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mission $345,000 tourism grant that recognizes the center’s
strong influence on visitors to the area, the center has been
growing in size and numbers.
According to tourism statistics, the US Sailing Center at
Jensen Beach draws close to 30,000 visitors a year for lessons,
regattas, leisure sailing and kids camps. That’s a far cry from
its humble beginnings in 1992 when there was nothing more
than a tent, a camper and some donated boats on the side of
the causeway.
A recent capital campaign allowed the center to expand its
footprint at Indian Riverside Park, where it’s been since 2002.
That project in 2019-2020 added classrooms, an office and a
spot for serving coffee and snacks during events. There’s also
a great upper-level deck where spectators can watch sailors
ply the waters of the Indian River Lagoon.
GRANT CHANGES PERCEPTION
Through the national organization, US Sailing, the Siebel
Foundation made a significant investment in the Jensen
Beach facility, one that has everyone excited: they’ve delivered
six new boats that are just right for teaching beginning
sailors as well as funding the salary of an instructor who will
be shared by three southeast Florida sailing centers. The goal
is to attract a more diverse group of young sailors so that
skills learned here will translate to the rest of life. They are in
the third year of the three-year grant.
“Sailing is seen to be a rich kid’s sport and this grant was
designed to bust that ceiling wide open,” Jenkinson says.
It was just one of five sailing centers nationwide to receive
the targeted grant, and if they meet all of the goals set by the >>
Recent capital campaigns have funded
expansion projects including more
classroom space for sailors to learn basic
techniques as well as recap racing tactics.
Port St. Lucie Magazine 33
What started as a few donated boats
and a trailer alongside the causeway
is now Jensen Beach’s US Sailing
Center at Indian Riverside Park that
draws nearly 30,000 visitors a year.
MATIAS CAPIZZANO
US SAILING CENTER MARTIN COUNTY