Advocating Junior Big Boat Sailing

While youth sailing in dinghies is highly structured, with countless opportunities in most harbors, the promotion of junior big boat sailing is less prevalent. Here is an update from Joe Cooper on what is occurring next month in Newport, RI…

On August 14 and 15, there are two opportunities for local junior sailors – think high school and up to college – to get to sail on a big boat and then do an overnight race.

Thursday, August 14:
The Newport Station of the Storm Trysail Club & Foundation is holding their Junior Safety at Sea Seminar. This is a one-­‐day seminar aimed at introducing young sailors to the arts and sciences of sailing on a big boat safely and learning some of the related skills.

Friday, August 15:
The 10th edition of the Ida Lewis Distance Race in which there are offered two classes for young sailors, both high school sailors and college sailors.

– For the Youth Challenge class, boats must have a minimum two adults and 40% of the crew aged between 14 and 20 and who have taken a Jr. SAS within the past 24 months.

– For the Collegiate Challenge class, a minimum of two adults and 40% of the crew who are under 26. Ideally these boats would register under their college colors.

It is no secret that the need to develop more young sailors for big boat/offshore racing portion of this wonderful thing we all participate in called sailing. These two events are ideal venues to do this.