advanced students who have
completed seamanship tests for all prior
classes, who have completed and
fulfilled all skill requirements. These
classes are for students dedicated to
racing and competing in local, regional,
and national events. The concepts of
boat speed, boat handling, wind
strategy, and tactics will be further
developed.
Race Track II classes include our Opti
Intermediate/Advanced Racing class, 420
Intermediate/Advanced Racing class, and
Laser Advanced Racing class. Race Track
II will be the last step in completing
all seamanship requirements (Admiral).
Pick your boat:
Pram— For younger sailors, the pram is
set up with a simplified mainsail rig
that is forgiving, stable, and safe.
Prams are two person boats but more
experienced sailors may sail alone if
they desire.
Opti— the Optimist Dinghy is globally
recognized as the ideal platform for
developing young sailors. This boat is
sailed by one person which forces the
sailor to learn more quickly. A great
step up from Pram camp.
420— Sailors in a wide range of weights
can be competitive and comfortable in
the 420. Safe for beginner sailors with
just a main and a jib, this two person
boat can quickly adapt for advanced
sailors to learn teamwork, trapeze and
spinnaker techniques.
Laser— The single-handed Laser is
responsive, and a true test of a
sailor’s athleticism. Our Laser Advanced
Team uses all 3 laser rigs: Full
(155-195 lbs.), Radial (115 -160 lbs.)
and 4.7 (95-120 lbs.) This boat is the
Olympic class boat for men (Full) and
women (Radial) and can be sailed for a
lifetime.
X-Boat— The X Boat has been the primary
youth training boat in the Midwest for
the last 70 years and has continued to
play a major role in youth racing
development. Major X Boat regattas
consistently draw over 70 boats, giving
young sailors a critical big fleet
experience
Are boats provided?
Boats are provided for ALL recreational
track sailing. Boats are provided for
420 INT/ADV and HS sailing. Boats are
available to charter for OPTI Race and 3
boats are available for LASER charter.
I’m not enrolled in a class, can I rent
one of the sailing school boats?
The Lake Minnetonka Sailing School does
NOT rent boats. All of our club-owned
vessels are used for instruction during
class time only. Boats may be chartered
for class use, for classes where boats
are not provided. The sailing school
does not loan use of boats for any non
youth sailing purposes to non-sailing
school members.
How does my child advance to the next
program level?
In the past, promotions are made solely
on the basis of instructors’ evaluation.
This year there will be seamanship
credentials to help in the understanding
of the process. If you have specific
questions about advancement or your
child’s sailing education, please
contact the Director of Operations at
the Sailing School.
How soon should I register?
Classes fill very quickly, so register
as soon as possible. You can register
online by going to www.lmss.us. If you
encounter problems or need help please
call or email or Director Lisa Crear at
952-404-1645;
lisa@lmss.us
Can I enroll / pay online?
Yes. In fact,
that is the easiest and best way to
register. Please make sure you include a
valid email address. This is our primary
form of communication and you may be
left out of important information or
events if not included.
Is there a waiting list?
If a course is full, a waiting list is
available. Please contact the Sailing
School to be placed on a wait list.
Can my child attend just part of a
session?
Yes. However, there is no discount in
the tuition.
If I have to drop the class, what
happens?
Full refunds (less a $40 administrative
charge) will be given up to four weeks
prior to each session. Withdrawals in
the four weeks prior to the beginning of
a session will receive a 50%
reimbursement. No refunds will be given
after the session starts.
When is the Awards Banquet?
Each session of Sailing School will have
an Awards ceremony.
FOR RECREATIONAL TRACK:
(camp &
fundamentals) graduations will be held
the last day of class and parents should
come around 2:15 to catch the pontoon at
Carson’s Bay or Park Ave.
FOR RACE TRACK 1 & 2: graduations will
have banquets at the end of the year
please continue reading for individual
programs.
420 RACE: August 12, 2010 7-9pm
420 INT/ADV: August 12, 2010 7-9pm
(Thursday)
Laser ADV: August 12, 2010 7-9pm
(Thursday)
OPTI RACE: August 22, 2010 7-9pm
OPTI INT/ADV: August 22, 2010 7-9pm
How does my child advance to the next
program level?
In the past, promotions are made solely
on the basis of instructors’ evaluation.
This year there will be seamanship
credentials to help in the understanding
of the process. If you have specific
questions about advancement or your
child’s sailing education, please
contact the Director of Sailing at the
Sailing School.
What should my child bring the first
day?
His/her PFD, water shoes, change of
clothes, towel, and a bag to transport
all this gear, a bag lunch with a snack
and A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE—we provide
culligan filtered water tanks on the
island but no cups.
Does my child need to bring his/her own
lunch?
Yes, a bag lunch is required for all
courses ** Please alert Sailing School
staff to any food allergies.**
Does my child need to know how to swim?
At no time will students be allowed to
swim or be near the water without a PFD.
For any class, a high level of comfort
in and around the water is necessary,
but strong swimming skills are not a
must. Please know, students MUST pass a
swimming test and will be tested on the
first day of class. However, this will
be done with PFD’s and is primarily for
instructors to gage comfort level and
water and ensure proper fit of life
jackets.
Who are the instructors and what is
their training?
All of our instructors our are CPR and
First Aid certified as well as level 1
US Sailing Certified (or the
equivalent). Before being hired it is
required that all instructors complete
14 days of mentorship in different
classes. In addition to this training,
all of our instructors go through a week
of intensive and LMSS specific training.
What is the LMSS weather and
cancellation policy?
LMSS will NOT cancel classes due to
weather. If there is severe weather
before the day begins it is up to the
family to decide whether or not they
will bring their kids to sailing. Indoor
activities including lecture, games,
videos and skits will be done. Students
will not be sent out on the water if
there is inclement weather. It will be
up to the instructors of each class and
the Director to decide whether or not
Recreational Track and some Race Track 1
classes will sail in heavy winds.
Does the Sailing School or Yacht
Club rent boats?
The Lake Minnetonka Sailing
School does NOT rent boats.
All of our school-owned vessels are used
for instructing during class time only.
Check with local marinas.
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