Qualifications

In the GT Sailing Club, we have several different type of qualifications required to be the skipper in charge of our boats. For complete details, please ask one of our instructors

Dinghy qualification (skipper's card)

The most basic qualification required to skippers our dinghies.To get this, you basically just need to show us that you aren't going to hurt yourself, your crew, or the boat. It's basically your license to begin to learn about sailing. There are two simple and easy steps to getting the qualification. First, you need to take our written test. This is a simple, short test that examines your basic sailing knowledge. It mainly focuses on parts of the boat and right of way rules (may be taken any thursday before the meeting, just contact the Vice-commodore). Second, take the on the water test with one of our instructors. If you already have experience sailing, you should be able to get qualified in an afternoon.

On-the-Water Dinghy Test (Given on a Club 420):

• Proper Rigging
• Leaving a Dock
• Ability to skipper comfortably in breeze (>12kts)
• Proper Tacking, Jibing, Points of Sail
• Man Overboard and Capsize Recovery
• Proper Docking and De-rigging

Laser sailing

Lasers are tricky to rig and improper rigging can cause that mast to come out if you capsize, so even though there is not a specific laser qualification, laser usage policy requires that you attend a laser rigging clinic or that you show that you know how to properly rig it before sailing lasers. A useful tip: remember that laser rudders do not float.

Note that you must have a GTSC skipper's card before being able to become qualified to sail the Lasers.

Hobie qualification

To be qualified for hobie cat sailing, the first step is to have your skipper's card. Then you have to show a hobie instructor that you can handle the boat and that you know how to righten it. Hobie tests usually take about 30 minutes and are mostly done during Florida Trips.

Windsurfing qualification

This qualification is necessary to be able to go on a windsurfer when there are no windsurfing instructors around. You only have to demonstrate that you understand the basic concepts of windsurfing and that you are able to make it back to the beach safely

J-24 Qualification

This is the most advanced qualification given by the club, and it is necessary to the be skipper in charge of any of our J-24s

• Keel certification process
• GTSC Keelboat certification requirements
• On-water checklist
• Keelboat class outline
• J-24 Skipper Application