The Little Washington Sailing Club: Changing Young Lives the Answer Just May Be Blowing in the Wind

WORLD SAILING ADVENTURES The Little Washington Sailing Club: Changing Young Lives The answer just may be blowing in the wind Story and photos by Bill Kund ou can hear their die Neuhaus steers the bow through trims the mainsheet and settles the voices across the wa- the wind as her 14-year-old crew- boat onto its heading. ter. “Prepare to tack!” mate, Chris Ritter, releases the jib As the wind fills the sails and the “Ready!” “Tacking!” sheet and trims for the new course. boat begins to heel, Chris moves to YFifteen-year-old Mad- Once the tack is completed, Maddie the windward side of the cockpit. Maddie hikes out to reduce heel and of the Carolina Wind the 14-foot vessel accelerates and Yachting Center and skips across the harbor toward the another volunteer Washington town docks. When it all instructor. “It’s a comes together, making the boat go two-person boat; that where you want it to go using noth- means communica- ing but the wind is truly a bit like tion and coordina- magic. The big smiles on the faces tion. The skipper and of these fledgling sailors make it all crewman have to be worthwhile. on the same page in terms of sail trim, COMMUNICATION AND weight distribution COORDINATION and a number of “I love to see those kids learn other details.” sailing and have such fun,” says Watching the Dot Moate, chairperson of the Little two-person teams in Washington Sailing Club. action, it’s clear that Kevin Clancy, one of the volun- these young people teer instructors, agrees. “It’s great to are engaged in what get the kids outside. (There are) too they are doing. “Sail- many electronics; kids sit inside too ing connects with much.” Clancy, a recreational sailor, the analytical side grew up in the area sailing Sunfish of the brain,” says Andrea Radford, physics. The way the air flows over and Hobie Cats. He knows many the “instructor-in-charge,” of this the sails and the way water flows of the youngsters in the program youth sailing program. “It also builds over the hull, keel and rudder are in- because they are the same age as self-confidence and promotes self- tegral to sailing. The more they sail, his daughter, Kylee, who is enrolled reliance.” the better they will understand how as well. At the start of this year’s Radford, who has lived in Canada, and why the boat interacts the way it program, hearing the school needed Germany and Australia, credits sail- does with the wind and water.” help, he took advantage of an open ing for steering her into her course slot in the instructor certification of study at Virginia Tech, where she TEACHING BY EXAMPLE clinic and signed on. “Trying to do is majoring in aerospace and ocean At the Little Washington Sailing my share,” he says with a shrug. engineering. “Airplanes and sailboats Club, safety is paramount. Each par- While the volunteers agree that work according to the same princi- ticipant must have basic swimming getting young people outside is an pals,” she says. “It’s all about the con- skills. PFDs must be worn on the important part of the program, there cept of lift. A sail is like an airplane waterfront, docks and on board the is a lot of learning, too. “Sailing wing turned on its side.” boats at all times. Instructors teach teaches teamwork and cooperation,” Norwood concurs. The kids may by example. says Jules Norwood, general manager not realize it, “but they’re learning At the beginning of this two-week WORLD SAILING ADVENTURES Looking for a community sailing program in your neighborhood? session, word had filtered down to Wind Yachting Center and Cypress ship funds are available for children participants that an early part of the Landing Realty—donated funds for who need financial help. Each day’s safety procedures involves intention- DWOW to purchase the boats.” That session begins with 15 to 30 minutes ally capsizing the boat, learning to summer, six used 14-foot Vanguard of classroom time. The rest of the right it and getting back on board. Club 420s were purchased from the time is spent on the water. Understandably, many of the kids New Bedford, MA Yacht Club and The founders of the program are initially a little apprehensive at trailered to North Carolina. couldn’t have chosen a better base. the thought of this. Once they go After a volunteer crew spent the Located on the Pamlico River at its through the drill, however, they be- remainder of the year cleaning, junction with the Tar, Washington come so confident that they repeat- repairing and upfitting boats in ad- has a nautical history going back sev- edly request permission to practice dition to