As sailors progress through the pathway, we would like parents and family members to share their journey and we provide a number of opportunities.
Some of these roles are essential to the running of the program. Plus we’ve also included opportunities for participation so you can experience sailing for yourselves. So doing a twilight race, or learning to SUP, or sail a keelboat is just as important as helping in the Galley and running races.
Galley Canteen
The Canteen, which we like to refer to as our Galley to represent the nautical aspect of the club, is essential to the community spirit at the club and we want people involved to help feed our sailors. Food and drink always bring people together and this is an opportunity to meet with other parents whilst helping out.
There are some formal logistic to take care including the following but we have guidelines and help is always available:
- Covid 19 training and compliance Click Here
- Working the coffee machine. (We can arrange barista training)
- Knowing the systems in place for consistency
- Handling the EFTPOS machine and money.
We are looking into expanding the offering to include regular breakfast wraps or freshly baked food for example, so you can invite your friends to enjoy the club.
BBQ & Food
The shaded BBQ’s provide another great opportunity for us to use and supplement what is on offer from the canteen. They can be used privately but if used for serving sailors, will need to comply with the COVID Safety rules.
Launching
Help sailors launch and retrieve their boats, keeping launch access organised and safe makes a big difference to sailors
Packup
Checking everything is not left out, locked away and all secure
Maintenance
Anything broken or close to breaking reported or fixed
Repairs
Quick repairs on the day to keep sailors on the water
Social Activities
Plan social events for our growing community of sailors and families
Learn to Sail (Rig and Theory)
First learning the correct procedure for rigging and then helping others is important for the safety and ongoing good habits for looking after and getting the most out of equipment
Race Results
Collating the On Water results ready for presentation
Spectator
Initially just to see your children and how it all works
Assistant
A gentle introduction to helping with something you like
Mark Layer
Working with the coaches and Race Officer to place marks in appropriate positions and monitoring to keep races fun and organised
Race Committee
Overall decisions on Race Timing and Format
Race Results
Recording finishers and collating results live on water
Race Officer
Overall in charge of the Racing
Learn to Sail
There are many opportunities to Learn to Sail, whilst your children are sailing. Why should they have all the fun?
SUP
For the light or no wind days, Stand Up Paddleboarding is another fun way to get on the water
Windsurf
Another challenging form of sailing is windsurfing where your body is essentially part of the rig. It is challenging but very rewarding and opens up a world of opportunities
Twilight
We can arrange twilight sailing with existing members or get a team of parents together in the BW8’s for a cruise on the river watching the sunset
Keelboat Crew
There are always loads of opportunities for crewing on members keelboats on Wednesdays or Saturdays
Hobie Wave
Another easy and fun opportunity to try with other parents and your children.
Resources and Links
If you have children participating in SoPYC training and racing, the Working with Children Check (WWC Check) is not required. Otherwise, it is a compulsory screening strategy in Western Australia and the club.
The WWC Check aims to protect children by:
- Deterring people from applying to work with children where they have a relevant charge or conviction on their criminal record that indicates they may harm a child;
- Detecting new charges and convictions of those people who hold a current WWC Card and preventing them from continuing to engage in child-related work where their criminal record and behaviour indicates they may harm a child; and
- Protecting children by creating awareness that child safety is a whole of community responsibility.
The Recreational Skipper’s Ticket (RST) is a nationally-recognised certificate of competency which shows that the holder has the minimum knowledge and practical skills needed to operate a powerboat safely.
It is the minimum qualification needed to operate a powerboat in Western Australia and can be obtained through Australian Sailing WA
Note: The RST is not a licence, so there is no need to renew the Ticket or pay ongoing fees.
Course Code HLTAID003 is the required course
The one day Provide First Aid course provides an excellent general grounding in first aid and will enable you to perform appropriate first aid procedures and basic life support skills. This unit satisfies training requirements across for Sailing Clubs and Australian Sailing.
Course Code is HLTAID003
Assisting and observing how this process works is the best way. There are also a number of online and practical training opportunities.
In addition the coaches or SoPYC staff would be happy to give some basic familiarisation of practical skills required to handle a RIB for safety and support.
The Australian Sailing myLearning portal has a catalogue of free and useful online courses created by Australian Sailing and Play By The Rules that could benefit clubs, members, volunteers, administrators and instructors.