General Description

The Racing Coach helps organize and supervise competitive racing for the Youth Sailing Program. Boats involved in the racing program include privately owned Optis, N10s, Lasers and Club-owned 420s.  Children in the Youth Sailing Program range in age from 9 through high school.  The Racing Coach contributes ideas to the program direction, provides coaching at on lake and off lake regattas and is the Head Instructor for the Tactics and Race Team Classes. 

The Racing Coach is a role model for staff and participants in the sailing programs, exemplifying integrity and the key characteristics we expect of our employees: Commitment, Respect, Responsibility and Cooperation.

The Racing Coach is a full time (35-40 hrs per week) summer employee paid an hourly rate. As an hourly employee, he/she is required to submit a weekly timecard to the General Manager for approval and all overtime would require advance approval.  The Racing Coach is expected to manage his/her work schedule to allow for attending regattas while staying within the 40 hr work week whenever possible. Communicate any such schedule changes to the Sailing Program Manager and General Manager with appropriate lead-time.  He/she must be available from the close of Winchester Public Schools through an end of season date to be negotiated with the Sailing Director (generally through the third week in August). No vacation is provided during the eight-week teaching season .

While on duty, the Racing Coach must wear the uniform specified by the GM (Instructor's t-shirt, khakis or other suitable clothing as specified by the GM). When representing the Club at sailing events and club meetings, he/she should wear the uniform specified by the GM (collared shirt, khakis or other suitable clothing as specified by the GM).

Qualifications & Certifications

The Racing Coach must be 18 years of age or older. The Racing Coach must be US Sailing Association Small Boat Sailing (Level l Dinghy) certified and certified in CPR. Certification fees are to be paid by employee. We seek a candidate with extensive on and off lake racing experience and an ability to effectively motivate and encourage youth sailors.

Reporting/Management Relationships

The Racing Coach reports to the General Manager (assisted by Summer Managers), working under the direction of the Sailing Program Manager and the Sailing Director. The Racing Coach should coordinate regularly with the Sailing Program Manager, working cooperatively to coordinate club sailing activities.

Primary Responsibilities

Duties of the Racing Coach include:

• Contribute to the development of the Youth Sailing Program curriculum. This would focus on Tactics and Race Team, but would also include Beginners and Intermediates.
• Help create and schedule special instructional clinics and events that benefit and promote racing.
• Actively participate in the program and special events.
• Offer ideas to Sailing Program Manager regarding criteria for class advancement.
• Assist in the organization, planning and chaperoning of field trips. Communicate safety rules and proper behavior to participants.
• Teach Tactics and Race Team Classes
• Develop a season lesson plan to be approved by the Sailing Program Manager.
• Provide written daily lesson logs to be reviewed with Sailing Program Manager.
• Programs should include:
• Review of Racing Rules.
• Emphasis on team building and sportsmanship.
• Protocol for the rigging and de-rigging of boats.
• Racing tactics for fleet racing and team racing.
• Racing strategies for lake and open ocean venues.
• Discussion of and coordination with High School Sailing and College Sailing.
• Special clinics run by guest coaches.
• Racing competitions with other clubs.
• Club racing or racing series.
• Teaching in accordance with U.S. Sailing Instructor Guidelines.
• Racing Coach may make private arrangements for lessons or assist members in hauling boats. This must be done off the clock and the WBC assumes no liability for such services. Employee must abide by private lessons/assistance policies.
• Participate in planning and attending regattas.
• Initiate and promote racing events in coordination with the Sailing Director and Sailing Program Manager and in close communication with the General Manager.
• Obtain regatta schedule from Sailing Director.
• Communicate and work closely with WBC Fleet Captains.
• Attend on lake regattas as racing coach, including but not limited to Swanson/Opti Cup, Dillon/Opti Challenge, Generation and Raphael Regattas.
• Help plan, coordinate, and attend end of year Class Regattas for Tactics and Race Team. Report results to Sailing Program Manager, Sailing Director and office staff for trophies.
• Help plan, coordinate, and attend away regattas.
• Assist in coordination of boat transportation as required.
• Assist in rigging and de-rigging while at regatta location.
• Offer encouragement and tactical advice to sailors.
• Check sailor standings while at regatta.
• Attend award ceremony held at regatta with sailors.
• Represent WBC in an appropriate manner, communicating with representatives and coaches from other clubs.
• Help arrange for additional sailing staff to assist with regattas when required with the approval of the Sailing Program Manager.
• Attend and present Racing Program at Sailing Orientation Night, working under the guidance of the Sailing Director.
• Discuss regatta participation.
• Help develop a handout for parent distribution showing season expectations.
• Attend preseason employee training as required including Sailing Instructor Training. This training is under the direction of the Sailing Program Manager, General Manager and Sailing Director and includes the following:
• Review of instructor roles and responsibilities.
• Proper use of Queen (RC/instructor boat) and whalers.
• Proper care and storage of the Club 420's.
• Maintenance, safety and cleanliness of dock area.
• Attend inter-club organizational meetings if required, under the direction of the Sailing Director, Sailing Program Manager and General manager.
• Communicate effectively with sailing staff and other WBC staff.
• Listen to and incorporate, if appropriate and beneficial, the ideas and suggestions of the other members of the sailing staff.
• Communicate appropriately when required with pool and snack bar staff.
• Communicate effectively on a regular basis with the Sailing Program Manager, General Manager and Sailing Director.
• Accept direction and get approval from Sailing Program Manager, GM and Sailing Director while taking initiative to offer ideas to develop and implement a successful racing program.
• Communicate effectively with junior sailing program participants and their parents.
• Engage and encourage junior sailors.
• Answer parent questions regarding racing and/or regattas.
• Recruit parents for drivers and chaperones when needed.
• No email correspondence either to junior sailors or their parents is necessary.
• Under the direction of the Sailing Program Manager, maintain boats and areas used by sailing staff and program sailors.
• Coordinate and assist in pre-season and post-season maintenance of junior sailing equipment.
• Coordinate and assist in maintenance of club owned 420s.
• Ensure that boats are put away properly.
• Complete routine maintenance on 420's (missing clips, pins, etc.).
• Promptly report all damages to boats to the GM.
• Assist with boat cleaning when required.
• Program area must be clear of related trash and gear by end of program day.
• Rowboats used during sailing class must be clear of related trash and gear by end of program day.  Rowboats will be bailed on mornings after an evening rain.  Otherwise, maintenance staff is responsible for bailing boats each evening before club closing as well as throughout the day.
• Motorboats used during sailing class must be clear of related trash and gear by end of program day. Alert Sailing Program Manager to any required motorboat repairs.
• Ensure that the locker room area is clean and sailors store their gear properly.
• Instructors are responsible for cleaning up after themselves in any areas of the club that are used.
• Follow water safety procedures.
• Practice safe use of boats according to WBC policies.
• Enforce WBC boating rules in accordance with policy in rear of Membership Directory.
• Assist Sailing Program Director in organizing and attending Sailing Awards Night.
• Participate in making trophy nominations.
• Help to coordinate summer sailing slide show.
• Give program class presentations for each tactics and race team classes.
• Help participate in presentation of trophies and awards by sailing staff.