Welcome to Team SailFit!
We appreciate your interest in joining Team SailFit. We began our youth team in January, 2011 after Coach Kurt Taulbee completed his contract with the Clearwater Yacht Club Youth Team. Kurt is an experienced Laser sailor and coach and is excited to teach the team members all of the lessons he has learned over the years. Meka is an experienced fitness and nutrition coach with unique, effective methods for sailors. She has a strong focus on proper nutrition both on and off the water.
SailFit keeps a focus on safety and the coaches keep their certifications in CPR and First Aid current. SailFit Incorporated carries full liability insurance.
Attached with this letter you will find Team SailFit’s mission statement, team policies and more information on the coaches.
We appreciate your consideration of Team SailFit and we look forward to answering any questions that you may have.
Kind regards,
Kurt & Meka Taulbee
Team SailFit Mission Statement
- Influence youth athletes in a positive life direction through sailing
- Provide access to high-level coaching for beginning through advanced sailors
- Provide high-level coaching at weekly practices, local regattas and team travel events
- Provide high-level athletic and nutritional training
- Help develop a positive mental game for sailing and life
- Foster a positive team atmosphere that focuses on fun, improvement, giving your best and succeeding
Team SailFit Policies, 2013/ 14
Team Eligibility and Costs Sailors may join the team on invitation, with a yearly commitment for a monthly team fee of $150. A youth or family membership to the Clearwater Community Sailing Center (CCSC) is also required. Storage of a boat, dolly and sailing equipment is included in the monthly team fee.
Team boats are available if a sailor does not have their own boat to use. The monthly coaching fee including use of a team boat is $200. Team boats are available indefinitely, although it is assumed that a sailor would acquire their own boat at some point. Sailors using team boats are 100% responsible for all damage beyond normal wear and tear. Sailors using team boats are encouraged to purchase their own racing sail to use during regattas.
There is a sibling discount of $50 per month for sailors using team boats and $25 for sailors not using team boats.
Non-team sailors may be invited to participate with the team. Non-team fees are $75 for a practice, $100 per day for local youth regatta coaching and $125 per day for high-level or championship events. The use of a boat for non-team sailors is $75 per day. Non-team sailors are responsible for paying the daily launching fee and any storage fees at CCSC and making sure a CCSC waiver is signed.
All team and non-team sailors are required to sign a SailFit liability waiver and photo release. Sailors may also be asked to place advertising on their boat or sail.
Joining Team SailFit is a yearly commitment from September 1st to August 31st. Team fees are due at the beginning of each month. SailFit will send an email invoice, if requested, near the end of the preceding month. Checks should be made out to SailFit. The monthly team fee is due whether or not a team member sailed in any practices or regattas for that month. However, there is no fee due for the first month a team member does not sail. If the team member has a second month without sailing, half of the sailor's normal team fee is due. The normal team fee is due for any additional months that the team sailor does not participate in practice or racing. Extenuating circumstances are reviewed on a case by case basis. Sailors may join the team on invitation, on a month to month basis. The team fees for a month to month membership is $250 including use of a team boat and $200 for sailors that own their own boat.
All sailors that have their own boats, and sailors using team boats, are responsible for loading, unloading and transportation to and from regattas. SailFit has team trailers if they are needed. Parents will be called upon to tow either a team trailer or a coach boat.
Sailors may have team affiliations other than SailFit. However, it is assumed that Team SailFit is the primary affiliation, and as such, all team members are required to list first “SailFit” in their regatta registrations. Team members should also include CCSC in their registrations. Please register as "SailFit/ CCSC" for your team or sailing club.
Practice The team practices one weekend day per week with 3 to 4 hours of on the water training time. From time to time, practice may be scheduled an additional weekend day, or weekday, for additional preparation for important events. Also, advanced only practices may be scheduled periodically. Sailors should be prepared for exercise sessions in addition to the on the water training. Additional private training is available from coach Kurt.
Fitness Training The team will follow recommendations set forth by Coach Meka. Periodically, Meka will conduct fitness training sessions for the team which include discussions on proper nutrition. Additional one-on-one training and fitness program development and monitoring is available with coach Meka.
Local Regattas Included in the team fee is coaching at local regattas. This includes youth regattas and open Laser Class events. Regatta expenses such as vehicle fuel, accommodations, coach boat fuel, team water/ food are divided equally among the team sailors participating at each event. Non-team sailors may be invited to participate in regattas at the coach’s discretion.
Team Travel The team may travel to non local events. Some events that the team may want to travel to are the SAISA High School Qualifiers and Championships, US Youth Qualifiers and Championships, US Single Handed Qualifiers and Championships, ISAF Youth World Qualifiers, Nationals, North Americans, Atlantic Coasts, Gulf Coasts, No Coasts, Great Lakes, Canadians, CORK and other district championships. Many of these regattas are open Laser Class events where grand prix points can be earned. The coaching fee for these North American events is a minimum of $350 per day.
Some of our team sailors may also want to participate in international events such as the open youth Worlds, open Worlds, ISAF Youth Worlds and World Cup or Europa Cup Championships. The coaching fee for international events is a minimum of $450 per day.
As the events are scheduled from the Laser Class, US Sailing, SAISA and ISAF, we will make an assessment of which team members are motivated to participate and then decide the viability of traveling as a team. Additional expenses, if needed, for flights and coach boat rentals, will be added to the normal expenses and divided equally among the attending team. Expenses incurred from any coach boat damage or damage to equipment used to facilitate coaching of the team, will be shared equally by the team members at that particular event.
Team travel is not required and depending on the number of sailors traveling or not traveling, an additional coach may be hired. The expenses to hire an additional coach will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Discipline Sailors are expected to represent themselves and the team with high regard. We practice good sportsmanship on and off the water and poor behavior is not tolerated. Should a problem occur with a team member, the coach will attempt to remedy the situation directly with the sailor. If the problem continues the coach will discuss the situation with the sailor’s parents. If the situation does not improve the coach will decide what disciplinary action to take which may include suspension or expulsion from the team.
The Team SailFit policies evolve over time and any suggestions are welcome.
