SAILING
Seibel Foundation, the boats become theirs forever. Jenkinson
is hoping for more than that — he wants to see local kids
becoming sailors forever, too.
“Rather than just teaching sailing, the grant and the program
are designed to go into the community and teach a
broader stroke of life skills through sailing, how to become
leaders,” Jenkinson says.
There’s plenty of evidence that the organization is already
on the right track.
“My mom put us in all these random summer camps and
sailing happened to be the most amazing experience for me,”
says Chandler Scott, a 22-year-old from Jensen Beach. “The
people were so welcoming and really wanted you to learn, so I
asked to do racing the next fall, even though I was really bad.”
She was 8 years old but knew she had found a place she
could flourish.
The experience ignited a sense of adventure that hasn’t
abated. When she aged out of summer camps, Scott bothered
Jenkinson to let her volunteer, then got her instructor’s certificate
at age 16 and began teaching a new crop of young kids
to sail while also helping in the office. In the meantime, she
raced sailboats for her high school team and the sailing team
at her college.
“My longevity at the sailing center shows how great the
program is,” she says.
Yet she recognizes the unique start that the public-oriented
sailing program offered to her and other kids.
“Other clubs are hard to get into without a member behind
you,” she says of the old-school practice of yacht club
memberships relying on sponsors who are members. “Here
it doesn’t matter as long as you put in the effort and show
your dedication.”
US SAILING CENTER MARTIN COUNTY
A youngster prepares his sailboat before taking the tiller. Would-be-sailors
must master the ability to rig their water craft and identify parts of the boat. >>
34 Port St. Lucie Magazine
US SAILING CENTER MARTIN COUNTY
Righting a capsized boat is an important skill that young sailors must learn and just the sort of practical sailing skill that easily translates to a life skill
through the Siebel Sailors program, a new outreach effort of the sailing center.