Sailor and Parent’s Guide to Gunston Sailing
Contacts
Head Coach: Woody Granger
Cell: 757 621 7070
E-mail: wgranger@gunston.org
Associate Head Coach: Molly George
Cell: 443 786 6135
Email: mgeorge@gunston.org
Practices
On the water:
● Mon-Fri, 2:30-4:20 Arriving in the boat house, dressed, with water bottle, full stomach, and
empty bladder ready to rig or listen to a “chalk talk”
Occasionally on the water practice will be cancelled due to the weather. Signs will be posted around
lunchtime informing sailors of alternative planning which includes a physical fitness practice and/or
a classroom day.
Gear for Practice
All required gear must be brought to practice everyday due to variability in practice conditions. While it may
be warm on campus, the water might be freezing! If it’s too windy, or not windy enough, we may have a
physical fitness practice. Gear may be stored and locked in the field house for safe keeping. If a student does
not have the appropriate gear to safely be on the water, this will count as an unexcused absence.
All sailors are required to have the following items:
★ Life Jacket. Type 3, Coast-Guard approved, and free of rips or holes
★ Closed-toed shoes. Converse sneakers are a popular choice, but made-for-sailing booties by
Gill, or other sneaker-like, waterproof shoes are better in cold weather.
★ Spray tops and bottoms, also known as salopettes or bibs ~$200 set
★ Work out/running clothes including sneakers, a tee shirt, and warm layers for outdoors
Highly recommended items:
★ A drysuit ~$500 (for sailors planning more than one season of sailing, this is essential)
○ A old pair of sneakers a shoe size larger is necessary for wearing a drysuit due to the
large latex booties
★ Warm synthetic layers
★ Wool hat
★ Non-cotton socks
★ Non-cotton gloves
Attendance Policy
Sailors practice in crew and skipper pairs over the season, meaning if a sailor misses practice for any
reason it is disruptive to not only their personal success but also their partner’s and the team at large.
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All sailors are required to attend daily practice with the required gear in order to earn a spring sports
credit. A sailor will receive a lunch detention for any unexcused absence. After three unexcused
absences the sailor will be dismissed from the team for the season, barring them from earning their
necessary sports credit. Academic help during practice hours is not considered an excused absences.
All absences will be deemed excused/unexcused by Gunston’s administration.
If sailors are tardy three times or more they will receive a lunch detention. Students are expected to
arrive to the boathouse at 2:20pm everyday, no exceptions.
Weekend Regatta Commitments
Attendance: Sailors do not have weeknight “games”, they have all-day weekend regattas. If sailors need to be
excused from a weekend regatta due to a prior commitment, excused absence, this must be communicated
to the coaches within the first two weeks of the season. Plan accordingly.
What to Bring:
★ Lunch
★ Water bottle
★ All required sailing gear
★ Change of warm clothes
★ A towel
★ Homework (bus rides are 1-2hrs each)
Parent involvement is enthusiastically welcomed at weekend regattas. Come along with the family and
watch from the dock, send extra water along, snacks, breakfast, etc. on the bus for the team or go as far as to
throw a lunch tailgate on location! Coordination between parents or general questions may be sent to Coach
George at mgeorge@gunston.org
Index of Sailing Centers:
Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC)
2 Compromise St.
Annapolis, MD
Note: High School events begin at the Junior Sailing House which is over the Eastport
Bridge from the main yacht club building. There is no food at this location.
Baltimore County Sailing Center (BCSC)
2200 Rocky Point Rd.
Baltimore, MD
Note: This is in an area far from Baltimore city itself. There are no nearby venues for
food.
D. C. Sail
2
600 Water St SW
Washington, DC 20024
Sailing Center Chesapeake (SCC)
Tall Timbers Marina
18521 Herring Creek Rd.
Tall Timbers, MD 20690
Note: This is about 2:15hrs away at a remote location. There is a restaurant at this
location. They do not welcome grilling as part of a tailgate.
Severn Sailing Association (SSA)
311 First St.
Annapolis, MD
Note: This is a second location for AYC/SSA events. It is from this location that
parents and friends can watch the sailing during the day. Typically there is a venue
open for food on the grounds.
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