Pinto Lake -- El Toro Program

SCYC Junior Sailing Program

Ages 8-14

The Santa Cruz Yacht Club Pinto Lake El Toro Sailing Program is an entry-level racing program designed for sailors aged 8-14.

The program will teach all basic fundamentals of boat handling, rigging, racing, tactics, and sailing in different conditions, with lots of emphasis on proper boat handling and trim.

Photo: Sailing On Pinto Lake (Click here for larger image)

Whether you want to be a great racer, or a pleasure sailor, we will improve your skills. Our goal is for all you juniors to learn to love sailing as much as we do. This program can prepare young sailors for the Scholastic Racing Sailing Program which is available to high school students.

The planned dates are:

October 3, 10, 24, 31.

November 7, 14, 28.

December 5, 12, 19.

January 9, 23, 30.

February 6, 13, 27.

March 6, 20, 27.

October 3 will be a day for swimming qualification, boat checkout, rigging instruction and meeting one another. This session will be at the Santa Cruz Harbor after meeting at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club at 10:00 am. Bring clothing for swimming and PFDs.

On all other dates, we will be meeting at Pinto Lake in Watsonville. It is requested that each participant be at the lake with the boat rigged and having had lunch by 12 noon. We usually sail for two to two and a half hours.

The last date each month will be regatta day devoted to “official” races. October 31 will be the Pumpkin Regatta. Other regatta dates will be Mid-winter regattas.

What is the cost? The Pinto Lake program is free; however there are some associated costs. Each participant must be a Santa Cruz Yacht Club Junior Member at an annual cost of $55.00. Parents need not be Yacht Club members. There is a parking fee at Pinto Lake. Last year we got season passes for $25.00. All sailors must have their own El Toro sailboat and required safety equipment. If you rent an El Toro sailboat from the Santa Cruz Yacht Club the cost is $15 per month. The boats can be transported on a car carrier or a small trailer.

Photo: Pinto Lake Program 2002-2003 Season Award Winners (Click here for larger image)

How to get started? Get an application for Junior Membership from the Yacht Club or Click here for a Junior Sailing membership application form. Submit the application and then call Royce Fletcher at 426-6470 to be put on the Pinto Lake List. Show up at the Yacht Club October 3.

Useful Hyperlinks:

El Toro Rigging Diagram and Dolly Design

El Toro Boat Parts Quiz

El Toro Rigging Instructions