General Questions
What to Bring?
What are CBIs Hours?
Juniors Questions
Are the children well supervised while they're on the water?
How does registration work?
What do the ratings mean?
Do the ratings carry over from year to year?
Does an experienced Junior, new to CBI, have to start with Solo?
What should a Junior wear?
Why can't parents go out on the dock?
Can Kids take their parents sailing?
What's an Ensign?
What's a First Mate?
What happens when a boat capsizes?
Should they pack a lunch?
Do they have to do the swim test at CBI? Does it carry over?
How can I make a donation to Community Boating?
General Questions
What to Bring
Sailing is a fun activity, but without the right stuff it can get really uncomfortable. This list will give you a good idea of what to bring to your sailing experience.
- Sunblock - Make sure you bring sunblock! It's hot and sunny all summer so get a big bottle of at least SPF15 and keep it in your bag.
You don't have to get the expensive stuff, just make sure it's waterproof.
- Hat and/or Sunglasses - You should protect your eyes as well as your skin,
so bring a hat and sunglasses.
- Proper Clothing - Sailing is an active sport so be dressed for it. Do not wear
dresses, $100 shoes or designer shirts because they will get ruined. Wear some loose
fitting clothing that's easy to move around in and okay to get wet. Wear an old pair of sneakers. If you don't have any,
Converse All Stars work great for around $20. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times. Jewelry of any kind should not be worn while sailing.
- Change of Clothes - Everyone gets wet sooner or later, so bring some clothes you
can change into for the ride home. We have a clothes dryer that costs a quarter, so you might
want to bring some pocket change too.
- Food - Bring a lunch! We have vending machines for snacks and small sandwiches, but for your real fuel
bring a brown bag. If you plan on using the vending machines make sure you bring change.
- Lockers - We do have lockers available to be used for the day. If you would like to use one you can bring
a lock from home or purchase one at the front desk. Note: Do not leave your bag out on the dock if you are
worried about it being stolen. If you have something valuable with you, bring a lock!
What are CBIs Hours?
CBI's season runs from Aprl 1 to October 31. Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday, 1pm until Sunset.
On weekends, CBI is open from 9am to Sunset
Juniors Questions
Are the children well supervised while they're on the water?
Yes! While our Juniors are in class, they have an instructor with them at all times. Anytime spent sailing on their own, they are under the careful watch of the
JP Staff both from the dock and from one or more of our several Safety Boats. However, CBI is a public building and Juniors are free to come and go as they please.
How does registration work?
There are two steps to signing up for the Junior Program. First, fill out the application (available at CBI, or at www.community-boating.org) to sign up for the
membership. Second, contact our front desk at (617) 523-1038 to register for a specific week of classes.
Do they have to leave as soon as their classes are over?
The Junior Program hours are 9-3 Monday - Friday during the summer. During these hours, when they are not in class, Juniors can sail on their own or with others, s
ign up for more classes, or hang out on the dock.
What do the ratings mean?
The first rating is Solo. With this rating, Juniors can sail a Mercury on their own on a Green Flag (light breeze) day. With more experience, they are ready for their
Helmsman rating, which allows them to sail on Red Flag days, and register for advanced classes. In boats other than Mercuries, a Basic rating allows Green Flag sailing, and a Full rating is for Red Flag days.
Do the ratings carry over from year to year?
Solo and Basic ratings don't carry over, but all other ratings do.
Does an experienced Junior, new to CBI, have to start with Solo?
An experienced Junior should talk to the Program Director or Assistant Program Director about getting the appropriate ratings. This may require a recommendation
from another sailing program or just a series of CBI ratings tests to be taken by the Junior.
What should a Junior wear?
Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty or wet, and dress in layers if it seems cool - it will probably warm up! Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are invaluable on
hot days. Also, shoes should have closed-toes. As a rule of thumb, don't bring anything sailing that you don't want to lose or get wet.
Why can't parents go out on the dock?
There are several reasons we don't allow parents on the dock:
- Safety - CBI is a public building and our Junior Program is large. In many cases, it is impossible discriminate between a parent and an unwanted visitor on the dock.
- Independence - CBI is a special place for children because it is a "Kid Zone." Being away from their parents, kids are free to develop their own identities with
their friends and instructors.
- Distractions - Even well-meaning parents create a distraction for the class, their child, and the instructors.
Can Kids take their parents sailing?
We will set aside various evenings for kids to show their parents what they've learned. Check our website or with our front office to find out when these evenings are.
What's an Ensign?
Ensigns are Juniors who volunteer to help the staff and teach their fellow sailors. To be an Ensign you must have your solo rating and want to help! Ensigns get
training in teaching methods, how to work the dock and how to help instructors!
What's a First Mate?
First Mates are Juniors who volunteer to help the staff and teach their fellow sailors. To be an First Mate you must be 12 years old have your Rhodes-19 rating
and want to help! First Mates get training in teaching methods, how to run the dock, and for the most experienced First Mates, how to drive the motorboat
What happens when a boat capsizes?
When one of our Mercuries capsizes, a staff member will immediately pick up the sailors in one of our safety boats, making sure they are unhurt, and bring
them back to the dock. Then, another staff member will return the boat to the dock where the wet sailors get to clean it up.
Should they pack a lunch?
There are vending machines with assorted snacks at CBI, but it is best to bring lunch and a bottle of water.
Do they have to do the swim test at CBI? Does it carry over?
The 75-yd swim test can be administered at any public pool, but must be accompanied by a note on pool letterhead with a lifeguard's signature,
confirming that the child has passed the test. This will be noted in our database, and the child won't need proof of swimming the next summer.
How can I make a donation to Community Boating?
Donations can be made through our front desk by cash, check or credit card. For complete information please see our Donations Page
