Does being on the team cost money? |
Yes! Each semester we collect dues, which are $75 for new members and $50 for returning members. Dues go toward emergency payments if anything were to happen with our boats, getting extra gear to keep the price constant for members, paying for gas for our chase boat, and toward purchasing needed items to run fundraisers for the team.
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Is it possible/realistic to be on the Sailing Team as well as in other clubs? |
Yes, of course! Many of our members are also involved in Greek life, other clubs, and other organizations on campus. However, you will get out of this club what you put into it! The more involved you are the more fun you will have, however, if you miss a meeting or practice because you are at an event for another club, no worries! Just update our Captain Brendan anytime you have to skip a practice, we have a group-chat just for practices.
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Do I have to have any sailing experience to join? Are there any qualifications? |
You do not have to have any experience to join! We will teach you all you need to know. The only thing you need to be able to do is swim-- at the beginning of each semester, we conduct swim tests in the Maggs Gym pool for new members. Returning members who have already taken the swim test do not have to repeat it; once you have passed you have passed for your entire career on the team!
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What are practices like? How long do they last? |
We practice at Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Due to sailing being very dependent on weather and wind, we do not have a set practice schedule. We leave from the TETC parking lot at 3:30 on a practice day to all go down to Ocean Pines together. If you have class that ends at 3:30 or 3:45, talk to one of the captains and we will see about leaving a little bit later. We carpool to practice, so if you have a car on campus we will be asking you to do your part and drive to some practices, as we hate to make the same people drive every time.
We usually get back from practice at about 7pm. When we get off the water is very dependent on both when sundown is and the temperature outside. Due to safety reasons, we do not sail too close to sundown and therefore have to be off the water at a specific time. |
What is "Chalk Talk?" |
Chalk Talk is our weekly meeting session, for Spring 2018, they are Thursday's at 8pm in Purdue Hall Room 275.
These meetings are where we convene and review things going on with the club. Committees (descriptions on another page of the website) will also have a chance to share progress and updates on tasks pertaining to their group. Chalk Talks are mandatory (unless you have been an approved excuse) due to the fact that we use that time for important updates and information. We also look at who regularly comes to Chalk Talk to decide who gets to race in regattas for that semester. |
What is a regatta? Do I have to participate? |
A regatta is a series of boat races! We compete against other colleges on the eastern shore in a few of these throughout the semester. If you want to learn more about our conference you can go to the MAISA (Mid Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association) home page.
It is not required that you participate in the races, however many people find that they really enjoy it once joining the team and learning how to sail. Even if you decide not to race, you will be taught racing techniques in practice. |
Are there social medias you use to inform members of meeting times and practices? |
We have an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We post on our Twitter and Facebook about practice and race information. To keep the team up to date day to day we use Group Me which we add everyone to when you join!
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