Luffing Lassies, Sarasota Sailing Squadron

Membership

1. How do I become a member of the Luffing Lassies?

a. Each year, we start our season by inviting new sailors to join us and provide them with a full week of sailing instruction. Our training includes instruction in the Pram, Opti, and 420 sailboats. The only prerequisites for our new sailors, besides being able to swim, are the desire to have a good time and an interest in sailing. We look forward to having you join us for a wonderful year of both sailing and good times.

b. Our primary interest is safety and we need to ensure that our sailors have the skill, confidence, and ability to fully enjoy our recreational sailing. If you are not available to complete the Learn-to-Sail class and you have no sailing experience, then you will need to take private lessons to develop basic sailing skills before joining the Luffing Lassies. Lessons are available through the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program and the Red Cross.

c. Experienced sailors in the boats mentioned above can join the Luffing Lassies without taking the Learn-to-Sail class but they must pass an on-the-water check ride with one of our experienced Lassies before joining the Club. Our boats are worth a few thousand dollars, you are priceless.

2. When do the Luffing Lassies sail and where do we compete?

a. The Luffing Lassies sail every Thursday morning from September through May at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

b. The Lassies sail against each other during regular scheduled sailing days and against sister clubs of the Florida Women's Sailing Association during Inter-Clubs and Regattas at the Squadron or at a sister club’s location. For the “away” events, we carpool or meet and travel as a band of gypsies. These are friendly competitions and this spirit dominates the events. These sister clubs are:

Bitter Ends - Venice Women's Sailing Squadron
Bow Chasers - Clearwater Yacht Club - Prams
Broad Reachers - Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club
Dinghy Dames - Davis Island Yacht Club
Luffing Lassies - Sarasota Sailing Squadron
Mainsheet Mamas - Tampa Yacht Club
Salty Sisters - St. Petersburg Yacht Club
T.I. Tackers - Treasure Island Yacht Club
Windlasses - Dunedin Sailing Center
Solmates - Clearwater Yacht Club - Sunfish
Keel Magnolias - Sarasota Yacht Club

3. What are my obligations?

a. Financial:

1. Pay the dues and boat rental fees.
2. Maintain membership in the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

b. Physical:

1. Help your sisters take care of our boats by properly cleaning and putting boats away. Join us for occasional work parties to keep our gear ready.
2. Exercise a little so that you are not injured by scampering around in a small boat.
3. Give volunteer hours to the Squadron with the Lassies by maintaining our area.

c. Mental:

1. Be positive. Your sisters are there for each other.
2. Have fun. That is our reason for being.

d. Sailing:

1. Master the small boats.
2. Master the water.
3. Improve every time you sail.
4. Help another sailor.

To join the Luffing Lassies, please contact the Luffing Lassie captain (see ‘Contact Us)





		Membership 1. How do I become a member of the Luffing Lassies? a. Each year, we start our season by inviting new sailors to join us and provide them with a full week of sailing instruction. Our training includes instruction in the Pram, Opti, and 420 sailboats. The only prerequisites for our new sailors, besides being able to swim, are the desire to have a good time and an interest in sailing. We look forward to having you join us for a wonderful year of both sailing and good times. b. Our primary interest is safety and we need to ensure that our sailors have the skill, confidence, and ability to fully enjoy our recreational sailing. If you are not available to complete the Learn-to-Sail class and you have no sailing experience, then you will need to take private lessons to develop basic sailing skills before joining the Luffing Lassies. Lessons are available through the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program and the Red Cross. c. Experienced sailors in the boats mentioned above can join the Luffing Lassies without taking the Learn-to-Sail class but they must pass an on-the-water check ride with one of our experienced Lassies before joining the Club. Our boats are worth a few thousand dollars, you are priceless. 2. When do the Luffing Lassies sail and where do we compete? a. The Luffing Lassies sail every Thursday morning from September through May at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. b. The Lassies sail against each other during regular scheduled sailing days and against sister clubs of the Florida Women's Sailing Association during Inter-Clubs and Regattas at the Squadron or at a sister club’s location. For the “away” events, we carpool or meet and travel as a band of gypsies. These are friendly competitions and this spirit dominates the events. These sister clubs are: Bitter Ends - Venice Women's Sailing Squadron Bow Chasers - Clearwater Yacht Club - Prams Broad Reachers - Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club Dinghy Dames - Davis Island Yacht Club Luffing Lassies - Sarasota Sailing Squadron Mainsheet Mamas - Tampa Yacht Club Salty Sisters - St. Petersburg Yacht Club T.I. Tackers - Treasure Island Yacht Club Windlasses - Dunedin Sailing Center Solmates - Clearwater Yacht Club - Sunfish Keel Magnolias - Sarasota Yacht Club 3. What are my obligations? a. Financial: 1. Pay the dues and boat rental fees. 2. Maintain membership in the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. b. Physical: 1. Help your sisters take care of our boats by properly cleaning and putting boats away. Join us for occasional work parties to keep our gear ready. 2. Exercise a little so that you are not injured by scampering around in a small boat. 3. Give volunteer hours to the Squadron with the Lassies by maintaining our area. c. Mental: 1. Be positive. Your sisters are there for each other. 2. Have fun. That is our reason for being. d. Sailing: 1. Master the small boats. 2. Master the water. 3. Improve every time you sail. 4. Help another sailor. To join the Luffing Lassies, please contact the Luffing Lassie captain (see ‘Contact Us)