2 Organisation:
Activity is co-ordinated by the Rear Commodore (Youth) and the Youth Committee. The Youth Prize Giving and Forum, held late in the season, and other informal meetings, provide opportunities for members to contribute ideas and feedback.

The section is financially independent. Income is derived from training weeks, boat registration fees and boat hire, and offsets costs including boat and equipment maintenance, and prizes. Training is largely self-financing, with fees levied to pay for trainers and coaches where appropriate.

3 Membership:
Adult Family membership automatically includes children under 12 years of age. Cygnet membership applies to children over 12 and under 16, and Junior membership from 16 to 18. Further information about these categories will be found in the Yearbook.

4 Responsibility:
During organised Section activities safety cover will be provided on the water, however parents/guardians, or other nominated adults, are expected to be present on the Club premises. If a parent/guardian is not present, the person in charge of the activity must be notified who has responsibility for the child. At all other times parents/guardians have sole responsibility, as stated in Club Bye-Law 2.7.

Parents/guardians are responsible at all times for ensuring the suitability and seaworthiness of their children’s boat(s) and that their child is suitably dressed for the prevailing conditions.

5 Classes Sailed:
The Section supports activity in the following dinghy classes, all of which are now RYA recognised Junior and Youth Classes:

Single handers:- Laser (Standard, Radial, 4.7) Topper and Optimist
Double handers:- 29er, RS Feva and International 420

The classes supported are kept under regular review to reflect current trends. Most children start sailing in the Optimist from approx age 8, when they can participate in training activities, and progress to Club racing at the appropriate time. This is the proven route for learning basic seamanship and racing skills. There are opportunities to progress in the class inside and outside the Club, perhaps even to International level. Several young Club members have achieved this in recent years.

The Topper class, whilst not actively raced in the Club currently, provides opportunities for training and progression. It is suggested that this class might suit young people from age 12 and of minimum weight 45kg.

The next stage for the aspiring single-handed sailor is into the Laser class in all its variants. The 4.7, Radial, and Standard rigs provide a progression to match the sailor into adulthood.

The International 420 and the 29er provide a well proven route for advancement in 2-handed sailing, and are the favoured classes for a number of young Club members.

6 Training:
Training of our young sailors is really what the Youth section is all about, as is evidenced by our status as both an RYA recognised teaching establishment, and as a Volvo Champion Club. Formal training sessions, led by experienced instructors, are a regular feature of the programme throughout the season. Much of this activity is aimed at Optimist sailors.

Training sessions for sailors who are able to sail a triangular course in moderate conditions, will be run on alternate Saturdays for Optimist and Feva sailors. These sessions will be aimed at Optimist and Feva sailors. A few of these sessions will be designated for beginners, when suitable instructors will be available. A number of training sessions will also be held for Laser Radial and 4.7 sailors. Training for sailors in other classes can be provided if there is sufficient demand. Please contact the Rear Commodore Youth if you are interested in training in another class of dinghy.

Full details of all these training sessions are published in this yearbook and will be advertised from time to time by e-mail newsletter (see below). Starting times may vary to suit the tide but will usually start with a briefing at 10.00hrs. These sessions will be parent led, with help from experienced younger sailors some of whom are qualified instructors and coaches. The success of these sessions will be dependent on receiving an adequate level of support from parents and others and it is hoped that plenty of parents and others will be keen to get involved with these.

The summer half term week provides the first opportunity for many young members to experience an intensive period of sail training. Early booking on these weeks is necessary as these courses are over-subscribed. RYA and Optimist Class qualifications may be awarded at these training weeks.

Most members enjoy the competitive side of sailing, and for them training and coaching will develop their racing skills. For the very keen sailors, there are opportunities for selection into junior and youth squads outside the Club. However, there are many other routes for advancement for young sailors at the Club, including power-boat driving, instructing, and coaching.

7 Racing:
There is a programme of racing in the Club for youth sailors throughout the season on Sundays. Optimist sailors are encouraged to participate, and a special 'Red Ribbon' fleet exists for younger competitors to gain experience and confidence, before progressing to the main Optimist fleet. Some coaching of the red ribbons sailors may take place during the Sunday racing.

Other classes, including Topper, Laser 4.7, and RS Feva will race with the main club handicap fleets, unless sufficient numbers develop to allow class starts.

The 2006 racing programme will include Open Meetings for Optimist, RS Feva and 420 and 29er classes, providing opportunities for members to compete in larger fleets, and against sailors from outside the Club.

The schedule of youth racing is published in the programme in the yearbook. A typical race day commences with a briefing for competitors at 10:00 hrs, when the day's programme will be outlined. Details of most activities are published in advance in the e-mail newsletter.

The highlight of the HISC calendar for youth members is Youth Race Week in August. This is a week of racing and social events, exclusive to young Club members and competitors from other clubs in Chichester harbour and elsewhere.

We would ask that all sailors turn up to briefings promptly at the advertised time, changed with their boats rigged, so they are ready to go afloat immediately after the briefing. The aim will be to start racing punctually.

8 Support and Communication:
The Youth Section could not function without the help of the parents of the young members, other adult helpers, and the older qualified teenagers. Many of these people give a lot of their time, often well beyond their compulsory 'duty' days. Tasks undertaken include patrol boat driver/crew, instructor, beachmaster, race officer and assistant, social organiser, fundraiser, committee member, etc, etc.

Members who would like to do be involved in these activities, as part of or in addition to their Club duty, or just to get more information, are invited to contact the Rear Commodore Youth or any member of the Youth committee.

Detail about all activities may be found in the Club programme in the yearbook. In addition members are invited to subscribe to the e-mail newsletter, providing regular and up-to-date news and information about the section's activities, delivered to their e-mail inbox! Subscribe via the Club website - Newsletter page.