Photos of the group learning on and sailing in Opti's,
or the Optimist Class sailboats during '15 and '16.
The older youth and adults learn on Laser's, pictured on our 'Register'... page.
2018 Season “…… what’s new”
It has been another busy off-season for the Instructional Sailing Program.
We were recently awarded a Grant from the Flying Scot Foundation that will hopefully allow the Sailing School to refurbish a used Flying Scot donated to us by the Otsego Sailing Foundation,
and to purchase another used Flying Scot.
It is hoped that both these boats will be used to teach the Adult Courses this Summer.
Drew Porter and Butch Weir are going to try to start a Junior Racing Program.
This will allow those students who would like to continue their sailing experience, through the summer, to do so.
They plan to have a interest meeting with parents and sailor(s) in late June/early July, and start the program shortly after if there is enough interest.
Josie Rusk is back this year and will be teaching the Advanced Opti Course in the mornings.
Welcome back Josie!!!!
Of course, Connie Herzig will return
and supply her wonderful cheer and excitement to the lessons and activities.
It has been another busy off-season for the Instructional Sailing Program.
We were recently awarded a Grant from the Flying Scot Foundation that will hopefully allow the Sailing School to refurbish a used Flying Scot donated to us by the Otsego Sailing Foundation,
and to purchase another used Flying Scot.
It is hoped that both these boats will be used to teach the Adult Courses this Summer.
Drew Porter and Butch Weir are going to try to start a Junior Racing Program.
This will allow those students who would like to continue their sailing experience, through the summer, to do so.
They plan to have a interest meeting with parents and sailor(s) in late June/early July, and start the program shortly after if there is enough interest.
Josie Rusk is back this year and will be teaching the Advanced Opti Course in the mornings.
Welcome back Josie!!!!
Of course, Connie Herzig will return
and supply her wonderful cheer and excitement to the lessons and activities.
About the OSC Sailing School "Overall"
The sailing education program at Otsego Sailing Club began in 1992 with 4 Laser class sailboats and morning lessons for kids over age 10. As interest grew, additional boats were added to the Laser Fleet, advanced sessions were offered for young sailors, and the lesson offerings were expanded to include adults. Each year the club seeks to replace the oldest boat in the Laser Fleet to continually improve the learning experience.
George (Butch) Weir has been program director since it's inception and continues ensure the program remains flexible, innovative and a good value for those seeking to experience sailing.
The basic approach has remained constant - thorough lessons explained on land which are then practiced and honed on the water under an instructor's watchful eye.
Building on this approach, junior and adult students now spend the last day of instruction sailing with club members on the various classes of boats owned by club members.
Students are able to experience different racing and cruising sailboats both as skipper and crew before enjoying a cookout to celebrate their accomplishments.
Junior Sailing Program lead instructor Justin Hobbie is a Certified Physical Education Teacher and a practicing EMT. Over the past 20 years he has taught/coached sailing and racing for three different programs. Junior instructors assist with all aspects of the class and may be placed on boats to help when needed.
It goes without saying that safety is stressed and embedded in the program activities. Most of the students are beginners having very little sailing experience. Students are taught how to rig the boats, basic boat handling skills, basic right of way rules, general seamanship, knots and nautical vocabulary associated with sailing. The course is very hands on. Students are on the water and sailing the first day. They spend almost 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the water everyday learning sailing skills (weather permitting).
In 2014 the sailing education program expanded access to students aged 6-10 through the addition of Optimist class sailboats and the first-ever formal Sailing Camp in Cooperstown. This day camp offers younger students the opportunity to learn about sailing concepts, apply those concepts on the water, and enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow students through various activities off the water. This Camp allows young students to explore sailing and enjoy Otsego Lake under the watchful eyes of certified teacher Connie Herzig off the water and certified teacher/lifeguard/US Sailing-certified instructor Josie Rusk on the water.
This camp balances time on and off the water to keep the active interest of younger students while building sailing skills with each passing week.
We encourage that students attend more than 1 week of camp whenever possible.
The 2015 season launched another new offering - Single Handing Optmists - a program designed to build young sailors' abilities to rig their boat, launch and leave the harbor, sail with greater confidence in a variety of wind speeds, return to harbor and dock safely... ALL BY THEMSELVES!
See the 'Register' tab for specific descriptions/schedules/costs etc. and the types of Classes/Instruction/Camps/Sessions
for those considering these offerings for the summer of 2018.
The sailing education program at Otsego Sailing Club began in 1992 with 4 Laser class sailboats and morning lessons for kids over age 10. As interest grew, additional boats were added to the Laser Fleet, advanced sessions were offered for young sailors, and the lesson offerings were expanded to include adults. Each year the club seeks to replace the oldest boat in the Laser Fleet to continually improve the learning experience.
George (Butch) Weir has been program director since it's inception and continues ensure the program remains flexible, innovative and a good value for those seeking to experience sailing.
The basic approach has remained constant - thorough lessons explained on land which are then practiced and honed on the water under an instructor's watchful eye.
Building on this approach, junior and adult students now spend the last day of instruction sailing with club members on the various classes of boats owned by club members.
Students are able to experience different racing and cruising sailboats both as skipper and crew before enjoying a cookout to celebrate their accomplishments.
Junior Sailing Program lead instructor Justin Hobbie is a Certified Physical Education Teacher and a practicing EMT. Over the past 20 years he has taught/coached sailing and racing for three different programs. Junior instructors assist with all aspects of the class and may be placed on boats to help when needed.
It goes without saying that safety is stressed and embedded in the program activities. Most of the students are beginners having very little sailing experience. Students are taught how to rig the boats, basic boat handling skills, basic right of way rules, general seamanship, knots and nautical vocabulary associated with sailing. The course is very hands on. Students are on the water and sailing the first day. They spend almost 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the water everyday learning sailing skills (weather permitting).
In 2014 the sailing education program expanded access to students aged 6-10 through the addition of Optimist class sailboats and the first-ever formal Sailing Camp in Cooperstown. This day camp offers younger students the opportunity to learn about sailing concepts, apply those concepts on the water, and enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow students through various activities off the water. This Camp allows young students to explore sailing and enjoy Otsego Lake under the watchful eyes of certified teacher Connie Herzig off the water and certified teacher/lifeguard/US Sailing-certified instructor Josie Rusk on the water.
This camp balances time on and off the water to keep the active interest of younger students while building sailing skills with each passing week.
We encourage that students attend more than 1 week of camp whenever possible.
The 2015 season launched another new offering - Single Handing Optmists - a program designed to build young sailors' abilities to rig their boat, launch and leave the harbor, sail with greater confidence in a variety of wind speeds, return to harbor and dock safely... ALL BY THEMSELVES!
See the 'Register' tab for specific descriptions/schedules/costs etc. and the types of Classes/Instruction/Camps/Sessions
for those considering these offerings for the summer of 2018.