By Airwaves Writer Gretchen Croll
When Sailing is available for all, a great community develops…
The best aspect of the sport of sailing is the community it creates and fosters. Whether close to home or travelling abroad, there is almost always a sailor to find. Making this sport accessible to as many people—especially children—as possible, is an important duty to fulfill in the local community. There are several programs around the country which offer more accessibility to everyone in their community. Programs around the country offer their services to physically handicapped individuals, people who never thought they could learn to sail and to people who never knew the sport of sailing existed. Programs like these are giving the sport of sailing a bright future.
Sailing, due to the nature of the sport, seems to be a rich man’s pastime. Gear is expensive, parts are expensive and boats are most definitely expensive. Breaking this stereotype is an important aspect of two programs; Sail Martha’s Vineyard—located in Vineyard Haven, MA—and Waukegan Junior Sail—located in Waukegan, IL. Both of these programs are 501c3 non-profit organizations and they strive to offer learn to sail program to everyone, despite their socio-economic status. As non-profit organizations, there are many creative ways to raise the funds required to maintain a quality program including boat sales, spaghetti dinners, silent auctions and simple donations—large or small—whatever can be given is much appreciated. Maggie Lumkes, waterfront director for Sail MV, says most of the program’s donations are small, but add up in order to help the program keep running.
This program is especially essential on Martha’s Vineyard, due to the integral part the sea and maritime trade have played in the history of the island. Ms. Lumkes gave me an example of just how much sailing and especially Sail MV mean to the island community through a conversation she had with a student of the program. The student said that sailing with Sail MV is a part of growing up on the island; children look forward to turning 10 because they know that they will be able to start sailing lessons at Sail MV. This is a great example of how one program can affect a community at large and fulfill a vital role within that community, even when competing against other sailing. f“The program came from a community need,” Ms. Lumkes told me, and it is clear the program tries to give back to that community as much as they can.
The Waukegan Junior Sailing program offers many of the same benefits as Sail MV, but does so in a community that is less focused on the water than the island community of Martha’s Vineyard. For some of the less advantaged children who attend the program offered by Waukegan Junior Sailing, this is their first experience on the water. In this way, the Waukegan Junior Sailing program is quite unique; it offers new experiences to many different individuals and opens their world to the great experience of sailing.
This Waukegan Junior Sailing program also focuses on the environmental interaction sailing provides to the young people involved. In a community without much outdoor activity outside of the school system, this program is a great addition to the summer school brouchure. The community in Waukegan has a broader base than that of Martha’s Vineyard, but children come from near and far to be involved in the program. There have even been interactions with summer school children, Park District involvement as well as the local Boy Scout troop. This shows the Waukegan Junior program is providing a well-rounded group of individuals a safe environment to learn about water safety and gain independence and confidence in their abilities.
Though having some less advantaged children in the program can require a great deal of creativity and hard work from everyone involved, according to Board President, Randy Syme it ultimately has a very positive effect. “On the flip side of the economic equation, it profoundly impacts everyone else, from the board to the instructors, right down to the other students.” Other students may have a chance to witness another lifestyle, one which may not be as privileged as their own. This can impact a young person’s life very deeply.
Both of these programs also offer accommodations for individuals with physical handicaps in order to offer them the best experience on the water possible. There is also a commitment to individuals of all ages to learn to sail, both Sail MV and Waukegan Junior Sailing run learn to sail classes for adults in addition to their classes for the youth. Sail MV also offers courses dealing with all aspects of maritime education including Coast Guard certified captain’s courses among others. This allows people to be better educated seaman and stay connected to the water during the cold winter months.
Making sailing accessible to all people encourages the continuation of the sport and helps to make the lives of all involved more enriched and fulfilling. This practice guarantees a popular and diverse sport for future generations.
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