High School Sailing Team (Grades 7–12)

Time: 3:30 PM–6:30 PM
Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Schedule: September 2–November 7, 2025

The Role of The WaterFront Center  

The WaterFront Center (WFC) aims to advance the scope and access to sailing through means of a low cost, vibrant and inclusive High School Sailing Program (HSS). WFC, docks, beach, ramp, and floats at Oyster Bay’s Western Waterfront, Beekman Beach and West Harbor, combined with great coaches provide the perfect venue. HSS at the WFC is open to students of all sailing abilities in grades 7 through 12.  We invite individuals and teams to practice, form teams and compete in local (NYISA-SE), regional (MASSA) and Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) regattas. The WFC provides coaches, C420 sailboats, coach and safety boats, shore-side facilities, team training and support, regatta support and comprehensive insurance covering equipment, facilities, participants and programs.  

HSS Participation Eligibility Requirements 

HSS is open to students of all sailing abilities in grades 7 through 12. Sailing is both a physical and mental sport. All HSS participants must be in good physical health, mentally and emotionally competent, and capable of meeting the demands of the HSS program.

Each participant must complete all components of online registration, including a completed HSS Registration Form, Code of Conduct and Liability Waiver, and Medical & Emergency Form for each season. Payment is due prior to participation. HSS participants must abide by the HSS Code of Conduct: communication of practice and regatta participation schedule; coming prepared for practice in all weather conditions (see Gear List); maintaining a safe environment by not putting self or others at risk.  

Cost  

Individuals: The registration fee for the HSS Program at WFC is $875 for unlimited weekday practices for the season. Registration fees include use of WFC boats and facilities, coaching at practice, safety boats, regatta logistics and team support. Teams that decide to join the ISSA must pay dues as described below. Participation in regattas incurs additional fees.  

Teams: Teams and/or individuals will be required to pay additional regatta expenses.  

School: There is no cost directly to the school to participate in HSS at the WFC, unless a school decides to cover the registration fees or gear costs for its students.  Teams that decide to join the ISSA must pay dues as described below.  

PRACTICE:  

Practice Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 3:30-6:30pm.  

Individuals and teams may choose to meet as often and as regularly as they choose. Sailors interested in attending regattas are encouraged to attend practice at least 3 times a week.

Practice sessions are led by WFC coaches and consist of both on-shore and on-the-water components. The majority of each practice session is held on the water in the WFC sailing area (West Harbor, Oyster Bay), with sailors practicing in double-handed 420s and coaches alongside in safety boats. On-shore activities include fitness training and interactive classroom sessions that cover racing rules, strategy and tactics.

FLEET:  

The 420 is the most predominantly used boat for high school and college sailing. WFC maintains a fleet of eighteen C420s for the HSS program.  

 

  • Crew: Two people (skipper and crew)  

  • Specs:  13’9” sloop, rigged with jib and main (No spinnakers in scholastic racing.)  

  • Ideal combined crew weight: 220-300 lbs  

  • Skill range: Beginner to advanced        

  • Race level: Club to national  

WFC provides sailboats, all sailing equipment, coach and safety boats, coaching equipment and participant lifejackets.  Participants are required to provide their own personal sailing gear, as listed below.  

Fall Season Sailing Gear:  

Required:  

  • Lifejacket (or borrow ours)  

  •  Whistle attached to lifejacket  

  •  Waterproof watch with countdown timer  

  •  Non-cotton layers for top and bottom, such as nylon and fleece  

  •  Closed-toe, captive-heel shoes with non-marking soles that can get wet, or dinghy boots  

  • Raingear, windbreaker or similar (sailing specific spray top and spray pants recommended – see below)  

  •  Reusable water bottle (single use bottles are NOT permitted)  

  • Bailer (gallon size plastic bottle, such as an empty Arizona ice tea container or detergent bottle.)  

  •  Change of clothes, shoes and towel to dry off/warm up after practice  

EQUIPMENT:  

Recommended:  

  •     Spray top and spray pants (sailing specific wind/waterproof layers)  

  •     Dinghy boots  

  •     Fleece, wool, neoprene, or waterproof socks  

  •     Sailing gloves  

  •     Hat/sunglasses/sunblock  

  •     Fleece or wool hat for colder weather  

Where to buy Gear:

Gill Marine - Online

Dinghy Shop - Amityville

The Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA), founded in 1930 and managed by a Board of Directors, is the governing body of scholastic sailing for independent and public secondary schools on the national level.  The ISSA is divided into seven districts throughout the country.  The Mid-Atlantic Scholastic Sailing Association (MASSA) includes schools in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.  MASSA is further divided into five leagues; the New York State Interscholastic Sailing Association – Southeast (NYISA-SE) includes schools on Long Island and southeast New York.  In 2010, there were 56 registered school teams in MASSA and 18 teams in NYISA-SE.  

Registering your Team: To participate in MASSA and ISSA events, teams must be registered with the ISSA.  Registering a team is EASY!  It only takes four students and $125 to form an official team!  

Registration requirements:  

1.   Each team must have a designated “team adult” - a WFC coach, school advisor, or elected parent.  

2.   Team Adult completes team registration and dues payment online below.

Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA)  

REGATTAS: 

Participation: Individuals and teams are encouraged to compete in regattas (sailboat races).  All HSS sailors are invited and encouraged to compete in WFC in-house regattas, and competent sailors may be eligible to compete in league (NYISA-SE), district (MASSA) and national (ISSA) regattas. Regatta participation is at the discretion of the Sailing Director. 

 

Scheduling: The NYISA-SE League, MASSA District and ISSA offer a comprehensive regatta schedule. Some regattas are open invitational, some require registered team status, and some are qualifying events. The experience level and status of the team determines which regattas a sailor and/or team are eligible for. 

 

Regatta Logistics: Local, regional and national regattas are hosted by sailing facilities including high school teams, college teams and sailing centers.  The host provides the boats and sailing equipment. Sailors and families or schools are responsible for transportation to regattas. 

Why start a High School Sailing Team? 

Sailing attracts both recreational and competitive participants of all ages and abilities fostering skill development, problem solving, confidence and character building.  On the high school level, sailing provides a co-ed opportunity that supports both the individual athlete as well as the team experience. High School Sailing provides a bridge for youth sailors to local, regional and national racing, and college sailing while promoting the love of a life-long sport. 

 

Forming a High School Team 

Schools can determine their level of involvement with their High School Sailing Team.  They can support a team at the varsity level, club level or allow the program to be completely student run.  Because WFC provides all logistics, the school can be completely hands off with no liability or commitment to the program. The guidelines and requirements for school and faculty involvement vary by school district; check with your Athletic Director. However, it is possible to form a team without school district backing and many local schools have been successful in forming teams this way. 

Register Today!