Description
Five-Day Performance Race Week®
North U St Thomas Performance Race Week will be offered twice in 2023:
Choose either FEBRUARY 6-10 and MARCH 6-10, 2023.
Looking to sign up for the March clinic? Click here
Curriculum
The North U. St. Thomas Performance Race Week teaches refined techniques to transform you from a racer into a winner. Sailboat racing draws upon a broad mix of skills. We’ll improve your skills in every facet of racing trim, tactics, boat handling, and driving; and send you home a better, more versatile racer. By having your coach on board we’re able to focus on your particular skill set.
A Coach on Every Boat
Using a one design fleet of ten IC-24s with a coach aboard each boat, each sailor gets close personal attention for the five full days of sailing.
The IC-24
The IC-24 is a comfortable, responsive, stable racing boat. Built from a modified J24, the IC-24 features a large open cockpit with plenty of room for each crew member to do their job.
Sailing, Seminars, Video
The Clinic is Five Full Days! We’ll be sailing 6 hours each day with a midday seminar and lunch break. Each day concludes with a video review following the afternoon sailing session. The clinic opens Monday with a focus on boat handling and sail trim. Tuesday is devoted to spinnakers and starting drills. Wednesday and Thursday we run full races to integrate all the skills required for racing success. On Friday we keep score… but still keep the coaches on board.
Lunches, Dinner
Lunches are included, as is dinner at the St Thomas Yacht Club on Tuesday evening.
Water, Air, Wind
Did we mention the 78°f water temp. or the 82°f air, or the 8-12 knot winds? This is a sailing paradise.
Bring your team or come alone
Sign Up as a crew of 4 and we’ll turn you into a team; or sign up alone and we’ll team you up with other sailors.
A Full Five-Day Clinic
At North U we believe racing success is built of on a pyramid of boat handling, boat speed, and tactics. At our Race Weeks (yup, our trademarked events) we work our way up the pyramid building a solid foundation on our way to the top. The clinic starts with training in crew work, spinnaker handling, helming, and upwind trim. From there we move on to racing trim with a focus on the teamwork required to optimize performance. Next we build racing skills, with a big emphasis on starting. Throughout the clinic we build on existing skills and add new skills through a series of drills and races. We cover every facet of racing and combine hands-on on-the-water experience with shoreside seminars and video review.
The program will be led by North U Director Bill Gladstone.
Author of the renowned North U Performance Racing Trim and North U Performance Racing Tactics books, and Director of North U since 1997; Bill has been teaching racing for decades. Graduates of his seminars and clinics are racing and winning in fleets around the world. In St. Thomas, Bill will be joined by a cadre of outstanding coaches: Not just great sailors; these are championship racers with years of coaching experience. Working as a team, and with a coach aboard each boat, you will get close personal attention to help you build and refine your racing skills.
Add Bill’s Books
If you do not already own them you can add Bill Gladstone’s Performance Racing Trim and Performance Racing Tactics to your registration. While not required for the class, these books are a great addition to any racing sailor’s library. They offer complete coverage of Racing Trim and Racing Tactics in an easy, accessible style. Add the books at registration with FREE Shipping (US only) and we will send them right away.
Full Schedule and Program:
Monday February 6 or March 6,
8:30-9:15 Shore Session:
Check In / Sign In / Boat Draw
9:30-11:30 Sailing Session
Trim, Boat Handling, Crew Org
Upwind Trim: Angle of Attack/ Depth/ Twist
Solo drills
Windward/ Leeward Loops
11:45-1:00: Class Session with lunch
Trim, Boat Handling, Crew Org
Upwind Trim: Angle of Attack/ Depth/ Twist
Spinnaker Trim and Handling
1:30-4:30: Sailing Session
More Boat Handling and Sail Trim
Trim and Sail Controls, Tacking
Pairs drills
Upwind and downwind boat handling and sail trim.
Monday Evening
5:00-6:30 pm: Welcome Party
Welcome Party at St Thomas Yacht Club
Tuesday
8:30-11:30: Sailing Session
Spinnaker Trim and Handling
Windward/ Leeward course for spinnaker practice
Continued work on upwind trim and performance
11:45-1:00: Class Session with lunch
Starting Strategy and Tactics
1:30-4:30: Sailing Session
Starting Drills & Practice
Series of rolling starts with sprint to ladder rung.
