Beginner Optimist Sailing Course

Beginner Optimist Sailing Course for children between 8 and 14 years of age and weight between 25 and 55 kilograms will be offered in English at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) in Pattaya during most school holidays. Click here to find out when the next course will be taking place. Khun Nattawut (Oat) will be the Sailing Instructor with Khun Visanu (Khun Jimmy) as Assistant Sailing Instructor. The course will also be supported by a team of experienced Boat Boys and Rescue Facilities.

During the course, the children will learn basics about sailing, such as safety on the water, how to rig the boat, terminology of boat parts, basic knots, capsizing, steering, wind direction, current, how to set the sail to the wind direction, tacking, jibbing and how to stop the boat. At the end of the course, all children should be confident enough to sail a course on the water and return to the beach safely.

General information:

This course is meant for new sailors, so participants do not need to have any sailing experience. It is also meant for children who have done the course before and want to refresh their knowledge and skills.  All parents are invited to attend the opening session and briefing on the first Monday of the course at 9.00am at the RVYC Junior Club House. Then there will be an opportunity to ask any questions or discuss any concerns you might have. After the briefing, the children will be assessed on maturity, English, swimming and their child’s determination to learn how to sail. The course includes five full days, starting at 9.00am and finishing at 16:00pm. Students who have attended all sessions and passed the written and practical examinations will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to those that did not pass the tests.

If you are interested in your child’s participation in the course, please return the form below as soon as possible. Due to the number of available boats, the course is limited to 15 students. In order to financially run the course, a minimum of eight students is required.

The course fee is 6,620 baht for members or 10,650 baht for non-members (if you decide to become a member within three months after the course, the 6,620 will apply retroactively), payable on the Monday the course starts. This fee includes Optimist boat rental, sailing instruction, support of boat boys, safety/rescue facilities, and course materials. The fee may be paid in cash, by credit card or by cheque payable to “Royal Varuna Yacht Club.” Once you have entered the course, no refunds can be given.

Conditions for Entry:

1.        Students need not to be RVYC members’ children. However, seating priority will be given to children of RVYC members. All students shall be approved by the Club General Manager. Students are subjected to conditions laid down by the General Committee.

2.        All students must be under the supervision of an adult during sessions at the RVYC, and they will be responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, meals and etc.

3.        For safety reasons the Sailing Instructor reserves the right to exclude those children from the course who have not passed the assessment or who are not mature/responsible enough to handle a boat.

4.        The Club allows a student to provide his or her own Optimist Boat. In such a case, a 1,250 baht sum will be deducted from the course fee. However, the boat must be fully rigged and meet safety and class requirements. Boats with inadequate equipment will not be accepted.

5.        Each student must be able to confidently swim 100 metres in open water (the ocean) with a life jacket on.

6.         Participants should provide their own well-fitting life jacket. A life jacket that is too big could cause danger.

7.        Participants using RVYC Optimist Boats will be responsible for care of the boat, which means taking down the sail whenever the boat is on shore, not dragging the boat on the beach and washing the boat after use. Parents are requested to supervise their children to do so.

8.        Damage caused by ramming into another boat, if intentional, could cause the student to be removed from the class. Any necessary repairs due to collisions will be for the account of the parents. Damages due to normal wear and tear will be the responsibility of the Club.

Course Schedule:

The content of lessons at RVYC is somewhat dependent on wind and sea conditions, and consequently the schedule is open for interpretation only by the Lead Sailing Instructor.

The course schedule in principle during the week will be as follows:

Daily:                09.00 – 09.30 Morning Briefing

                        09.30 – 12.00 On Water or Classroom Session

                        12.00 – 13.00 Lunch Break

                        13.00 – 15.00 On Water or Classroom Session

                        15.00 – 15.20 Mid-afternoon Break

                        15.20 – 16.30 On Water or Classroom Session

                        16.30 - 16.45 Cleaning and Caring for Boat

                        16.45 – 17.00 Day Debriefing

The course will cover the following subjects:

Contact person:

If you have any questions about the course or want to sign up, please contact Khun Nattawuth Vongrak (Oat) the Sailing Coach at email: sailcoach@varuna.org and cc office@varuna.org.

Other useful information:

·          RVYC has basic accommodation available for parents and participants on the club premises. For reservations you can call the office at 038-250-116 or 038-250-115 or email office@varuna.org. Please refer to Optimist Beginner Sailing Course. Non-members are allowed to rent the club rooms during the course upon availability and on a first come, first served  basis.

·          There is a small chandlery within RVYC where you can purchase sailing shoes, gloves and life jackets (not always in stock). It only opens during the weekend. There are also sporting goods stores in the area that sell life jackets. It is best to purchase them the weekend before, to make sure you have one when the course starts. Make sure it is not too big!

·          To non-member participants: Because Royal Varuna Yacht Club is a membership club, there are rules imposed to protect members’ rights and peacefulness around the Club premise. Any student may be expelled for failure to observe RVYC House Rules. Some of the more important rules are listed on page 6. Please note that pets are not allowed on the premises.

