RTP High School Sailing Team
About Us
The RTP High School Sailing Team includes sailors from many high schools and homeschools in the Triangle area. All high-schoolers are welcome, whether completely new to sailing or experienced at sailboat racing. It’s all about learning to sail while having fun on and off the water!
To register, fill out registration and waiver below.
Want to see what it’s like before signing up? Please join us for a couple of practices. Just fill out the waiver below and contact us at the bottom of the page.
Practices
During the spring and fall seasons we hold practice Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Lake Crabtree boat ramp and Wednesdays at Crosswinds Boating Center on Jordan Lake. Sailors are welcome to attend as many or as few practices as they wish. We sail 420’s, which are small, simple, two-person boats. We always have at least two coaches on the water in small power boats.
Regattas
The more experienced sailors have the opportunity to travel to regattas and race against other high school teams. Participating in regattas is completely optional, but we highly recommend them because they are lots of fun! Usually, we attend regattas organized by SAISA or SAYRA in various locations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Our team typically camps at the yacht club or nearby campgrounds during regattas, but some team members prefer to stay in a hotel instead. The racing usually lasts all day on Saturday or both Saturday and Sunday. It’s a fun weekend of racing and enjoying each other’s company!
Sailing Gear
Required
- Coast Guard Approved Type III Personal Floatation Device (PFD) aka a vest style life jacket
- Proper clothing for weather conditions (swimsuits, non-cotton clothing), foul weather gear as needed
- Neoprene booties or closed-toed water shoes (not crocs)
- Water bottle
Optional
- Sunscreen
- Towel/Change of clothes
- Sailing Gloves
- Sunglasses (Polarized and UV protection preferred)
- Wetsuits required for winter sailing – December through March
About Our Boats
RTP High School Sailing currently has 17 practice/racing boats. These Vanguard 420’s are two person, 14 foot boats that are used in high school and collegiate racing. Two were the result of a donation from the Nicholson family to the Carolina Sailing Foundation. These boats are named the “Adamant” and “Phenomenon”. Another boat, donated by the Manis family, joined the fleet in 2010. “Resurrection” was donated in memory of team member (2004-2008), Lilian Manis, who also designed our logo. The Carolina Sailing Foundation has purchased subsequent boats to meet the growing demand of our team.
Practice Locations
Jordan Lake
Address:
Crosswinds Boat Ramp
565 Farrington Road
Apex, NC 27523
Lake Crabtree
Address:
Lake Crabtree Boat Ramp
1400 Aviation Pkwy
Morrisville, NC 27560
Drive through the park, past the boat rental, follow the road that splits around to the right.
Once you reach the boat ramp, turn left up the hill into the parking lot.
RTP High School Sailing Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, no experience is necessary. You’ll learn how to operate a 420 sailboat (two person boat), the rules for competing, and tips for racing.
No, the local non-profit, Carolina Sailing Foundation (CSF) owns the boats and volunteers coach.
Safety first! As a prerequisite for joining the team, you must know how to swim. At all times on the water, you will be under the supervision of a coach in a power boat. Sailors must wear a Coast Guard Approved Type III personal flotation device (PFD) on the docks and on boats. And it’s a good idea to bring a water bottle and wear sunscreen.
We compete locally at Lake Crabtree or Jordan Lake and travel to regattas held in such places as Lake Norman, Charleston, Beaufort, SC and Brunswick, GA.
RTP High School Sailing Program members practice as a large combined group with 8-12th graders from a variety of high schools, but we compete on behalf of our individual schools. Four students make a complete team, but if there are fewer than 4 sailors from your school you’ll sail as part of a composite team. Homeschoolers are welcome, too!
Sailing in regattas is optional. Sailors attend regattas when they ready for higher level competition as skipper or
crew and have regular participation in clean up/boat repair/moving days. Talk with a coach when you are interested in attending regattas. Coaches will form teams.
Time commitment varies according to interest and schedule of the sailor. Highly interested sailors will attend practice 3 days per week, weekend regattas (up to 5 per season) and be active on weekend boat repair days. Other sailors may come to fewer practices and fewer or no regattas. There is a requirement for participation in at least a minimal number of clean up days and boat repair days, which occur on weekends.
The fee is $300 for the fall and spring season. Plus, you’ll need to cover your costs for traveling to regattas (hotels, gas, meals, etc.) Regattas are optional. If you do attend regattas, you choose which regattas to attend. Sailors and parents often camp at the regatta. We keep costs low, with volunteer support. We let new sailors try out the team for a practice or two before asking them to pay.
You will need a Type III Coast Guard approved life jacket, preferably one designed for sailing, a water bottle, and you will need close-toed shoes (not crocs) that can get wet. As the weather gets cooler, you may want a shortie wetsuit or a warm, waterproof, close-fitting jacket. For extra warmth you may want to wear neoprene boots and a wool cap. We can provide some advice on what to buy.
Because we are a volunteer-led and volunteer-run organization, parents are expected to help out in a variety of ways – everything from driving to regattas, moving boats, organizing our regattas – keeping our costs low and building community for the team!
