Optimist Dinghy Courses

Our Optimist Dinghy courses offer beginning sailing training through advanced racing skills. The LBSS program is designed to enable sailors to learn how to sail at an age appropriate level. Green Fleet Optimist students must have completed 1st grade. Students in Learn to Sail and Green Fleet classes do not need to own boats. Students in Red/White/Blue Optimist classes, who do not own an Optimist, may charter LBSS boats (to be stored at LBYC). Red/White/Blue Opti students who do not own an Optimist may also charter a boat to be stored at their home (hull, spars, and blades, sail, and damage deposit). Contact Jim Kutschenreuter (262) 642-2515 to make arrangements. Please note that a signed rental agreement must be on file with LBSS. These forms will be available at the Orientation Meeting. 

Life vests and whistles are also required for all participants. It is the participant's responsibility to provide his/her own life vest with whistle.

Green Fleet Optimist  

This class will teach basic sailing skills and introductory racing including knots, rigging and basic seamanship. Students learn how to complete a sailing course around marks including starts. Participants in this class may, with instructor permission, compete in LBYC coached races. It is anticipated that most members of this class will receive instructor permission to race during the month of July. Students should have either completed 2nd grade, or completed 1st grade and have successfully completed Learn to Sail, to enroll in this class. Green Fleet Optimist students may sail Optis owned by the LBSS and will not be assessed a rental fee, or they may bring their own Optimist. Classes will be held indoors in the event of inclement weather. For those interested in sailing on Friday nights, a Green Fleet series is hosted by the LBYC at 5:45 pm. In the event that LBSS Optimists have been in use for a Friday afternoon class, boats may be left rigged and available for use in the Friday evening races. Please confirm your needs with instructors in advance. Parents should be on-site at the LBYC for the Friday night races to assist their child in rigging, launching, landing, and de-rigging the boat.

Red/White/Blue Optimist  

This course is recommended for sailors who have both completed 2nd grade and completed “Green Fleet” Optimist class. Students in this class will learn beginning racing techniques and seamanship skills. Students will be instructed how to rig his/her boat and become a self-reliant sailor. Students also will learn rules, tactics, and proper sailing techniques. 

Classes generally meet at the LBYC for 3 hour sessions. Please refer to the calendar for class times and dates.  Red, White, and Blue Fleet coaching will also be available at specified regattas for Red/White/Blue Optimist students. See http://www.usoda.org for additional information regarding Optimist fleets, regatta fleet colors, etc.

Other Events for Optimist Sailors

The Lake Beulah Yacht Club (LBYC) sponsors three racing series for the Optimist sailor. A coached Friday early evening series for Green Fleet, a Weekend Championship Series (Red, White & Blue Fleet), and an uncoached weekend Optimist Green Fleet Series offer parents and students a variety of opportunities to participate. LBSS also offers the LBSS Optimist Regatta for Opti sailors of all levels. Other regional regattas are available and are listed on the LBSS calendar. Entry forms for these and other events are available through LBSS.

Optimist Racing

Green Fleet students are encouraged to participate in the Friday night Green Fleet Series. LBSS instructors/advanced students will be available for consultation around these races. Please note that no Red/White/Blue Opti racers will be on the water during the Green Fleet Series so it is a low-key place for intermediates to start racing. “Free” Opti rentals for use during these races are available for use on a first come, first served basis. Boats may already be rigged from the Friday afternoon classes, but sailors and their parents are required to put boats away at the end of the race. The LBSS Optimist Regatta, Kaszube Cup - Green, ILYA No Tears, GLSS Dinghyfest, Training Regatta at Cedar (TRAC), and Pram Power are some of the local regattas which Green Fleet sailors may attend. 

Red/White/Blue should not be racing on Friday nights, but instead are encouraged to race in the LBYC Weekend Championship Series races. As noted previously, Red/White/Blue sailors are also encouraged to compete in the following regattas: LBSS Opti, Junior Olympics, GLSS Dingheyfest, Kaszube, USODA Midwest Champs, ILYA Champs, and the USODA Nationals. 

To participate in LBYC sponsored races, children must be a member of the Lake Beulah Yacht Club. A membership in LBYC is necessary to cover insurance and trophy costs. A youth (Junior) membership to LBYC is available for children under 17 who participate in youth sailing activities. Contact Mike Greeson at email LBSSBoard@gmail.com for details.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES

All forms and payment for all sailing programs of the Lake Beulah Sailing School must be received by June 1. 

PLEASE PRINT AND MAIL all registration forms, along with course fees as soon as possible, so as to help with instructor planning.

All classes are offered at the Lake Beulah Yacht Club, N9220 East Shore Road, East Troy, Wisconsin, 262-642-4468

CONTACT INFORMATION

For additional information regarding the Lake Beulah Sailing School's programs, contact:

Kent Haeger       email khaege01@yahoo.com
Carrie Franzene  262-642-7647 or email carriefranzene@yahoo.com
Mike Greeson      email LBSSBoard@Gmail.com

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

The Lake Beulah Sailing School Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

NOTICE OF CONCUSSION LAW COMPLIANCE

There is a concussion regulation in Wisconsin. This regulation requires all organized athletic programs to provide concussion information to participants, parents, and coaches. Coaches and parents will have responsibilities to ensure removal from activity and evaluation for any potential concussions. Fact sheets for parents and athletes are on our website, and there is an agreement form that will be a required part of the registration process. We place the utmost priority on the safety of our sailors young and old and are happy to pass along this important information and comply with the new regulations!