Coaches and Sailors from Hatteras Sailing travel to Kill Devil Hills to coach the 2023 Colington Yacht Club Junior’s Week Clinic
Jay and Meg Phillips spent last week coaching Outer Banks Youth during the 2023 Colington Yacht Club Junior’s Week. The clinic lasted all day for five days. Eight kids from 8-12 years old learned on the Optimist Sailboat and 6 teenagers learned to sail on the C420.
The younger group of 8 beginner sailors was coached by head coach Meg Phillips and junior coach Beau Phillips. Basic boat handling was the focus throughout the week of sailing clinic. Of the eight kids in the Opti Clinic, only three of the eight had sailed before, and by the end of the week each young student sailors was able to sail independently in light wind conditions. “This was a great group of kids. We all had fun and learned alot this week. I am so proud of each and every one of these young sailors” says Coach Meg of the group.
Coach Jay Phillips was the head coach for the teen camp. He was assisted by Jr. Coaches Meg Voegtlin and Noah Phillips who have experience sailing C420 as a team in regional regattas. The 420 is a fast and responsive boat, and Coach Jay did an amazing job teaching these young sailors how to handle the boat. Each sailor had an opportunity to sail as crew and skipper during the five day clinic. “The takeaway for these sailors is that sailing is rewarding, fast, and fun. I hope they will continue sailing as we form the high school sailing program for this region” says Coach Jay Phillips of Hatteras Sailing.
Friday afternoon, parents were invited to attend an exhibition scrimmage sail. The wind was strong and gusty with a sustained 18-20 knots and higher gusts. Three of the younger group participated sailing solo in their optimist prams, the other sailors demonstrated what the learned during a shoreside knowledge game, and the teen group sailed two races each as crew with the coaches skippering through the scrimmage.
Supporters from Colington Yacht Club and Hatteras Sailing have plans to continue offering the youth throughout the Outer Banks continued opportunities to sail throughout the year. “Sailing is not just a summer sport with one week of camp learning basic skills over and over. This sport is a progression of learning. We keep sailing, keep learning, and keep growing throughout the year as long as weather permits” says Meg Phillips. Each sailor was invited to continue sailing weekly with the Hatteras Sailing Team, participate in upcoming clinics, join high school sailing, and sail in the 2023 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Regatta this September.
