The Friends of the Museum has a program for sailors with intermediate sailing skills ready to advance in a more competitive environment – The Youth Sailing Team. The race team practices to compete in regional regattas. The goal is to build upon, develop and refine each sailor’s racing skills on Friends of the Museum boats at Gallants Channel in Beaufort.
Sailors will be sailing on Collegiate 420s, and possibly Open Skiffs and Sunfish. The Collegiate 420 is a two-person sailboat used in high school and college regattas. Racing the 420 develops skills – teamwork, division of labor, sail trim, rig set-up, strategy and tactics – that will serve them throughout their lives.
THE YOUTH SAILING TEAM:
- Provides an inclusive team environment
- Builds teamwork and fosters friendships
- Requires physical fitness and critical thinking
- Develops lifelong skills and a love for sailing
The Youth Sailing Team is open to sailors actively enrolled in grades 6 – 12. Young sailors need to weigh at least 90lbs and have a maturity level compatible with high school students. Competitive opportunities are more limited for those in middle school.
This fee-based program is limited to Friends of the Museum members (435 and up). To increase accessibility, team dues are kept low and scholarships are available for any sailor. To apply for a scholarship, contact the office by email at brent@maritimefriends.org.
SAYRA and US Sailing members may get discounts on regatta fees and at various retail stores. Sailors will need class memberships (based on their boat) to participate in Junior Olympic or national-level events.
Practices and Skill Divisions
Sailing practices are after school, 2 days a week, during the spring and fall. Team members will be able to participate in regional regattas (link to calendar). Additional coaching and regattas are available for interested sailors during the summer.
Sailors will be grouped by skill level and experience to allow for focused and productive practices. Sailing is a competitive sport and sailors are expected to work hard to develop their skills and contribute to their Team’s success.
Need a little more info? Contact brent@maritimefriends.org
THE SAILING TEAM COMPLIMENTS THE NC MARITIME MUSEUM MISSION:
- Provides opportunities to develop their watermanship skills
- Provides extra educational opportunities
- Provides entry to a challenging inclusive sport
- Allows young sailors to safely enjoy the beautiful and healthy outdoor environment
- Fosters friendships
- Teaches teamwork
- Builds confidence
- Provides a path for kids to participate in a low impact college sport
- Provides opportunities to spend time around other sailors and their families
- Promotes tourism—regattas bring tourism dollars to the area
Worldwide, youth sailing has a long tradition, but the closest high school sailing programs are in New Bern, Washington and Oriental. The Youth Sailing Team gives local sailors an opportunity to continue sailing after learning to sail during the Friends of the Museum summer sailing program or elsewhere.
This effort was possible because Friends of the Museum donors and sponsors provided $25,000 to purchase a fleet of six used Collegiate 420s for use by the Youth Sailing Team and the Junior Sailing Program. The Collegiate 420 is the most popular 2 person racing dinghy class used by high school and college sailing programs.
The after-school Youth Sailing Team is coached by dedicated volunteers teaching young sailors competitive sailboat racing skills.
Continued support of the program will be from business sponsorships, fundraising and activity fees/dues assessed to participants. Fundraising and program fees will be used for maintaining the fleet, buying new sails and boats, insurance, and making improvements to the infrastructure at the site where the vessels are kept.
Ultimately, local sailors will be able to compete for their High Schools as members of the Interscholastic Sailing Association https://saisa.hssailing.org/ and host local regattas
The Friends of the Museum in Beaufort is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization established to support the mission of the North Carolina Maritime Museum led by the Board of Directors.
The Sailing Team is administered by Brent Creelman, Friends of the Museum Director of Operations.
