CHEW VALLEY YOUTH SAILING – CHEW CREW
CVLSC has a strong commitment to youth sailing, not least because over one third of our members are under 19 and we have an excellent track record of success at both national and international youth sailing events.
Our youth sailing programme is for children from 8 -18 (in full time education) and all sailing abilities. Children use club boats to start before progressing to their own boats. We offer a variety of activities from fun and games on the water for novice sailors to race coaching for those aiming for the RYA Zone Squad.
Every Sunday from April to October (with the exception of August) there is junior sailing at CVLSC.
‘Chew Crew’ is the name of our Sunday morning Junior sessions run by volunteers and parents - it not an RYA course. However, we do broadly follow the RYA curriculum and use qualified instructors to get children understanding basic sailing theory and boat handling. Once they are competent children go on to join our Challenge group and begin racing in the club's Sunday races and from there it's up to them how far they go. The next step within the club is our Youth Racing Squad, again on Sunday mornings who sail all year round - both home and away.
For parents and sailors alike the club is a sociable, involving, fun and safe place to spend time with like minded families enjoying the sport we love!
RYA Volvo Champion Club (VCC)
CVLSC is a 'RYA Volvo Champion Club' and receives considerable support in the form of training and coaching that is available to both sailors and parents. Even if you have no experience we can help you achieve qualifications in Race Coaching, Dinghy Instructor, Power Boat and First Aid. If you would like to be involved then please look at the RYA Training page.
Club Boats
CVLSC has a number of Optibats, Teras, Toppers and Fevas that can be used by Juniors outside of club training sessions. A small charge is made for some of these boats. All bookings can be made via the Officer of the Day.
Safety
Safety is of paramount importance to the volunteers who run the activities. However,PARTICIPANTS(and their parents) are entirely responsible for their own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing reduces this responsibility. It is forPARTICIPANTS/their parents to decide whether both they and /their boat are fit to sail in the conditions on the day. Parents should be in attendance at the club during events.
All participants are to wear a buoyancy aid of an appropriate standard at all times when afloat. In addition all participants are to wear a wetsuit or dry-suit, whenever to “W” code flag is flying on the Club mast.
Coaches use RIBs and other boats to enable them to provide instruction on the water. They have VHF radios to stay in touch with the Duty Club Rescue officer who has overall rescue responsibility.
Coaches using RIBs are all Power Boat 2 qualified and so will also provide rescue cover. ‘Junior Sailors’ coaches are also generally Dinghy Instructor qualified. Both these qualifications include basic First Aid.
You should ensure the Coach is aware of any relevant medical conditions before each event.
CHEW CREW
For all sailors from the age of 8 – 18 (in full time education).
Junior Sundays run from 10.00 – 13:00 and sailors are split into three groups.
You do need to register in advance as we need parental consent and medical forms before children are allowed on the water. The is a one-off fee of £45 which covers all Junior Sundays. You can join at any time during the year and if we are oversubscribed, we operate a waiting list.
Supervision – Parents of younger sailorswill need to be onsite for the entire session in case your child comes off the water early and needs help. This applies to all children under 16. Written in loco parentis instructions must be left if a child is left with another parent.
Beginners
Gain skills, experience and have fun on the water. Basic to intermediate sail training but also fun and games on the water. You don’t need to commit to the whole programme, and you can join in at any time. All abilities welcome from the age of 8 upwards. The main club boats used are the club Optibats and Teras. Sailors can also use their own boat – anything that floats provided it has sails and is seaworthy.
Intermediates
Learn to sail a triangular course and build on the basics. We use the club Teras and Toppers in this group. Sailors can also use their own boat – anything that floats provided it has sails and is seaworthy.
Junior Challenge
Dinghy racing starts here!
Our sessions combine race training, racing on a dedicated small course or if conditions are appropriate, joining the Sunday morning Club race. Our sailors are given help and advice from parent helpers or an instructor.
Juniors must be able to pass the ‘Chew Challenge’ to join this group which is the equivalent of RYA levels 3&4.
10 verbal questions on general sailing
Rig and de-rig a Topper or your own boat.
Competently sail a triangular course and convince one of our instructors!
Junior sailors in this group will need their own boat. Any boat! Toppers, Picos, Optimists, Fevas, Teras. We don’t mind as long as it has sails and is seaworthy.
Instructors
Our instructors are a wonderful group, thank you to all of them for giving up so many Sunday mornings to help our young sailors. Most of our instructors are also parents and if you would are interested in qualifying the club will be running a number of RYA courses – including the Assistant Dinghy Instructor course which is a one day course followed by 20 hours of experience working with a qualified Dinghy Instructor. Have a look at the RYA training pages on this website. We would also love to hear from anyone who has a sailing qualification (eg, Dinghy instructor, PBL2) and would be prepared to help as it may well be that you are qualified without doing a further course.
The courses run by the club are:
CVLSC Assistant Dinghy Instructor
RYA Dinghy Instructor
Power Boat level 2 (rescue helm)
RYA First Aid Course
PARENT HELPERS
Chew Crew is entirely run by volunteers and with over 120 children registered with Chew Crew WE NEED MORE HELP!
Parents are vital to our success and we know that most of you are really keen to help. Each week we send out a Doodle poll asking for volunteers to opt in for various duties. Please read the role descriptions for each duty, decide what you want to help with and put your name against that role on the doodle. It’s fairly straightforward. Please assume each family will have to do 3 duties per season, if you have more than one child sailing assume you will have to do more.
"Job" Descriptions
We have three groups of sailors and for each group we need 3 parent helpers:
Parent coach: Not RYA qualified but just a very competent and experienced sailor who can help coach the children. Shore and water based.
Rib /Dory support: We need one parent in each of our 3 ribs to support our instructors. Wet gear essential. Powerboat level 2 is a bonus but not necessary. Must be able to sail a boat back to shore if necessary.
Shore co-ordinator: to support one group and make sure all children are in the right place at the right time in the right clothing with a boat! Will get wet launching boats but will not go on the water - wellies are ideal.
Hand out and collect tally bands, oversee launching and returning of boats, clear trollies from launch area. Ensure children PUT THEIR BOATS AWAY!! No sailing experience necessary.
The Chew Crew season starts on Sunday 3 April 2016. Please complete print off the registration forms and send to:
CVLSC Chew Crew, 4 Duchess Road, Bristol. BS8
No forms = no sailing!
Dates for your diary:
As a member of Chew Crew you can sail at the club and enjoy free use of the club’s Oppies, Toppers and Fevas and also 3 of the 5 Teras every Sunday from April until the end of October, and on a number of Wednesday and Thursday evenings during the summer but please note that on busy Sundays we give priority to new sailors over those who have already had use of a club boat for a season
The Chew Crew Dates for the coming season are as follows:
CC1 3 April -fun day no instruction
CC2 10 April- fun day no instruction
CC3 17 April
CC4 24 April
CC5 1 May
CC6. 8 May
CC7 15 May
CC8 22 May
CC9. 29 May
CC10 5 June
CC11 12 June
CC12 19 June
CC13 26 June
CC14 3 July
CC15 10 July - Junior prize giving/Family regatta
Break for summer holidays
CC16 4 September
CC17 11 September
CC18 25 September
CC19 9 October
CC20 16 October
Preloved kit.
We will be holding regular second hand kit sales on a Sunday morning. Dates will be posted on the weekly Chew Crew emails.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of youth sailing then please get in touch. Claire Firmstone and Jackie Berridge can be contacted on – or come and find us from April to September every Sunday morning at the Club.