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Sailing program teaches youngsters about wind, water and life
By MARIANNE KLINGEL
Article published on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/091207_bee-01.jpg) |
| Photo by MARIANNE KLINGEL |
| Clearwater Yacht Club sailing instructor Eric Bardes gives his young students a tow back to the Sailing Center after a lesson in the gulf outside Clearwater Pass. |
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CLEARWATER BEACH – Like a mother duck watching over her ducklings, the captain of the coach boat keeps watch over his charges – in this case 10 youngsters piloting their tiny prams across Clearwater Bay.
Although they look awfully small to be in boats alone, the children are already quite accomplished. They round buoys, tack back and forth, and come about with ease. They are participants in the Clearwater Yacht Club youth sailing program, which provides youths ages 8 to 18 with sailing lessons and the many fun and exciting activities that accompany them.
The program was started in 1986, mainly for children of club members, but is also open to nonmembers as well. It operates out of the Clearwater Sailing Center on Sand Key, a safe and convenient location for practice in both bay and gulf waters. The younger children begin sailing the Optimist prams and then at age 14 or 15, move up onto the larger and faster Lasers.
Past Commodore of CYC and current youth sailing program coordinator David Billings said that sailing provides children with a great sport in which they can compete as equals, even across gender lines.
“Girls and boys compete on an even keel in 99 percent of the events,” he said. “It is a physical sport and each competitor sails the type and size of boat that works for them.”
Billing believes that sailing is especially valuable for pre-teens and teens.
“It teaches them to be self-reliant because there is not anyone there to do everything for them. Sailing is not a brutal sport, but it is not an easy one, either,” he said. “There are instructors watching over their safety, but the kids have to make their own decisions. You talk to a 12-year-old sailor, he or she can carry on an in-depth conversation.”
From 25 to 30 children and teens participate on a regular basis in the sailing activities, which include lessons, practice, local regattas, and travel to competitions located out of town or state. The sailors compete as individuals but also represent their team in the regattas. While it is a year-round sport, most of the CYC activities are held during winter months between September and May. During the summer, many of the sailors travel to the New England area for regattas.
It does take a commitment to be in the program. During the fall and winter season, the young sailors practice every Saturday and Sunday and one weekday after school. The commitment has its rewards; many of the participants have gone on to compete nationally and internationally. Paige Railey, the gold medalist at the 2007 Pan American games, got her start in the CYC Youth Sailing Program.
The local program is highly respected in the field. Five sailors from CYC have won slots for the 2008 Olympic trials in Newport this fall. Each country is allowed only one sailor in each class, and it is highly unusual for one club to have five competitors qualified for the trials.
But it’s definitely not all work and no play. Billings says that the program also “offers kids a very positive social life. There’s a great sense of fun and camaraderie on the water and during all the activities. Our members form friendships that can last into their college years and, for some, all their lives.”
For more information on the CYC Youth Sailing program, contact David Billings at 442-3430 or david@baua ssoc.com.
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Article published on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007
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