814-566-5386

4307 13th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221

[email protected]

Racing Teams

OPTI GREEN FLEET

The Green Fleet Racing Team introduces Opti sailors to racing and competition while participating with an entry-level travel team. Sailors develop the techniques needed to sail fast around a racecourse and compete with other new racers. Coaches provide a fun and supportive team environment that sets the foundation for sailor progression into the Opti RWB Fleet and beyond.

OPTI RWB

The Opti RWB Racing Team is for experienced Opti racers seeking continued development of their skills on a regional-level travel team. Sailors progress into advanced handling and sail trim techniques while developing experience in tactics, wind strategy, independent decision making, fitness, tuning, and sailing by the rules. Coaches provide a fun and supportive team environment to both nurture and challenge a competitive sailor through a season of training and regattas.

420 Racing Team

The 420 Racing Team is geared towards racing, including use of spinnakers and trapezes, racing tactics and strategies, skipper/crew cooperation, advanced sail trim theory, and advanced rules.

RACING TEAMS

Schedule and Time Commitment

Our Racing Teams currently practice Saturdays and Sundays.

The racing teams have individual practice sessions and about three to five regattas per season.  Parent participation and assistance with travel logistics such as trailer towing is necessary to attend travel events. While a time commitment is necessary to progress and develop your skills as a sailor, participation in all scheduled travel events is not required. We recommend first year sailors pace their event participation and build up to a full regatta schedule over the course of their first season.

Boats Provided

Opti Green Fleet

We provide an Optimist boat and equipment package for the first year.  This includes the boat, spars, blades, covers, travel dolly, and a club sail. This cost is included with the price of tuition each semester.

Opti RWB

After completion of first year, sailors are required to have their own USODA compliant boat.  Chartering a boat through MRYS will be considered upon request.

420

We provide a C/420 boat and equipment package for our sailors.  Additional personal equipment may be required.

Who Can Participate

The Opti Green Fleet Racing Team is open to all sailors ages 8-15 who have completed our Summer Sailing Program or have equivalent knowledge and experience per coaches’ approval.

Required Sailing Skills for First-Year Green Fleet Racing Team: 

  • Able to evaluate wind direction and speed.
  • Demonstrate getting out of irons without assistance.
  • Tie a bowline, square knot, two half hitches, and stopper knots.
  • Jibe safely and control the boom as it crosses sides.
  • Tack safely from close-hauled to close-hauled.
  • Turn the boat with the tiller extension and sheet the sail at the same time
  • Sail a triangle course with trim for each point of sail.
  • Perform a 360 and 720-degree turn.
  • Self-rescue after a capsize.
  • Anticipate and avoid collisions.
  • Launch and recover their boat from a beach and dock.

The Opti RWB Racing Team is open to all sailors ages 9-15 who have completed at least one year of our Green Fleet Racing Team or have equivalent knowledge and experience per coaches’ approval.

Required Skills for the Opti RWB Racing Team:

  • Awareness of wind shifts, puffs, and lulls.
  • Demonstrates basic roll tacks and jibes. 
  • Slows and stops a boat in a confined area for over a minute.
  • Sails backward on command.
  • Jibes on command while holding a downwind course.
  • Demonstrates basic daggerboard settings.
  • Can sail and bail while holding a steady course.
  • Demonstrates weight placement for light, medium, and strong winds.
  • Demonstrates sportsmanship and understands fundamental rights of way.
  • Applies simple tactics to mark roundings. 
  • Can rig, tune, de-rig, and care for equipment independently.
  • Can tension sprit and vang tension on the water without assistance.
  • Can plan and execute a station keeper start with acceleration.

Opti Green Fleet

The Green Fleet Racing Team teaches core fundamentals needed for a sailor to develop their skills from a novice to independent sailor.  We aim to build sailors’ confidence through developing seamanship skills, techniques, and sailing tactics.

OPTI RWB

The Opti RWB Racing Team is for experienced Opti racers seeking continued development of their skills on a regional-level travel team. Sailors progress into advanced handling and sail trim techniques while developing experience in race tactics, wind strategy, independent decision-making, fitness, tuning, and sailing by the rules.  Coaches provide a fun and supportive team environment to both nurture and challenge a competitive sailor through a season of training and regattas.

Opti RWB racing is organized into three fleets based on a sailor’s age.  All three fleets race together but are scored in separate divisions. White Fleet is for sailors 10 and under, Blue Fleet is for sailors 11-12, and Red Fleet is for sailors 13-15. Most sailors will size out of the Opti before aging out. We recommend experienced Opti sailors nearing 115 pounds complete one season in their fleet while transitioning into our C/420 Racing Team.

420 Racing Team

The 420 Racing Team is geared towards racing, including use of spinnakers and trapezes, racing tactics and strategies, skipper/crew cooperation, advanced sail trim theory, and advanced rules.  This program is tailored for students eager to hone in on higher-level racing tactics and strategies. Participation to this team is based on both prior sailing experience and merit. 

BISHOP SAILING CENTER
4307 13th Street West
Palmetto, FL 34221
[email protected]

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