Summer Camp 2009

That time of year is here again. Summer Camp. Currently we are halfway through our 2nd session out of 5. Everything has gone very smoothly and no major miss haps have happened. We have lucked out so far and been able to sail almost everyday. I don't think I have ever been that fortunate in a summer camp. The kids have been great on and off the water. We are already keeping on eye on some of them. They have started off very good and have a lot of potential to come to our race team try outs.

All the kids are having a blast so far and that's all we can ask for. Some are having so much fun that they are coming back for another class this summer. Some have said this is the best summer camp that they have ever been to. That puts a smile on the instructors faces.

Our summer camp consists of teaching the kids basic seamanship and sailing skills while having fun and being safe out on the water. Starting with Day 1 we give them a swim test and then do the capsize drill. The capsize drill is where the sailors flip the boat one on one and right it by themselves. We do this so if they are ever out sailing by themselves and flip they know how right the boat and get back in it and start sailing again.

After that we start teaching them what each part of the boat is called and what it does. Next we go into points of sail and where your sail should be while on that certain point of sail. When we get them on the water for there first time they take turns sailing. We have them reach back and forth getting a feel for the boat and doing some tacks and jibes. After that they are in the boats by themselves for the remainder of the session. Some fun things we do with the kids while they are here is take them to the pool and let them cool off after sailing. They take turns jumping off the diving board and the kids have belly flop, cannon ball and diving contests.

Some other things we do is take them a bait shop on Snead Island often called Stinky Dave's. Here they can buy all sorts of goods such as candy, soda and snacks. We usually do this on the day that we take them over to Terra Ceia Bay for our Nature Hunt day. Terra Ceia Bay thrives with all kinds of nature and your almost always guarenteed to see some Manatees and Dolphins. On the last 2 days of the session we have a race day where the kids can put all the stuff they learned together and race each other. The last day we sail over to a beach and hang out and give the kids snacks and sodas. On this day parents are allowed to come along and watch and ride in the coach boat. This is very exciting for the kids because they get to show off everything they've learned to mom and dad. It's so much fun I wish I could go back and do it again!!

We will post more blogs later in the summer with pictures of the kids sailing.

Have a fun and safe summer everyone!!