Youth Race Team

The GSC Youth Race Team provides youth sailors opportunities to get an introduction to sailboat racing.

Why is racing important?

Racing empowers youth to engage in an active lifestyle while simultaneously building confidence and developing resilience. Racing facilitates the advancement of sailing skills and provides a safe and supportive environment for sailors to achieve their personal sailing goals. Although racing can be competitive, youth will build camaraderie and develop friendships with other team members who share in the racing experience.

General Information

The Youth Race Team provides youth with previous sailing experience the opportunity to transition into racing. Sailors will work to perform in a variety of conditions and situations, and theoretical aspects including racing tactics and strategies will be introduced and refined. Youth team members will receive the coaching, equipment, and logistical support needed to achieve success in competitive dinghy sailing.

GSC offers a significant discount off of the first year registration fees for sailors joining the Youth Team.

Youth Race Team Registration

(member's area - login required)

Team capacities are dependent on available boats and COVID-19 restrictions. Teams are currently capped at 10 sailors each. Team sizes may increase as more boats are acquired and COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Opti Race Team (ages 5-14) Recommended minimum CANSail 1

Members of the Opti Race Team train on the Optimist dinghy, a competitive fleet that maintains a considerable presence in both the national and international sailing communities. The Opti Race Team program develops fundamental racing skills and introduces a wide range of racing tactics and strategies.

Opti Race Team training will consist of Wednesday Night Racing and Thursday evening training that will run from 6:00pm-9:00pm, in addition to various full-day training camps, weekends, and regattas (pending COVID restrictions).

Laser Race Teams (ages 14-18) Recommended minimum CANSail 2

Members of the Laser Race Teams train on a variety of boats including the Laser, Byte, C420, and 29er. The Laser Race Team program aims to refine racing skills for use in  high-performance competition. The Laser Race Teams are divided into two groups: 4.7 and Radial.

The 4.7 group consists of sailors who predominantly train on a 4.7 rigged Laser or a Byte; the Radial group consists of sailors who predominantly train on a Radial rigged Laser.

The 4.7 group will train on Monday evenings; the Radial group will train on Tuesday evenings. Both groups will attend Wednesday Night Racing, alternating weekly between racing and dry-land training. The Laser Race Teams will also participate in various full-day training camps, weekends, and regattas (pending COVID restrictions).

If you are unsure of which sailboat your child should train on, our Boat Classification Chart contains more details about each fleet. It is highly recommended that sailors new to the Laser class begin on the 4.7 even if they meet the weight requirements for Radial.

Weekly Training

Weekly training runs in the evenings from 6-9pm throughout the season. Additional youth training varies each year.

• Opti Race Team - Wednesday and Thursday evenings
• Laser Race Team (4.7) - Monday and Wednesday evenings
• Laser Race Team (Radial) - Tuesday and Wednesday evenings

Regattas and Training Camps

The Youth Race Team participates in a number of events throughout the season. These training opportunities support ongoing sailor development and solidify racing skills.

2021 Regattas and Training Camps may include:

• ASA Training Camp #1 - TBD
• ASA Training Camp #2 - TBD
• ASA Training Camp #3 - TBD
• Ice Breaker Regatta; Chestermere, AB - TBD
• Founders Regatta; Wabamun, AB - TBD
• WAVES Regatta; Vancouver, BC - June 19-20
• Prairie Wind Regatta; Newell, AB - July 10-11
• Sail Week Training; Wabamun, AB - TBD
• Sail Week Regatta; Wabamun, AB - TBD
• Mid-Summer Regatta; Calgary, AB - TBD
• CORK Sail Canada Youth Championships; Kingston, ON - August 9-12
• Alberta Provincials; AB - TBD
• Pumpkin Bowl; Vancouver, BC - October 16-17

Due to COVID-19, many regattas and training camps are tentative for this season. Training and racing opportunities (in and out of province) may be added or removed from this schedule as the season progresses.

If you have any questions regarding whether or not your child has enough experience to join the Youth Race Team, please contact the Head Sailing Instructor or Youth Coordinator. If your child does not meet the requirements, we will be happy to accept them into many of our other programs for some instruction prior to joining the team.

For a more comprehensive overview of the GSC Youth Race Team program, our Youth Race Team Package provides more details.

Youth Coordinator: Paula Patterson

Head Sailing Instructor: Kaitlyn Buchart