By Sara Morgan Watters Three countries, eight junior Optimist sailors, one passion: the love for sailing. This is what the 2015 Youth Sailing Exchange (YSE) looked like in its third summer running. Optimist sailors from the U.S. and Spain got to experience first-hand the meaning of cultural exchange. During their five week journey, sailors traveled between Spain, Wales, and the U.S. to train, compete, and most importantly learn about each other’s culture, country, and language.
Unlike just competing at international regattas, the YSE allows sailors to get the international exposure while experiencing it at a much deeper personal level. Sailors are hosted by a family, a team, and a club where they gain cultural understanding by immersing themselves in that environment. Language learning, cultural understanding, new friendships, and traveling are considered equally important as improving competitive racing skills.
This summer was no exception as sailors competed at local, national, and international regattas representing their respective countries, while traveling and training as one team. They began in Barcelona, Spain where they trained with one of the most internationally recognized Optimist coaches, Magda Resano, and her team at Club Nautic El Balis. Their time sailing in Barcelona was balanced with activities, such as sightseeing around Barcelona, paddle boarding on the Mediterranean and learning about the Spanish and Catalan culture.
The schedule of the YSE intentionally coincides with a major national or international event, where sailors can test their skills against the top sailors of those countries. In this case, the team traveled to Pwllheli, Wales where they competed in the Volvo Gill Optimist British National Championship. Sailors performed well with Mariner Fagan, Annapolis Yacht Club, finishing 8th and Jordan Bruce, Annapolis Yacht Club, finishing 17th overall.
Together the group flew to Annapolis, Maryland, where they began the second phase of their summer. There they trained at Annapolis Yacht Club with coach Tomás Ruiz de Luque. Being based in Annapolis allowed sailors to enjoy the benefits of the Chesapeake Bay while being close enough to visit Washington D.C. and New York City, which their host families graciously integrated into their busy schedules.
The New England Championship served as their next major event, drawing close to 300 sailors from all over the U.S., making it one of the most competitive events offered in the States. YSE sailor Maddie Hawkins, Annapolis Yacht Club, placed second overall along with two other top 30 finishes from the YSE team.
While the sailors who participate in the program are competitive at an international level, they learn through this experience that their competitors are sailors like themselves and that racing is just part of the overall international experience. This helps foster understanding, empathy, and caring. Instilling these qualities at a young age is just one way sailing can contribute to making this world a better place.
The opportunities around the Youth Sailing Exchange are endless, but it takes the right groups of people to execute it. Keeping it affordable through structures like free hull chartering and volunteer host families, make this experience a community effort between the Club, the families and the coaches. The fun and joy this brings to the sailors and host families is unsurpassed and rewarding and we look forward to expanding this opportunity in 2016.
Do you want to take part in the YSE? We are currently looking for host families, Clubs and/or travel teams that would be interested in participating. We are also looking to begin to offer an exchange to sailors in the 420, laser, and windsurfing classes.
Sara Morgan grew up sailing in Maryland, but started the YSE while living in Barcelona, where she worked as an English teacher. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Cross-Cultural Psychology in Wellington, New Zealand. You can contact her for more information about how to become involved at saramorgan.watters@gmail.com
You can also check out the website www.youthsailingexchange.com or facebook page, www.facebook.com/sailingexchange
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