Youth Sailing at Frensham is carried out in the following classes- Optimists, Toppers, Cadets, Teras and Lasers. Optimists and Topper sailing takes place in scheduled courses- see Training section. For Cadets, Teras and Lasers- see the relevant section under Youth Sailing
The Frensham RS Tera fleet sails every Saturday throughout the year. Normally two groups are run: a Development group which progresses the sailing skills of the children on from RYA Youth Level 2 and focuses on boat handling and general sailing skills; and an Advanced group which concentrates on racing skills. Most of the Teras at Frensham use the Sport rig, although some of the older children use the Pro rig. Sailors from the Frensham fleet have had plenty of success over the years, both at National and International level and progressing to further successes in other boats.
Training starts with a short briefing followed by a training session on the water which lasts for around 2 hours. In the winter series the briefing is at 10:00 and in the summer it is at 10:30 (unless there are RYA training courses taking place in which case it starts at 11:30).
For those keen and able to race, there is an afternoon club race series on Saturday afternoon in which the children often compete, offering a good and friendly introduction to club racing for them.
For further information please speak to the Class Captain: Richard Garner
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The RS Tera is a single person sailing dinghy geared towards young sailors. Simlar to the Optimist only more responsive and more fun to sail. The boat is a one design so there is not the case where you have to pay more for a competitive boat.
The RS Tera is an ISAF International Class and an RYA Recognised Junior Class.
The hull is essentially a modern skiff design – pointed front flaring to flat bottomed, hard chine after-sections. It is very stable and has a variety of rig options so is well suited to a range of ages and weights.
There are three sail options (all use the same spars) :
Don't worry, your first opportunity is probably to crew and if you want to helm the Club has a number of boats for you to sail - Cadets, Laser 4.7s and Radials and Larks for those that want a two-handed boat when they move out of Cadets.
The Club also has a very active Sailability section, which encourages youngsters with disabilities or who are unable to participate in mainstream sporting activities to get on the water.
When does this all happen?
Saturday morning is the main time that all our youngsters get together for race training. Training sessions are run by some of the top Class experts and RYA coaches.
However, that's not all - Club racing takes place all weekend all year round and on Wednesday evenings in the summer.
Please contact any of us for further information.
| Cadet Class Captain |
Sean Nee This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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RS Teras |
Iain Soars This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| Youth Sailability | Lisa Skirrow This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
FPSC’s Laser Youth group is open to any youngsters at the Club who want to sail a Laser. We cater for skill levels from RYA Youth Stage 3 upwards, but we are inclusive so if you can sail a triangular course and navigate yourself around the Pond or fancy your chances at top end of the fleet then come and join in! We aim to get our young sailors racing and competing at the Club and ultimately to give them the confidence to enter open meetings and events, if that is what they’d like to do.
The Laser Youth Group normally meets on Saturday mornings. We rig the boats, run a briefing and / or some on-shore training, get changed and go sailing!
We are back on shore in time for some lunch before Saturday afternoon racing. – the Laser 4.7 / Radial “youth” start is 10 minutes after the Saturday Handicap Race start. There are Summer and Winter series with trophies to be won for each!
Exact timing does varies throughout the year, so please check the Club Handbook or class programme on the web site (or email the LYG organiser below).
A bit about the boats...
Lasers were originally designed with what is now known as the “Standard” rig. It can be quite hard work and you need to weigh 75Kg plus to sail competitively, so optional rigs were developed to cater for lighter weight people - everything else stays the same.
The Laser is an RYA recognised Pathway Boat, with the 4.7 rig for Junior sailors (Under 16) and the Radial rig for Youth sailors (16 to 19 years). The UK Laser Association runs a very extensive event programme, so you can go and race a Laser with any of the rigs pretty much every week-end of the year, if that is your thing. The UKLA also organises regular open training and there is an RYA Squad system in place for all three rigs which could take you all the way through to the Olympics… If it takes your fancy, all three variants are raced internationally.
Laser 4.7 The Laser 4.7 has the smallest sail (4.7 square metres, believe it or not !) with a short bottom mast section. It is suitable for lightweight sailors from around 13 years old, depending on weight (50 -65 Kgs) and height as much as anything.
Laser Radial The Laser Radial has a 5.7 sq m sail and a bottom mast section that is longer than the 4.7 but smaller than the Standard rig’s. It is suited to sailors in the 60 to 75 Kg range and as well as being an RYA Pathway class it is the Women’s Olympic single hander.
Contact Chris Brown This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
As a RYA British Youth Sailing Recognised Club FPSC offers :
Youngsters normally learn to sail in Optimists and Toppers through the Club’s RYA Training Centre; or for those with disabilities which preclude this then specially adapted Hansas with the Sailability Youth Group. Once they have achieved RYA Stage 2 or demonstrated equivalent ability they can progress into the Club’s Junior & Youth race coaching programme where they have a choice of :
These RYA Recognised Pathway Classes all provide competition from club to International Championship level, and FPSC has hire boats available for young sailors to try out and get started in.
For Youth sailors who prefer double-handed sailing the Club also offers opportunities to train and race in RS200s (asymmetric spinnaker) and Larks (symmetric spinnaker). Both classes provide top-quality racing (and fun!) at Frensham and nationally.
FPSC’s young sailors have a fantastic record of gaining selection to RYA National Squads and of achievement at RYA, National and International Championships. Many develop into top-level adult sailors – just like those pictured below – and, even better, still sail at Frensham and help to coach the Club’s current youngsters !
With heading at 100 Junior and Youth Sailors participating in coaching groups on a Saturday the Club hums – do come and join in !
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'Best place to learn about what the wind does' |
'Couldn't be better for youngsters to start racing' |
