Youth Development Squad
Wednesday Youth Development Squad (YDS)
The Wednesday Youth Development Squad is a weekly space for children aged 11+ to develop their sailing skills beyond Stage 4 with a wide range of coaching and fun sailing-related activities. We meet on Wednesday evenings at 5.30pm every week from Easter to October half term. As launching from the club is dependent upon tides, we alternate between sailing in the Solent and in the River Yar each week and do shore-based games and theory when the weather restricts sailing.
The programme goes beyond Stage 4 to include a wide range of activities and skills including team racing, seamanship skills such as understanding and using tides, sailing skills such as sailing backwards, trying different types of dinghies such as Picos, Fevas, Lasers and Quests, learning to drive ribs, double-handed sailing, social evenings, sailing trips to Lymington, and support to access regattas and championships. Whilst there is competitive sailing in the programme, the focus is very much on developing teamwork skills, resilience and independence on the water. The young people are therefore expected to rig and de-rig their dinghies, get themselves ready to sail, and are encouraged to make their own assessments of the weather and tides.
The squad is entirely volunteer-run and parent participation is essential. This may be by crewing a patrol boat, making toast and hot chocolate, providing shore-based radio support, helping with the launch and recovery of the dinghies, teaching a particular skill, or driving a patrol boat. We encourage parents to gain their RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate and club certificate so that they can drive one of the club patrol boats. Please let us know of any relevant skills you might be willing to share.
The cost of participating in the squad is £40 per year which includes the use of club dinghies, toast and hot chocolate and coaching. You must be a member of Yarmouth Sailing Club in order to participate. Places are limited and priority is given to those young people who are able to attend weekly.
If you wish to take part in the Wednesday Squad and would like to join fellow young sailors and improve your sailing, please email clairebackhouse@hotmail.co.uk and/or complete the online application form.
Last updated 19:28 on 10 October 2024