Week 4 Junior Summer Program
We have officially reached the halfway point of our Junior Summer Program!
Bay Buccaneers: (Grade 1 & 2): During this week, the Bay Bucs learned about horseshoe crabs and how to set up a freshwater tank. They began to understand the shapes of life by studying the animals they caught in their dredging adventure on the CHRISTEEN.
Sound Swash (Grades 3 & 4): Learned all about the shapes of life this week. They discovered how animals adapt to different environments. They sniggled/seined to get inspiration to craft fish and nudibranchs.
First Mates (Grade 5 & 6): Spent time building remote-operated vehicles using pvc pipes and floats. After building them, they drove them around the water by the dock and caught plastic rings.
Skippers (Grades 7 - 10): Skippers worked with the First Mates and learned about snakes, eels, and using a crab trap. To end the week, they practiced their fishing skills and snorkeling to explore the habitats within Oyster Bay.
Opti Beginner (Ages 8 - 12): This week, sailors began to get comfortable using the tiller and learned the purpose of the lines on their boats. Later in the week, sailors enjoyed a sail around the west harbor playing “tack on the whistle” and “sail tag,” cementing their sail-trimming skills upwind, downwind, and beam reach.
Opti Intro (Ages 8 - 13): Started the week by practicing their tacks, gybes, and upwind downwind. They finished the week by learning right-of-way and playing a fun game to bring the concept home.
Opti Race (Ages 8 – 15): Opti Race practiced windward-leeward to perfect up and downwind sailing. Later in the week, they practiced race tactics by drilling their starts and finished the week by playing the right-of-way game with Opti Intro!
c420 Intro (Ages 13 – 18): This week, sailing instructors introduced the basics of racing in a 420 sailboat. They learned about starting procedures, basic racing rules, and navigating a simple racecourse. They had their first hands-on experience with timed starts and practiced handling the boat in various wind conditions.
c420 Beginner (Ages 13 - 18): The 420 beginners started the week by getting comfortable with the boat. They learned about boat parts, safety protocols, and the fundamentals of sailing, including tacking and jibing. Sailors practiced rigging and de-rigging the boat under supervision. They sailed in various wind conditions learning how to use different sail controls to improve their sailing.
c420 Race (Ages 13 - 18): This week, we had three members of the 420-race class competing at Larchmont Jr. Race Week. There wasn’t much wind, and the race committee could only get off one race. Mathew and Thomas were able to finish 15th, which qualifies them for 420 champs. This is a huge accomplishment, and The Waterfront Center now has two 420s that will be competing at 420 Champs.
