Sailing with confidence

SANDUSKY — The sails rose, the breeze picked up, and young sailors coasted into the marina — learning not just to steer but to grow. Smiles spanned every child's face who participated in the Sandusky Junior Sailors community sailing program on Thursday morning. The free program — which offers one additional date, July 24, this summer — invites kids between the ages of 5 and 18 to enjoy the experience of learning how to sail from the Sandusky Sailing Club, at its Sadler Sailing Basin, off Meigs Street. Participants learn the basics of sailing, knot tying and how to properly fit and wear a life jacket. Basically, it gives them confidence while on the water. Michelle Gilboy, executive director of Sandusky Junior Sailors, runs this program in hopes of informing the youth on the importance of safety when on a boat. "The main goal that we have of all our programs is safety first," Gilboy said. "We focus on life jacket safety, water safety and dock safety. In our classes, we'll also go over the navigation markers, channels and other important aspects to understand when out on the water." While safety is the foundation, fun and personal growth are just as central to the experience, Gilboy said. For example, program participants will take out small, practice sailboats and sail throughout the marina. "We're extremely fortunate to have two very safe locations that have next to no boat traffic and calm water. Occasionally, you have a boat going in and out of the marina, but they're very respectful of the kids being there," Gilboy said. "It's like putting a bunch of boats in a playpen. It's fantastic." Gilboy also extended her appreciation to staff members for teaching students not just in an informative way but in a fun fashion to make these lessons memorable. "The last couple of years, we've had an amazing team of instructors," Gilboy said. "They are fantastic with the children." At the Sandusky Sailing Center, people of all ages can learn how to sail. A special emphasis, however, is placed on youth. Thanks to Gilboy's grant-writing efforts, the junior sailors have secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding, enough to replace nearly every boat, motor and piece of safety gear in its fleet. There are about 25 training boats and five safety support boats in its fleet. "Everything we use on a daily basis is less than five years old," Gilboy said. "That's unheard of in this area. Most programs are using boats that are 20, 30, even 40 years old, including ours until we replace them all." But the real impact of the program can't be measured in dollars or equipment. It's in the stories — like the sailor with one arm who arrived on a Monday, too nervous to get near the water. By Wednesday, he was asking for his own boat. The program helps people, like this child, achieve some independence. "Just to see the difference you can make in someone's life — that's what drives me," Gilboy said. "If nothing else, if we can just have these kids learn to be safe, then we've done our job." Suzanne Hartley, the junior sailors' program director, finds joy in similar ways to Gilboy. "I want to give them my love for sailing," Hartley said. "I want to give them the opportunity to enjoy, appreciate and love something that I have loved my whole life." The program's adaptive sailing initiative has grown significantly with custom modifications made to boats to accommodate a variety of physical needs. Each case is evaluated individually with safety always the top priority. "The ultimate goal of our adaptive sailing program is to provide our participants with an escape from the landlocked challenges of their daily lives," Gilboy said. "We don't want to turn anyone away based on their physical abilities. If we can adapt the program to make it safe, we will." People can visit sailsandusky.org or call 419-871-8080 for more information on the junior sailors program or other initiatives overseen by the sailing center.