These few pages are designed to inform potential
and existing members of our aims and how JYS operates. It also
identifies the need for parent involvement to achieve these goals and so
meet our children's aspirations. To achieve these aims, we follow the
Royal Yachting Association (RYA) young Sailors scheme as this allows us
to use several classes of boat to suit the various personalities, ages
and dimensions of our young sailors.
Other clubs follow the International Optimist
Class Association (IOCA) training syllabus that is based on the use of
the Optimist dinghy, which we consider too restrictive. All our
instructors are trained to and have passed RYA Instructor courses or RYA
Club Racing Coaches courses. We also follow the RYA's recommendations
regarding instructor pupil ratios and safety requirements.
The Junior & Youth Squads are part of Datchet Water Sailing Club
and have been operating in its present form since May 1997, when it was
started by Peter West. Parents and other club members run JYS. These
volunteers carry out the instruction and coaching (all are RYA qualified
instructors, Racing Coaches or Assistant Instructors), race management,
safety boats (coxswains are RYA Safety Boat qualified), social events
and helping on the beach. In order to supplement our club members we
also employ RYA instructors to meet the RYA's teacher pupil ratio of 6
boats per instructor.
This year (2006) the flotilla will be run by a committee consisting
of Andy Haynes (chairman), Una Hodgkins, Cathy Pearce and Andrew Wilson.
Since the work load has increased due to the activities planned and
number of children attending, key activities of the flotilla will in the
future have their own organiser.
