1. Nova Scotia Sailing Boat Progression Model
October 2005

2. Boat Progression Model
Why a Boat Progression Model?
The Nova Scotia Yachting Association would like to help focus the boat choices of individual athletes and clubs to ensure that we are maximizing our available classes while continuing in line with the national progression model. Following this model will ensure that athletes:
Compete in a boat that is right for their size and weight.
Compete in a boat with a strong local fleet.
Compete a boat that has a strong National fleet.
Compete in a boat that will develop specific skills helping them to move into other more senior classes.
Compete in a class that has the right level of competition for their age and skill level.

3. NSYA Boat Progression Model
Optimist
Club 420
Byte
Radial
Club 420
RS:X Trainer
Radial
Laser
29er
Radial
Laser
Finn
Yngling
Star
470
Tornado
49er
RS:X

4. NSYA Classes NSYA or Regional Youth Classes:
These are the development classes in Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces that lead into the CYA Championship classes or Olympic class competition.
Class
Age Range
Weight Range (lbs)
Comments
Optimist
7 to 15
80 to 125
This is the strongest development class teaching young sailors the basics of racing developing them into great tactical thinkers.
Byte
14 to 16
110 to 140
This is a large class in eastern Canada and a development class for those moving from optis and are looking for a stepping stone.
420
14 to 18
110 to 160
The 420 is a great double-handed trainer and racer teaching the basic skills in a classic boat. It is also raced very competitively in the US and there is opportunity to take advantage of this competition.
Radial
15 and up
125 to 165
The new Women’s single-handed Olympic Class, as well as development level competition, the radial offers a high level of competition locally as well as across Canada. It is also a development class for men with the suggested upper age for this class being 17 or 18 based on growth potential.
RS:X Trainer
15 to 19 ?
This is the ideal trainer for athletes who want to enter into the windsurfing racing scene, developing skills that will be transferable to the new Olympic Class RS:X.

5. CYA Championship Classes
These classes offer the highest level of youth competition across Canada. Two of the classes are Olympic Classes which will expose the sailors to international level competition at non-youth events in Canada and the US.
Class
Age Range
Weight Range (lbs)
Comments
Radial
15 and up
125 to 165
The new Women’s single-handed Olympic Class, as well as development level competition, the radial offers a high level of competition locally as well as across Canada. It is also a development class for men with the suggested upper age for this class being 17 or 18 based on growth potential.
Laser
16 and up
165 to 195
The Men’s single-handed Olympic Class offers development level competition locally as well as a very high level of competition locally and across the country.
29er
15 to 19
130 to 160
A great skiff trainer, the 29er has a strong fleet in eastern Canada and is the championship CYA double-handed class. There is also opportunity for higher level competition at NA’s and World Championships.

6. Olympic Classes Class Age Range Weight Range (lbs) Comments Radial
15 and up
125 to 165
The new Women’s single-handed Olympic Class, as well as development level competition, the radial offers a high level of competition locally as well as across Canada.
Laser
16 and up
165 to 195
The Men’s single-handed Olympic Class offers development level competition locally as well as a very high level of competition locally and across the country.
Finn
19 and up
190 to 240
The heavy weight men’s single-handed Olympic Class offers mature high level competition throughout the world and is usually used as a graduation class from the laser.
Yngling
120 to 170
This three person women’s keelboat class offers high level mature competition throughout the world and is usually used as a graduation class from the Radial and the 470.
Star
180 to 280
This class is used as the graduation class from the finn and the laser and offers the highest level of tactical competition internationally.
470
120 to 165
This classic double-handed dingy offers a very high level of technical competition internationally.
49er
155 to 180
This high performance skiff class offers exciting competition in Canada and is growing in strength in North America.
Tornado
150 to 170
This high performance multihull offers a high level of technical competition internationally and is the only mutlihull class in the Olympics.
RS:X
125 to 160
The only windsurfing class at the Olympics, the RS:X is more versatile than the previous class and the international competition will be high once the boards have been distributed.

7. NSYA Learn To Sail Classes
White Sail
Opti:
Young trainer for sailors up to 125 lbs and 15 years old.
420 Dingy
All ages trainer for all sailors and all ages.
Echo:
White sail trainer only – could be replaced with a used 420.
Bronze Sail
All ages trainer for all sailors and all ages. Needed for the Bronze V spinnaker, sail theory and trapeze components.
Byte:
Single-handed trainer for smaller sailors (110 – 140 lbs)
Laser/Radial:
Single-handed trainers and advanced boats for sailors between 125 – 195 lbs.
Silver/Gold Sail
Young racing boat for sailors up to 125 lbs and 15 years old.
420:
Double-handed racing boat teaching classic double-handed skills, theory and tactics.
Young racing boat for sailors from 110 – 140 lbs and 16 years old at the National level.
Single-handed racing boat teaching basic and advanced boat-handling and tactics for sailors of all ages between the weights of 125 – 195 lbs.
29er:
Double-handed racing boat teaching skiff boat-handling, tactics and theory for sailors between 125 – 160 lbs.