OVERVIEW
The UCLA Sailing Team is a small group of active, dedicated, and fun-loving students. We sail competitively with colleges and universities throughout California and the nation. Our district is the Pacific Coast (PCIYRA) which includes all of California and Hawaii, so most of our regattas are throughout the California coast-- we travel on weekends, usually 1-2 times a month.

We began competing again several years ago after a brief hiatus.   The team has shown considerable improvement over each of those years and capped off the 2007-2008 season by finishing 5th at the coed Pacific Coast Championships, six points out of 4th and the final berth for the national semi-finals. This was our best finish in recent memory, and was ahead of several varsity-level teams and behind only one other club team.

The team is also active off the water, continuously finding new and creative ways to build team morale and camaraderie; it is a friendly community in a large school.   Practices are held two to three times a week at the Marina Aquatic Center in Marina Del Ray, where UCLA has a fleet of 14 ft. Flying Juniors.

This page is meant to give both inexperienced and experienced readers some interesting and valuable information about the team and how it works-- if you are new to sailing, don't be alarmed if parts don't make sense.

BOATS
We sail Club Flying Juniors (CFJs), which is one of the two standard U.S. collegiate dinghys (the other being the 420, used mostly on the east coast). More detailed information on FJ's can be found at the manufacturer's website.

The FJ is just under 14 feet long, a small boat for two sailors which is great both to learn on and race at a more advanced level. Collegiate regulations do not allow us to use spinnakers, however some of our boats are spin rigged for our personal use during practice.

The team currently owns a fleet of 8 working FJs, and one triple trailer. Unfortunately, at $5,000 a piece it is a constant battle for us to acquire new boats. However we hope to significantly add to our fleet in the coming years, and are diligently working toward that goal.

LOCATION
The Sailing Team practices at the Marina Aquatic Center (MAC), the UCLA water sports facility located in Marina Del Rey, CA. We sail in the channel, which can be challenging at times due to other boat traffic, however it also means that we are able to consistently practice our skills in shifting wind and become accustomed to staying aware of those we share the water with. We often also practice outside the channel in Santa Monica Bay, where we occasionally come across pods of dolphins and seals, not to mention a great view of the beautiful Los Angeles coastline.

The MAC is about 20 minutes from UCLA (without traffic), and the team carpools as much as possible to reduce transportation costs and maximize efficiency. We house our 8 boats at the MAC, along with our trailer and other extra gear. The Sailing Team shares the facility with other UCLA water sports such as Men and Women's Crew, and also the many great community and student programs and lessons put on by the MAC staff.

UCLA CLUB SPORTS
The Sailing Team is part of the Club Sports program at UCLA, a division of the Recreation Department. A Club Sport is not simply a "club," it is in fact a recognized team sport at UCLA that does not have Varsity status. Other Club Sports include Lacrosse, Ice Hockey, Club Volleyball, Cycling, and many others. Although this means that we do not have the same financial support that a Varsity team would, we are part of a large network of other Club teams and a dedicated staff who works solely in our interest. Additionally, for the past five years we have had a team member on the Club Sports Executive Council, a volunteer council of select Club Sports team members which oversees Club Sports policies and practices, including budget distribution and disciplinary action.

REGATTAS
We sail regattas mostly throughout California, generally at Berkeley, Stanford, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, and San Diego. We also try to attend at least one out-of-state intersectional, such as Portland and/or Hawaii. Collegiate regattas are hosted by individual member schools, and most years (including 2008-2009) we host our own at UCLA. Our district (the PCIYRA), is divided into two sub-divisions: North and South. During the season, which starts in January, North and South schools run a qualification series, which determines which schools will continue to our regional championships (PCCs-- Pacific Coast Championships) toward the end of the academic year. Last year UCLA qualified for PCCs and finished 5th in our district.

In general, we leave Friday afternoon or evening for a weekend regatta, and return to UCLA by Sunday night. Although occasionally host schools are able to provide a fleet of boats for the races, usually we have to trailer our own boats to the regatta location. We are very strict on caravaning-- all team cars make an explicit effort to stay together, even over the long haul up to the Bay Area or the Northwest. In most regatta locations, especially the Bay Area, many members' parents have graciously invited us to stay at their homes.

COMMITMENT
Truthfully, the Sailing Team (as with any sports team or active group), consumes a great deal of its members' time. However, all members feel that the fun of sailing and the unique energy and bonds of the team itself make their time totally worthwhile. But, because the team relies essentially on the strength of its members, we universally require a high level of commitment from all members-- experienced or not, and no matter their skill level.

Practices are held MWF from approximately 1-6, and although no one is expected to attend 100% of practices, the entire team suffers when members are absent. Because this team is self-run and self-supported, it is only as good as we make it. Our competitive drive and sense of personal responsibility to the team keep all members running at a high and enthusiastic level.

updated September 28, 2006