Deepa BharathWhether kids want to be a...

Deepa Bharath

Whether kids want to be a casual Sunday sailor, gear up for fierce

competition or simply get a feel for the water and sailing, the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club may have what they want.

The Spring Junior Sailing Program at the club took off Sunday.

More spots are available, Youth Sailing Director Erin Frederick said.

The program, for children ages 7 to 18, is just a sort of “warming

up” for what’s to come in the summer, she said.

“We normally have 15 to 20 kids in the spring, but that number

goes up to 75 to 100 in the summer,” Frederick said. “Also, we only

have classes two Sundays a month, but in the summer, it’s five days a

week.”

The goal of the program is to help children appreciate the bay,

she said.

“They learn skills they can use for the rest of their lives,”

Frederick said.

Classes are offered at two levels. The beginners class will give

first- and second-year sailors the opportunity to develop skills and

confidence through simple, fundamental exercises, Frederick said.

The classes are formulated to give the children a basic knowledge

of seamanship and rigging, safety on the water and navigating to

simple destinations. The sabot racing classes are designed for the

advanced racers. Along with participating in a number of spring

regattas, students in this class will focus on other aspects of

racing. All sailors are required to have their own sabot.

The program not only teaches boat handling, but emphasizes

sportsmanship and safety. A lot of time is devoted to improving

swimming strokes and upper body strength.

Frederick herself was the winner of the Junior Lido Nationals in

1997 and Women’s Nationals in 1998. All instructors who teach the

program have U.S. Sailing credentials. The student-to-teacher ratio

is 8 to 1.

“Our mission is to create a self-sustaining youth sailing program

that instills a lifelong appreciation for sailing and yachting,”

Frederick said.