building the floating docks eral centuries. Haven’s Wharf, home the capsize drill as a of the Carolina Wind means of cooling Yachting Center, is off from the sum- one of the oldest mer heat. buildings in North In addition to Carolina still used for sailing, the partici- its original purpose. pants are respon- Built in 1802, it was sible for rigging one of the busiest and de-rigging commercial shipping their own boats wharfs in the state. before and after Just a short sail to each sail. This the east is Bath, the teaches knot tying first town in North skills and care of Carolina and home the equipment. of Blackbeard. “We’re teaching Recognizing the them basic re- unique advantages sponsibility,” says of this location and Norwood. “They capitalizing on the quickly learn that centuries-old boat if their gear is a mess and it takes on which to store them, the program building tradition of Eastern North longer to rig, they don’t get as much was launched in the summer of Carolina, Pacific Seacraft, the 30-year- time on the water.” 2009. Other donations have since old manufacturer of premier sailing The Club, which now has two come in. Three motor launches have yachts twice named to Fortune’s successful seasons behind it, was joined the fleet to be used as “chase list of “100 Products That America founded by a group of dedicated boats” from which the instructors Makes Best,” chose to relocate its fac- sailing enthusiasts who decided to direct the students. These boats tory to Washington in 2008 as well. create a sailing school for the youth are maintained by volunteer Ron “From a sailing perspective this place of the area. The goal was to promote Beausoleil, who was working on a is hard to beat,” says Steve Brodie, self-reliance, awareness of safety, temperamental outboard the day I Pacific Seacraft’s president, whose sportsmanship, teamwork, self-confi- sailed with the group. daughter is enrolled in the sailing dence and respect for others. program. “Right here in downtown “Former Downtown Washington A BEFITTING BASE Washington, you can literally board on the Waterfront executive direc- Little Washington Sailing Club the biggest sailing yacht we make, tor Bob Trescott did most of the classes are held in the summer and head east on the Pamlico River and original footwork and contacting are open to boys and girls between sail anywhere in the world,” of sponsor merchants,” says Moate. the ages of 10 and18. Each class No matter what kind of sailing These merchants—Captain Sam’s is held for two weeks, three hours you enjoy, from small dinghies to Boat Yard, McCotter’s Marina, East per day. Two sessions per day are large cruising yachts, you can do Carolina Sailing School, Carolina offered, and the fee is $200. Scholar- it here. You can charter a yacht to 52 BLUE WATER SAILING • August 2011 Check out US Sailing’s website (www.ussailing.org) for a complete list of instructional programs by state cruise the Pamlico Sound from the learn to sail, you can make these lesson in renewable energy and Carolina Wind Yachting center or trips using little or no fossil fuels. conservation. learn to sail at East Carolina Sailing This concept begins to take root as Each person on board has a direct School, both of which are located at young people progress through the and measurable impact on consump- Haven’s Wharf. program. Harnessing wind energy tion of electricity, food and water. If The harbor in Downtown Washing- becomes a tactile experience rather you leave the water running as you ton and the Pamlico River are benign than some abstract topic discussed do the dishes or while you brush enough for beginning sailors, while on evening news programs. your teeth, for example, everyone on some 70 miles to the east, separated “One of the key things we teach board will be affected by your care- from the mainland by the barrier the kids participating in the youth lessness. Once you’re out of fresh islands of The Outer Banks, is Cape sailing program is environmental water you’re out of water. No excuses Hatteras, whose lighthouse marks the awareness and respect,” says Nor- will fix that. “Graveyard of the And, while it may Atlantic.” seem like magic, Head out the virtually anyone who Pamlico River is willing to make the to its junction effort can learn to sail with the Pamlico at some level. Young Sound, turn left or old, big or small, into the Intrac- male or female, no oastal Waterway matter if your interest and meander your lies in racing, cruising way to Norfolk, or just spending the Virginia. Continue day outdoors, sailing north and you’re gives you the opportu- in the Chesapeake.

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