SAILING
BY ALISON t O’LEARY
he sport of sailing has always been dominated
by wealthy white males but the US
Sailing Center in Jensen Beach has all hands on
deck to shake up the status quo.
“Looking out from the center I see 10 girls out
there, rigging boats right now,” says Alan Jenkinson,
executive director of the US Sailing Center of Martin
County. He’s the one plotting the course for change, starting
with local kids.
It has always been a place where kids learned to haul on a
halyard, sheet in a jib and recover from a capsizing, but now
they’re looking to help youth navigate the choppy waters of
life as well.
The organization received a major grant from a national
sailing organization aimed at expanding programs to reach
US SAILING CENTER MARTIN COUNTY
Through the Siebel Sailing Program’s recent award, more kids will have opportunities
disadvantaged kids. Paired with a Martin County Com- >> 32 Port St. Lucie Magazine
to try their hands at navigating a course and learn life skills.
ON
COURSE
MATIAS CAPIZZANO
The US Sailing Center of Martin County at Jensen Beach offers sailing instruction, racing, camps, leisure sailing and specific opportunities for underprivileged
youth to learn skills and techniques for navigating life.
New innovative program teaches underprivileged
sailors skills to cope with life’s challenges