sasto
Captain
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2010
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- 3,918
On any given Saturday, 13-year old K.J. Anderson can be seen tacking and jibing, sailing upwind and downwind along the Indian River in his dinghy Lucky Number Seven. In their colorful sailboats, the rest of the Latitude 27/39 Club members are racing nearby.
K.J. and his dad, Kevin Anderson, were the first father and son team to build their own 8-foot-long dinghy when the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River began a sailing program for kids 6-16 nearly two years ago. Last week, Dr. Alastair Kennedy, a local rheumatologist, and his grandson, Ibor Zimmerman, 10, started on boat number 21.
?Our new slogan is the kids build the boats and the boats build the kids,? said Charlie Pope, the foundation chairman. ?When they build their own boats and go sailing by themselves, they become the commander of their ships, the captain of their boats. It is an awesome feeling for a kid.?
Patterned after clubs found all over the world, the Foundation?s youth group in Vero Beach is named after the coordinates 27/39 at the Vero Beach Municipal Marina ? the place where they assemble, house and launch their boats. Out of a small space donated by the City of Vero Beach, and with the help of parents and sailing experts, the kids spend 40 hours building their 77-pound boats from a pre-cut wood boat kit.
Before they can launch their own dinghies, they must pass a swimming test, learn sailing techniques and practice drills in the event they capsize. Volunteers from the foundation ? all sailing enthusiasts ? bark commands, offer help and keep a close eye on the young sailors every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
?We are thrilled with the response we have received from the community. Fourteen of the 20 boats built have been donated for use by the Youth Guidance and Boys and Girls Club children,? said Pope. ?Our next goal is to build our own boathouse so we can have space to grow.?
Organizations like The Moorings Yacht Club, the Vero Beach Yacht Club and the Vero Beach Power Squadron have donated kits worth $1,400 as well as time and expertise to make sure all kids get an opportunity to participate in the sailing program.
?This is the start of a lifetime of sailing, a sport they can enjoy the rest of their lives,? said volunteer **** Gumpert. ?It teaches them individual responsibility and gives them confidence by learning something they can truly master.?
K.J. and his dad, Kevin Anderson, were the first father and son team to build their own 8-foot-long dinghy when the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River began a sailing program for kids 6-16 nearly two years ago. Last week, Dr. Alastair Kennedy, a local rheumatologist, and his grandson, Ibor Zimmerman, 10, started on boat number 21.
?Our new slogan is the kids build the boats and the boats build the kids,? said Charlie Pope, the foundation chairman. ?When they build their own boats and go sailing by themselves, they become the commander of their ships, the captain of their boats. It is an awesome feeling for a kid.?
Patterned after clubs found all over the world, the Foundation?s youth group in Vero Beach is named after the coordinates 27/39 at the Vero Beach Municipal Marina ? the place where they assemble, house and launch their boats. Out of a small space donated by the City of Vero Beach, and with the help of parents and sailing experts, the kids spend 40 hours building their 77-pound boats from a pre-cut wood boat kit.
Before they can launch their own dinghies, they must pass a swimming test, learn sailing techniques and practice drills in the event they capsize. Volunteers from the foundation ? all sailing enthusiasts ? bark commands, offer help and keep a close eye on the young sailors every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
?We are thrilled with the response we have received from the community. Fourteen of the 20 boats built have been donated for use by the Youth Guidance and Boys and Girls Club children,? said Pope. ?Our next goal is to build our own boathouse so we can have space to grow.?
Organizations like The Moorings Yacht Club, the Vero Beach Yacht Club and the Vero Beach Power Squadron have donated kits worth $1,400 as well as time and expertise to make sure all kids get an opportunity to participate in the sailing program.
?This is the start of a lifetime of sailing, a sport they can enjoy the rest of their lives,? said volunteer **** Gumpert. ?It teaches them individual responsibility and gives them confidence by learning something they can truly master.?
