Part of what makes the San Diego Yacht Club so great and successful on the world stage is the high level of member involvement and volunteerism. The SDYC Board of Directors volunteer their time to support the club and provide direction to club operations and events. Individuals in these positions are held in high esteem because of their dedicated service to the yacht club and the larger sailing community. The Junior Board of Directors is meant to emulate the adult Board of Directors at SDYC.
Members of the Junior Board are expected to act as leaders in the Junior Program by staying involved, supporting their peers, and volunteering their time to serve their fellow sailors.
Leadership: Members of the Junior Board are expected to lead by example and be a positive representative for their fellow SDYC sailors.
Involvement: Junior Board members should be active in their respective fleets, regularly attending practices, regattas, and promote these events to their peers. This includes involvement in Junior Board activities, like regular monthly meetings and writing articles for the Mainsheet.
Service: It should be the objective of Junior Board Officers to serve their peers in the program. Opportunities to serve include the following:
The SDYC Junior Commodore shall publicize and lead a meeting each month and deliver a Junior Board report to the Junior Activities Committee. The Junior Commodore is expected to take a leadership role in encouraging and promoting good sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity among SDYC sailors. Additionally, the Junior Commodore is responsible for providing mentorship to the other Junior Board members, motivating them to achieve their goals, and monitoring their progress on assigned duties. The Commodore is also expected to provide guidance and support to SDYC sailors in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. He or she will take a leading role in coordinating Junior Board activities at the Junior Trophy Dinner, 4th of July, and Opening Day events. The Junior Commodore shall also create and manage a schedule of monthly Mainsheet submissions by other Junior Board members. This position will be filled by the 2025 Vice Commodore, Kevin Cason.
Candidates must be no older than entering their junior year of high school and at least 14 years old. This officer shall ascend to the position of Commodore for the following year and will lead the Board in the Commodore's absence. The Vice Commodore assists Fleet Captains in fostering sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the Junior Program. The Vice Commodore is also expected to assist the Commodore in mentoring and supporting other Junior Board members, encouraging them to meet their goals and monitoring their progress on assigned duties. Additionally, the Vice Commodore is responsible for providing guidance and support to SDYC sailors in maintaining their boats and equipment and keeping the waterfront tidy. Attendance at monthly Junior Board meetings is required.
The Secretary attends monthly Junior Board meetings and assists the Commodore in publishing an agenda to Junior Board members before each meeting. This officer also records meeting minutes for publication on the SDYC website and distribution to the Junior Board, and sends reminders to all board members regarding the next meeting date.
The Junior Port Captain should be an active sailor in the Junior Program, in 8th grade or higher. They will oversee the boatyard storage for all Junior Program fleets, including Sabots, CFJs, Lasers, C420s, 29ers, RS Quests, and the Junior trailer storage area. Much like the adult Port Captain at the Yacht Club, they will help ensure that these areas are looking “ship-shape” and that boats are stowed properly. They will serve as a leader in the programs that they are involved in, working with fleet captains to help them keep their areas tidy and support them in achieving their goals for storage solutions, and providing accountability to fleet captains whose fleet areas may be disorderly. The Jr Port Captain attends monthly meetings, where they will report on the status of the boatyard and highlight areas that need improvement. The Junior Port Captain should submit two mainsheet articles during their term that are either focused on relevant topics in the boatyard, facilities, or related to their sailing activities during their term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC C420 fleet throughout the term. The C420 Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on C420 activities. This includes informing the fleet about practices, clinics, and regattas such as the SCYYRA Perry Series and SDAYC Reynolds Series (Luff-In). Fleet Captains also foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. They report to the Junior Board on the condition and status of club-owned C420s and encourage and assist the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. The C420 Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC CFJ fleet throughout the term. The CFJ Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on CFJ activities, including practices and regattas such as the SCYYRA Shadden Series, SDAYC Hart Series (Luff-In), PCISA/ISSA events, and the Harold Adams Team Race Classic. Fleet Captains also support sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. They report to the Junior Board on the condition and status of club-owned CFJs and encourage and assist the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. The CFJ Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC 29er fleet. The 29er Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on 29er activities. This includes practices, clinics, and regattas such as the SCYYRA Hamlin Series, SDAYC Wadlow Series (Luff-In), HPYS clinics, and other major events. Fleet Captains foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. They report to the Junior Board on the condition and status of club-owned 29ers and encourage and assist the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. The 29er Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC Laser fleet. The Laser Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on ILCA activities, including practices, clinics, and regattas such as the SCYYRA Ullman/Frost Series, SDAYC Haines/Fetter Series (Luff-In), HPYS clinics, and other major events. Fleet Captains support sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. They report to the Junior Board on the condition and status of club-owned Lasers and encourage and assist the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. The Laser Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC Sabot fleet throughout the term. The Sabot A Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on A-Fleet activities, including practices and regattas such as the SCYYRA Dick Sweet Team Race Series, SCYYRA North Series, and SDAYC Conner Series (Luff-In). The A-Fleet Captain is also expected to provide guidance and support to Sabot fleet members in maintaining their boats and equipment and keeping the waterfront tidy. Fleet Captains also foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. The Sabot A Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC Sabot fleet throughout the term. The Sabot B Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on B-Fleet activities, including practices and regattas. Regardless of which fleet they may advance to, the B-Fleet Captain is expected to continue communicating with and supporting the B-Fleet, in addition to encouraging and assisting the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. Fleet Captains also foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. The Sabot B Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.
Must be actively involved in the SDYC Sabot fleet throughout the term. The Sabot C Fleet Captain attends monthly Junior Board meetings and participates in, promotes, and reports on C-Fleet activities, including practices and regattas. Regardless of which fleet they may advance to, the C-Fleet Captain is expected to continue communicating with and supporting the C-Fleet, in addition to encouraging and assisting the fleet in maintaining their boats and equipment, as well as keeping the waterfront tidy. Fleet Captains foster sportsmanship, teamwork, and inclusivity within the SDYC fleet. The Sabot C Fleet Captain must contribute at least two brief Mainsheet articles during their year-long term.