Race Team Vision
SYC is recognized among the leading yacht clubs of the world with a renowned comprehensive junior sailing program, in which the Junior Race Team is an integral part. Our Junior Race Team draws upon a broad base of young sailors (open to the public) primarily from the SYC Summer Sailing School, SYC’s Northwest Interscholastic High School Sailing Team (HS Sailing), and community outreach programs. The SYC Junior Race Team and HS Sailing provide youths, from ages 8 to 18, the opportunity to reach for competitive success at all levels while developing athletic skills, leadership, sportsmanship and a lifelong love for boating. SYC has given rise to numerous generations of successful Pacific Northwest sailors, including multiple Olympic champions. The SYC Race Team continues the Club’s legacy of achievement, representing SYC in local, regional, national and international competitions.
Race Team Mission
Progress juniors from participation to development to the highest levels of youth racing achievement.
- Provide a fun and supportive environment for junior racers of all abilities
- Provide coaches exceptional in their sailing accomplishments and their abilities to train and inspire our racers
- Maintain facilities and equipment equal or superior to leading yacht clubs around the world
- Promote interest and participation in sailing and racing with an active, adaptive outreach program
- Prepare racers for Collegiate Sailing providing an opportunity to leverage individual racers’ sailing skills and racing achievements in the college application process
- Develop a lifelong interest and appreciation of sailing and racing in all Race Team members while promoting SYC junior membership in a family oriented, supportive environment
Race Team Coach: Cameron Hoard
Cameron has been the SYC Jr Race Team coach since 2011. Originally from Upstate NY, Cam has lived on both coasts, but has come to call the NW home.
Cam has been a sailing coach for the better part of 20 years. He has worked for various yacht clubs and sailing programs in New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The SYC Jr Race Team does most of its year-round training on Shilshole Bay (Puget Sound), however Cam and the team travel all over the country competing in over 25 regattas every year. A busy training and regatta schedule is what makes the SYC Jr sailors the best in the North West!
The team has found lots of success under Coach Cam with SYC sailors winning national championships, qualifying for international regattas, and dominating the NW Youth Racing Circuit. It’s exciting and fun to work with such committed, talented, and hard working Jr sailors representing the club.
2017 was a big year for the team and the sailing department! They were honored to receive the Captain Joe Prosser Award, from US Sailing, for excellence in sailing instruction. The Jr sailors list of accomplishments is far too long to list here, so please stop Cam in the hallway or on the dock to hear about it all! Or join them at the SYC Jr sailing awards held every January, to meet the team, celebrate an amazing year, and help them kick off the successful season ahead. Go SYC!
Questions?
Contact Coach Cameron Hoard.
The Seattle YC Junior Race Team
The Seattle Yacht Club Junior Race Team (SYCRT) is a year round team that trains for and competes in local, regional, and national regattas.
The SYCRT is made up of sailors that are 8 - 18 years of age. Sailors train and compete in Optimist and ILCA (aka Laser) sailboats. Most sailors own their own boat, but SYC does have a charter boat program.
Sailors interested in joining the team should have a good foundation of sailing skills and knowledge. There are no try outs for the team, but interested sailors may be advised to take more classes or participate in other programs before joining the race team. Seattle Yacht Club has a world class Summer Sailing School and Green Fleet Program to prepare sailors for the race team. Interested sailors and parents should contact the Coach for more information.
The SYCRT practices year-round on Shilshole Bay. During the busy summer season, practices are held two days a week - scheduled around traveling regattas and other sailing events. During the late fall, winter, and early spring practices are scheduled on the weekends. After school practices are also scheduled one or two days a week during late spring and early fall when daylight allows enough time on the water. Click here FOR THE RACE TEAM CALENDAR.
The SYCRT has a floating dock at the North end of the Shilshole Bay Marina (W dock). Click here FOR MAP. This is the primary location for all practices. Other training and practices are scheduled at event locations where the team travels to compete.
The bulk of the racing season is comprised of the North West Youth Racing Circuit. This circuit is comprised of regattas hosted by local clubs in Washington and Oregon. These regattas are open to sailors of all skill levels. All NWYRC events are supported with coaching by the SYCRT.
The SYCRT supports many events outside of the NWYRC. These events are listed in the registration contract. Events not part of the SYCRT contract can be supported with additional planning and cost. Contact the Coach for more information.
SYCRT does not organize or supply housing for sailors at ANY event. Nor does the SYCRT supply any transportation of any sailor to or from events, practices.. etc. Sailors and parents are expected to organize their own travel and lodging
- Coaching at approximately 75 scheduled practices, individual or small group coaching when necessary.
- Coaching for NWYRC events and other selected regattas. Race Team Coach will provide basic information and facilitate access to local and regional clinics.
- Free participation in the Spring Sailing program.
- Access to SYC equipment including SYC dock space, double-handed boats, SYC Jr. Clubhouse facilities, trailers, and coaches.
- Access to Race Team boat charter program.
- SYC Race Team gear and eligibility for year-end Race Team participation awards.
- Invitation to SYC Tuesday Night Sailing.
- The fun, support, friendships, and camaraderie that develop from being a part of a nationally-competitive sailing team.
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Race team dues do not cover
- Regatta registration fees
- Boat charter fees
- Lodging at regattas
- Support at regattas not listed in the SYCRT registration contract
- Class membership dues
SYC has club level Optis and ILCA/Lasers, these are available for charter to all members of the Race Team. These boats will help new sailors get into the sport. However, we recommend that all sailors eventually buy their own boats once they know which path they will follow. There are a limited number of boats available, and they will be chartered on a first come, first serve basis. Email the coach to arrange a boat.