Application Form:

Applications are subject to approval by the RVYC General Manager, who will contact students whose applications are not approved prior to the start of the course.

Please fill out the below Application Form and email, fax or deliver it to the Office of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, attention Khun Nattawuth, as soon as possible.

Address:           Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC)

                        286 Phratamnak Road,

South Pattaya, Chonburi,

Thailand 20150

Tel: 038-250-116         Fax: 038-250-367        email: sailcoach@varuna.org

(For more information and a map on how to get there, please refer to the RVYC website: www.varuna.org)

Wishing you lots of happy sailing,

Best regards,

Malee Whitcraft

Junior Sailing Secretary

Notice to Parents

Responsibilities of Parents or Sponsors:

1.      Ensure your student has a seaworthy boat. It is not fair to your student or the instructor to provide a non-seaworthy boat. Please check the following points, among others:

§         Sufficient, watertight buoyancies

§         No water in the hull, and bung-plug is present and tightened

§         Adequate rudder fittings

§         Shock cord for the dagger board

§         Proper lines and pulleys

§         Painter and bailer

§         Life jacket

§         Adequate sail

§         Telltales or wind direction indicator

2.      Ensure all equipment is marked to either indicate the boat’s number or boat owner’s name. Assist in checking the inventory of all equipment before and after each course session. If anything is missing or broken, report it to the lead sailing instructor right away.

3.      Encourage your child to take responsibility for his/her boat and equipment. After using a boat, make sure the hull, lines and blocks are washed. The sail must be washed, dried and properly stored. Remove all lines, blocks and bailer, and then store all equipment in a secure place.

4.      Give assistance in departure and arrival for your child and other students on and off the beach, especially in heavy seas.

5.      Provide sun protection as necessary (e.g. hat, sun lotion, long-sleeved shirt, etc.).

6.      Try to prevent dehydration by encouraging students to drink liquids frequently (preferably water or electrolytes). Every child should have two water bottles in the boat each day.

7.      Each student must have his or her own sailing shoes or beach shoes to prevent injury from sharp rocks in shallow area.

Ways for Parents to Assist During the Sailing Course:

There are a number of ways to assist the instructor(s) ashore and at sea (e.g. assisting in launching and beaching of boats, laying marks for courses, repair of breakdowns, knot-tying exercises, etc.).

Weather conditions may not be good enough to go out on the water all the time. When that is the case, we would be grateful if parents could help by arranging an alternative program, e.g., assist in doing games together, bring some games, maybe read a book together or even organize a treasure hunt. All this is aimed for the children to have fun together.

To Parents who are not Members of the RVYC:

The RVYC has agreed that students in the course need not be RVYC members’ children, subject to the following conditions:

If the course is over-subscribed, priority will be given to children of RVYC members. Parents who are not RVYC member, and siblings who are not students in the course are registered guests of the RVYC during the course sessions. Other relatives may not visit the Club unless they are registered guests of an RVYC member. All students must observe the same rules as RVYC children.

Application forms for membership in the club are available from the cashier.

RVYC House Rules.

Any student and parent is requested to observe the current House Rules. Some of the  important rules are:

1. Members of the Club should not be disturbed by your presence.

a.       No rough play or running in the area of the Clubhouse, Restrooms and Swimming Pool.

b.      Noise level must be kept at a minimum while in the area of the Clubhouse.

      c.       The area surrounding the Main Bar is for adults. Children can stay in the other part of the Clubhouse. If accompanied by parents and on          their best behaviour they may sit at the Bar area.

      d.      No food or drinks at the Swimming Pool.
e.       Do not play or sit on any of the members’  boats.
f.        Do not use the Swimming Pool unless under adult supervision as there is no lifeguard.
g.       Personal flotation must be worn at all times when at sea.
h.       No smoking or use of illegal substances while on the Club premises.

SAFETY AT THE RVYC

Often not at the front of our mind, safety at the Club, particularly in the sailing operations, is a matter that concerns us all. This therefore outlines the different aspects of safety measures at the RVYC so that we all can enjoy the Club unharmed.

It must be stressed that safety is not the responsibility of the Club as such, but of the individual members, their families and their guests. By necessity, being a members' club relying on volunteers for much of its Management, the Club must disclaim any legal responsibility for the safety of sailors, guests and visitors and their boats. It must also be emphasised that the primary focus of all efforts will be on life rescue, and that this will take precedence over rescue of any boats and gear.

1.       Bangkok Pattaya Hospital (BPH)   Tel: 038-427-751 to 5

            Located 200 metres north (towards Bangkok) of the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and North Pattaya Road.

