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The CYC junior effort appears to be gathering momentum, with starts for Optimist dinghies added to the club's Thursday night one-design program at Shilshole and planning underway for a parent-kid regatta June 20 at Sail Sand Point.
Nine juniors participated in Optimist racing on Thursday, June 4, the first time starts were offered for the group.
Juniors sailing Optimist dinghies near Shilshole Bay Marina.
The yacht club also has struck a deal for the June 20 regatta at Sail Sand Point. Michael Cenname, a CYC board member who is leading the junior effort, said scheduling details are still being worked out, but the event will include a barbecue and will have parents and kids racing together, mainly in Optimists.
"I think the biggest goal of this inaugural event is just to get families out sailing together," Cenname said.
The idea for the Opti start on Thursday nights came out of a meeting of the CYC Junior Committee Monday, June 1 at the club. Among those attending, in addition to Cenname, was Richard Demmler who is active in the local Optimist parent group and whose son, Alex, is an Opti sailor.
The Thursday starts give the Opti sailors an additional racing opportunity on Puget Sound, with little extra effort by CYC, because the club already has the committee on the water.
Also, adding an Opti start could help build the club's junior membership, because junior members are not required to pay race fees at CYC weeknight events. Club dues for juniors, 18 years old and younger, are just $30 per year.
As for the regatta June 20 at Sail Sand Point, Cenname said that in spite of the short timeline, he was confident that the club can put on a small, successful event.
"The plan is for the regatta to be very casual racing," he said. "Kids who have not sailed are encouraged to attend. The event will be focused to keep the time commitment to a minimum. Register and rig, sail, barbecue."
Details on the event.
The Junior Committee also is gathering demographic information about the children of adult CYC members.
"By understanding the age distribution of the potential juniors, we can do a better job of planning events and developing a program," Cenname said.