Choosing the Right Class

Students are assigned to the appropriate classes based on their interests, skill level and parental input. They may be reassigned at the discretion of the Instructors. Students are encouraged to come for multiple sessions, either at the same level or progressing through to more advanced classes is skill levels and student interests dictate!

Questionable Weather

Although we are typically blessed with sun most of the days, there are still some days where light breeze, storms or other weather may prevent us from sailing. If this is the case class will still be held! We may offer to let your child call you to be picked up but that does not mean you have to come get them early.

Lunchtime Supervision

Lunchtime Supervision is available during the Summer Program between the AM and PM classes(12:00pm-1:00pm). We ask that if your child is not full day to pick them up by 1:00 pm. We will be covered the covered area on the other side of the club.

Swim Check

Safety is first and foremost in the minds of the instructors. All students are required to pass the swim check in order to participate in the Sailing Program. The swim check will be given on the first day of class and will include.

1. Student puts on lifejacket

2. Instructor inspects lifejacket and ensures proper fit

3. Student jumps in the water with life jacket on and floats for a few seconds

4. Student demonstrates they can swim a short distance

5. Student gets out of water

6. Student jumps back into water without life jacket and demonstrates they can swim 20 yards and can tread water for 1 min

7. Students demonstrates they can put life jacket on in the water

Note: No one will swim under the docks or near docked boats.

What if student won’t do swim check or cannot pass swim check?

Student cannot participate in any activities on the water. This may seem tough but we have never had to turn anyone away, there is no time limit and sailors can use any stroke they like, so long as they make it the 20 yards

Pick-Up/Drop-Off Instructions

Morning classes start at 9 am and are dismissed at 12pm. Instructors only have one hour in between morning and afternoon classes, so please arrive on time for dismissal. Instructors will stay with children until parents arrive. Afternoon classes start promptly at 1 pm and will finish at 5pm. We will have the option for early drop off and late pickup. If you arrive before 8:30 or 30 min after typically pick up you will be charged for this fee.

• For safety reasons, parents must check out their sailors with an Instructor, unless they have been given permission to walk or ride a bike.

• Please be on time for drop off to allow classes to start on time and get to all the fun the staff has prepares!!

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE DETAILED COVID - 19 INFO

 

Make sure to LABEL EVERYTHING in an obvious place with your name! We have a lost in found in the sailing shed full of unmarked items. Our staff are not responsible for and lost or damage of students items but will do our best to help prevent damage or find items. If you have any questions on a lost item or what to bring to class contact Ron.

Sailors are REQUIRED to bring and use:

• Proper fitting, US Coast Guard approved life jacket with a whistle attached somehow

• Closed-toed shoes or sneakers, something that will not be missed if lost since we have pluff mud, shows must tie or velcro closed, no crocs

• Sunscreen (apply before class and we will reapply as needed

• Reusable Water bottle

• Lunch if full day

Sailors are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to bring and use:

• Sunglasses

• Towel

• Hat or Visor

• Dry change of Clothes

• Watch with countdown timer (Required for Racers)

• Sailing gloves

We also ask that if sailors bring phones or other electronics that they stay in their bags during camp hours

 

Dear Parent
With the approval of the Board of The James Island Yacht, we are pleased to announce that we are
planning to have sailing camp this year. However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are
having to make changes to the program as your child’s health, safety and welfare are our top priority.
This issue starts with you and your family.
• If the camper feels sick, or has a temperature over 100.4 degrees, stay home.
• If the camper has had any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or has been in the presence of
someone who has, avoid coming to the club/facility.
• All campers should thoroughly wash hands before arriving and immediately after leaving.
• BYO water and water bottles when coming to the club/facility. Consider using reusable water
bottles which should be filled at home. Discourage the use of water fountains and shared water
filling stations/containers.
• Campers are not to share personal water bottles, food, gear, equipment, sunscreen, towels,
paddles, etc.
• Use caution be courteous, and practice safe Social Distancing when passing by others on
docks, ramps, slips, and other tight locations.
• Encourage the camper to use bathroom facilities prior to coming to club
• When possible, move to a downwind location when needing to sneeze/cough
We are requiring each camper to have their own sailing gear. This will include:
• US Coast Guard approved life jacket
• Water shoes (closed toed shoes)
• Face Covering (cloth face covering, sailing buff)
• Sailing gloves
• Towels
• Food and drinks
We will have small pods of no more than 6 sailors. Each pod will have the same instructor for the
entire week, and we will place campers from the same family members in the same pod to limit
exposure. We intend to use single handed boats (Optimists, Open Skiff, Sunfish, Lasers). We will
consider a double handed boat (420, Hobies) on an individual case basis such as same family
members or in a situation that both families agree that they want their children to sail together. Each
sailor will be assigned the same boat, dolly, and equipment for the entire week. Each boat will be
assigned a spot on the lawn which will meet social distancing guidelines.
When you bring your child to the club, please wait in your car until one of the instructors calls for your
child so that we may do a temperature check prior to entry to the lawn. With pickup, we ask that you
stay in your car and we will send your child to you. In case of known bad weather, the classes will be
cancelled as there is limited space around the club to provide any activities. If bad weather develops
during the class, we will try to properly social distancing in our pods around club using our three
outside pavilions or three separate rooms in the club. We would encourage parents to pick up their
children as soon as possible in these situations.
At the beginning of each week, we will give a safety talk about the camp. All campers are to wear
face coverings while on the grounds. These covering can be cloth or any other material. The use of a
sailing “buff” is acceptable as they can be used while on the water and also provide some sun
protection. Our instructors will also wear face coverings and enforce all rules. Each camper as well as 
instructors will have their temperature taken and if any abnormalities are found the person will be sent
home.
The club will have hand sanitizers around the club and will encourage all to wash their hands
frequently. As already stated, we would suggest campers use their own bathroom prior to coming to
camp but we will have the bathrooms open if needed. The bathroom will be limited to one person at a
time and will be clean regularly. We will encourage, however, that each camper cleans the bathroom
after use with supplies found in the bathroom. The indoor shower will be closed but the outside
shower by the sailing shed will be open.
Our instructors have been educated on proper safety measures. The club will try to regularly clean
high touch areas. Each boat and dolly used by our campers will be cleaned prior to a new class. We
will try our best to maintain social distancing and the CDC guidelines but there may be times like in
emergencies that they have to be broken.
If a camper is diagnosed with COVID-19 during the class, we will inform the pod and make a decision
about the continuation of classes for that pod and possibly for the entire class. All campers and their
families will be informed, and they should decide the best for their family. When the camp knows of
an infection, all equipment will be cleaned on that day prior to any classes.
As we are very serious about the health and welfare of all at the camp, all rules must be followed. If a
camper cannot follow the rules, the camper will be sent home and dismissed from the camp with no
refund for lost time at the camp. If a camper gets sick and cannot return because of a COVID-19
issue, we will make a refund for lost time at the camp. If you have any concerns about the camp
whether it is an instructor or camper, please let us know immediately.
I know that this is different from prior years but we need to do this so we can have the camp this year.
If you have signed up for a half-day session, we would encourage you to consider that your child
come for an all-day session as this will help us in terms of assigning boats. There may be new or
different rules as we start this process, but we will keep you informed. If this is unacceptable to you,
we understand and will refund your money if you cancel prior to the class. Just email our Sailing Director,

Maddy McSweeney  ([email protected]) or

call the club 843-795- 6060

We will try to have an experience that your child will enjoy even with the necessary changes to the
camp. We look forward to the summer camp! We will send a release form that we ask you sign and
bring to the first class.