Positioning, Control, Acceleration and Lane-Holding Drills
5:00-6:00: Video Debrief
7:00-9:00: St Thomas YC buffet dinner
Wednesday
8:30-11:30: Sailing Session
Starting Drills & Practice
Races with Practice Starts
Spinnaker Trim and Handling Drills
11:45-1:00: Class Session with lunch
Starting Strategy and Tactics – cont.
Spinnaker Trim and Handling – cont.
1:30-4:30: Sailing Session
Races with Practice Starts
Two rolling starts leading into a race.
5:00-6:00: Video Debrief
Thursday
8:30-11:30: Sailing Session
Races with Practice Starts
Two rolling starts leading into a race.
11:45-1:00: Class Session with lunch
Upwind and Downwind Strategy & Tactics
Buoy Racing/ Pt to Pt Racing
1:30-4:30: Sailing Session
Races with Practice Starts
Windward Leeward Races
Open Water/ Pt to Pt Races
5:00-6:00: Video Debrief
Friday, February 10 or March 10
8:30-11:30: Sailing Session
Regatta!
Races with Practice Starts
Keep score! Coaching between races…
11:45-1:00: Class Session with lunch
Rules, Tactics, Morning Video
1:30-4:30: Sailing Session
Regatta!
Races with Practice Starts
Keep score! Coaching between races…
5:00-6:00: De-Brief and Prize Giving
Performance Race Week® Registration
Enrollment is limited. COVID: Full COVID Vaccination REQUIRED
Enroll online or call Bill Gladstone at North U to sign up: 203 245-0727
Clinic Fee: $2490/ person
Save $600: Sign up as a crew of 4 and save $150/ person.
Team Fee: $2340/ person for a crew of 4
Pre-Register Now Risk Free: Paid in Full or $500/ person Deposit fully refundable until November 20, 2022.
Furthermore if the clinic is canceled due to COVID (or other cause) you will receive a full refund. We cannot be responsible for other expenses – such as travel or accommodations.
What’s Included
– Five days of sailing and on the water training
– Coach on board
– Race Ready IC24 with new North Sails
– Class sessions and video review
– 5 days of lunches
– Dinner on Tuesday evening
What’s NOT Included
– Travel
– Accommodations
– Other meals
Requirements
– Strong sailing skills and some racing experience.
– Ability/ Agility to sail on an active 24 foot boat.
Questions? Contact Us:
Bill.Gladstone@NorthU.com
203 245-0727
Travel & Lodging Information :
Travel
Plan your arrival for Sunday, February 5th or March 5th.
The clinic starts at 8:30am Monday morning!
The clinic concludes on Friday evening, February 10th or March 10th.
Plan your departure for Saturday, February 11th March 11th…
Or arrive early and stay … forever!
Your 30 day Club Membership allows you access to the boats on weekdays.
Accommodations*
A variety of accommodations are available.
One option is VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner) at the Anchorage condos or other condos near the St Thomas Yacht Club (6224 Yacht Club Rd, St Thomas USVI).
In addition to resort hotels there are a number of condos, villas, and homes for rent in the (east end) area.
Download a PDF of Accommodations listings here: STSC Accommodations
If you’re signing up alone and want to consider sharing a two bedroom condo with another sailor let us know and we can put you in touch with other sailors in the same boat… I mean situation.
Performance Race Week® Registration
Enrollment is limited. COVID: Full COVID Vaccination REQUIRED
Clinic Fee: $2490/ person
Save $600 more: Sign up as a crew of 4 and save $150/ person.
Team Fee: $2340/ person for a crew of 4
Pre-Register Now Risk Free: Paid in Full or $500/ person Deposit fully refundable until November 20, 2022.
Furthermore if the clinic is canceled due to COVID (or other cause) you will receive a full refund. We cannot be responsible for other expenses – such as travel or accommodations.
Questions? Contact Us:
Bill.Gladstone@NorthU.com
203 245-0727
