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Summer Sailstice happens each year just as school gets out for summer and loads of junior sailing programs hit full stride. These programs bring kids across the country the opportunity to enjoy their summer freedom on the water. In a recent issue of Scuttlebutt (http://www.scuttlebuttsailing.com/) Craig Leweck relayed the value of getting your kids sailing on their own this summer.
Each June signifies the beginning of junior sailing programs around the US. This year, my nine year old would need his own Naples Sabot, and the 'hand-me-down' boat from his uncle required a lot of work. With four weeks to go, I moved the project to the top of the 'to do' list, and naively forged on.
The boat had been idling for 20+ years, and the only remaining parts of value were the mast and pintles. Everything else was gone, rotten, or worn out. Soon began the patching, painting, buffing, varnishing, and purchasing of $900 worth of parts. Before it was done, over forty hours were needed to get this sabot back in racing shape. Of course, there is no guarantee that my son will become a devoted sailor, but the sacrifice and expense that went into the project was required for him to have a competent boat.
The effort needed for a youth to become a sailor is immense when compared to other sports. I could not help but think of those parents who look to soccer as a great sport for their child, and for the price of a soccer ball, they easily overcame the cost and commitment that had consumed me during the month leading into this summer's junior sailing program.
A couple years ago, Sunsail Yacht Charters held a writing competition, wherein twelve year old Optimist sailor Michael Marshall won his division with a submission titled 'The Freedom of Sailing' that I have excerpted below:
"As a kid, my life is very controlled. At home I always have to do chores before going anywhere. Empty the dishwasher, vacuum the floor, weed the garden, make my bed - the list goes on and on. Things are even worse at school. There every minute of the day is planned for me. At school I have no freedom at all.
"Things are very different when I am sailing by myself in my own boat. I can sail wherever the wind takes me. I can race around the harbor and under the Newport Bridge. I can zip off to Potter's Cove, explore Rose Island, or even sail in circles if I want to. I love to feel the wind blowing in my face and the sensation of flying across the water as if my boat had magically sprouted wings. On my boat I am in control of everything I do. I am the king of my own little world.
That is why I love to sail!"
Clearly, Michael got t-boned by the magic of sailing. For the price of a soccer ball, my life could have been a lot simpler. However, at least this way, I will give my son the chance to discover a game without boundaries, and the freedom from being a kid. - Craig Leweck, www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/05/ftpsb/
