Jr. Sailing
By  Joe McCann
(From Harbour Lites 2/09)

TIME TO PLAN THE SUMMER FOR
THE YOUNGSTER IN YOUR LIFE

First, we have already hired our staff of instructors for next year, and they all bring great skills and insights to the job.  Our Head Instructor will be Mark Dougherty, who grew up sailing in Hempstead Harbour and is a graduate of Sea Cliff Yacht Club’s Program.  Mark is a talented Laser sailor, a member of the University of Vermont Sailing Team, and in past years, was an instructor at Port Washington Yacht Club.  Margaret Stone is from the Great State of Maine, and is a teammate of Mark’s at U.V.  She has several years experience teaching sailing in community programs in Maine.  Finally, Christopher Wands, who will be graduating from Friends Academy in June, is a top Laser Radial sailor who has quite literally raced in international sailing events around the World.

Next, the boats.  What could be better than having your child learn to sail??? Why learning how to kayak as well.  And thanks to the generosity of Audrey and Chuck Vasoll who have agreed to fund the cost of four boats, we will be offering kayaking lessons this year as well.  This has the double advantage of getting the kids on the water on those windless days, and teaching them another useful set of boating skills.

Now let’s talk value.  In this economy, and again thanks to the generosity of people like Audrey and Chuck, we have only had to raise our fees slightly this year over last, and are offering more to the students to boot.  The Base Fee is $595, but that is reduced to $495 if payment is received in full by April 30th.  There is an additional Boat Use Fee of $135 for students who don’t have their own Opti, Blue Jay or Pixel, and Non-Members pay an additional fee of $195.   However, if you have two or more children in the Program, you get a 10% discount off of all fees.  Please compare these fees with those charged by other Junior Sailing Programs, or even other summer activities, and we think you will recognize HHC is a bargain.

They say “If you build it, they will come.”  Well, we built it – a great Sailing/Kayaking Program that offers a lot for a little.  Now help us fill it with youngsters who want to learn a sport they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.  Call Julie McCann at (516) 671-5095 if you have a candidate, and we will send you out an application right away.

Please visit http://jsalis.org  and http://www.ussailing.org  and see for yourself the requirements that our instructors have met.