If you’re interested in the next class in fall of 2013, please contact Mike Ferring.

Racing a sailboat is a kick. It combines the fun of sailing your boat with the raw competition of trying to beat someone else in a similar boat. Racing also teaches you boat handling and sail trim in a way that no amount of cruising could—by comparing your speed and handling side-by-side with other boats.

True, the first time you see a sailboat race, you may think it’s too complicated and chaotic (it can be both). But like anything else new, you can grow into it step-by-step. This class is designed to let you take a bunch of steps all at once.

Who should take the class: Anyone who would like to sharpen sailing skills or sink your teeth into the excitement of sailboat racing. Even if you’ve raced before, you’ll learn a lot of new things about rules, tactics and procedures. Even if you only intend to crew or simply want to understand the game, you’re welcome in this class.

Class description: As a graduate of this class, you’ll be qualified to drive or crew an adopted AYC club boat or your own dinghy or centerboard/keel boat in around-the-buoys lake racing. You’ll learn race procedures, rules, and tactics. You’ll compete in actual races. And you’ll receive up to $50 off the entry fee for your first AYC race series (within the first year of graduation).

Course Content Includes:

• Race Procedures: Race Documents, Entry, Check-in, Starts, Courses, Finish, Scoring, Race Committee Responsibilities, Protests
• Rules: Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016, including when boats meet, complying with race procedures, and avoiding incidents
• Tactics: Starts, Upwind Tactics, Downwind Tactics, Mark Roundings, Wind Shifts, and Finishes

Because of limited time, the class can not include sections on making your boat go faster or boat-handling, both of which are essential to winning races. But we can help.

Class meetings: Two classroom sessions followed immediately the same days by on-the-water sessions. The classroom sessions will be at a Tempe meeting room; the on-the-water sessions will be at Tempe Town Lake. Details will be sent to you in the week before the first session.

Prerequisites: You must be a certified US Sailing graduate of Start Sailing Right or have equivalent experience. You’ll need to enter the course with the basic skills to handle a Capri 14.2 in moderate wind.

Equipment: Normal sailing stuff (shorts, shirt, hat, closed-toed shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, water), including a PFD (though a simple orange one can be provided) and a watch that shows seconds. Directions: Getting to Tempe Town Lake

Tuition: $195 (which includes a $50 discount coupon for AYC race series entry)

Instructors: Mike and Maryellen Ferring, both US Sailing Small Boat Instructors, originated the course and have taught it for about seven years. Mike is also a certified powerboat instructor and has been a US Sailing-certified club race officer. They race a C14 at Tempe Town Lake and a J/80 at Lake Pleasant. They’ve won the Sport Boat fleet championship and before that won four out of the previous five PHRF Non-Spin season championships and a C14 fleet championship). In addition, the classes have always had on-the-water instruction from the reigning AYC Club Champion. This year our champion is Santana 20 and C14 racer Martin Lorch.

Contact Instructor Mike Ferring by email