How to get there

·          take Sukhumvit Road heading toward Bangkok

·          stay in the left lane after you have passed the intersection of North Pattaya Road

·          you should see the hospital sign coming up about 200 metres ahead

·          turn left into the hospital. The Emergency Room entrance is on the left side of the building

Mailing address: 301 Moo 6, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20260

Website: www.pattayahospital.com

2.            First aid for Jellyfish Stings, Snake Bites, and Scorpion Stings:  Jellyfish sting incidents occur several times each year. Both snakes and scorpions have been observed occasionally at the Club. Inform your children to stay away from them if they spot one. Should, however, an incident occur, there is helpful information below. In most cases, it is important to give the victim the proper quick treatment, calm down/ immobilize the victim and proceed speedily to the nearest competent treatment facility.

3.             Dangers to be aware of:

1. The most poisonous snake found in the area is the Pit Viper. Take the victim and the snake to the nearest hospital.

2.  There are some stinging bees or scorpions in the grass, so wearing shoes is recommended.

3. Cuts from coral and rocks should be cleaned thoroughly in order to prevent infection.

4. During certain times of the seasons there are jellyfish in the water. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants is recommended if jellyfish are spotted. If stung by a jellyfish, immediately report to the coach/boat boy, who is trained to:

a.  Scrape or shave the hit area in order to remove poison.

b.  Flush it with Pak Boon Talay and vinegar and

c.   soak the hit body part in baking soda.

d.  take anti-histamine tablet if it starts swelling

1.         Proper personal equipment:

(a)        Adequate Buoyancy Aid / Personal Flotation Device (PFD):  It is mandatory to wear proper flotation aids according to your weight. The jacket should fit snugly and not be too big.

(b)        Rubber shoes:  Recommended for avoiding cuts caused by rocks.

(c)        Protection against the sun:  It is highly recommended that you either cover your body with appropriate clothing and/or use sun protection cream.

(d)        Protection from dehydration:  It is advisable, particularly when sailing for longer periods to take drinking water  or an electrolyte drink with you. Smaller children in particular can dehydrate quickly.

(e)        Mobile telephone:  When sailing beyond the Club’s direct visual range, please take a fully charged mobile telephone with you with the following numbers pre-saved on it:

·          RVYC Rescue Mobile                       084-781-1413

·          RVYC Office                                     038-250-116

·          RVYC Club Manager’s Mobile          081-648-2754

(f)         Longer sailing trips/going cruising: Take a whistle, torch and flares with you as well as a GPS, if available.

2.         Check that your boat is in seaworthy condition, Optimists that should include:

            (a)   Mast-thwart (small rope around the mast) is fastened, to prevent mast coming out and breaking the deck when capsized and turtled
            (b) Painter  ( rope to tow the boat) attached and untangled.
            (c) Bailers to empty the boat after capsize.
            (d) Buoyancy bags properly secured and inflated and inspection/drainage holes in tanks properly closed.

 3.        Consider your skills as well as weather and tide conditions:

(a)        Your fitness:  Only go out sailing if you feel confident that you and the boat are in a condition to handle the weather and sea conditions of the day.

(b)        Weather:  Remember that in a tropical country the weather pattern may change rapidly particularly during the monsoon months. In the event of a heavy storm front approaching you should quickly head towards shore.

(c)        Current:  Check the direction and strength of the current and when it will change. The tide conditions in the area around the Club can be very strong at times.

(d)        Wind strength >15 knots:  If the wind is stronger than 15 knots, it is recommended you not sail outside the visual range of the Club. If you are not an experienced sailor, you should not sail at all in these conditions.

4.         If you intend to sail outside visual range of the Club or go cruising, take the following added precautions:

(a)        Sign out on the cruising board and take a mobile phone. Indicate the area and direction you intend to sail to as well as your expected time of return and your mobile phone number. Please do not sail outside your recorded area or direction.

(b)        As an additional precaution inform the Manager, the Officer of the Day (OOD) and/or somebody else of your plans.

(c)        Return before the time stated by you on the cruising board and one hour before sunset. If you know that you will be returning late then you should call in to inform the Club and give your position and wind condition.

5.         Return to the Club one hour before sunset, giving sufficient time for eventual search and rescue activities before it gets dark.

1.                  Rescue Motorboats:  The Club has a number of motorboats which are for the purpose of rescue service (and other duties such as tendering the buoys and support of sailing instruction).  These boats are to be driven only by authorised persons.  The Sailing Secretary will determine who such authorised persons are. The use of the boats can be authorized solely by the Sailing Secretary, Club Manager or in the case of a rescue operation by the Rescue Coordinator (RC) or another Committee member present. The Club Manager will ensure adequate training and practical trials so that these authorized persons are reasonably capable in rescuing boats (including towing as well as the rescue of persons in the water). No motorboats other than the Club’s motorboats are allowed on the Club’s premises. Possible temporary exceptions require prior authorisation by the Sailing Secretary.

One motorboat will be on the water for rescue during the course.

2.             Stay with your boat:  If you get into trouble and/or capsize, stay with the boat,  it is more visible and buoyant than you are. Waving both arms will signal the rescue boat to come.

3.                Do not endanger lives in order to save the boat and/or its gear. Do stop your race if other sailors have problems and provide assistance.