The Junior Sailing Program graduated 22 students, ages 13-18, on July 28, at the St. Thomas Yacht Club near Red Hook, said the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association.
After completing a month of swimming lessons at the St. Thomas Swimming Association, 10 days of learning to sail onboard IC24s and Hobie Cats was completed by the youths. Parents, siblings, cousins, and even grandparents joined the junior sailors for their final sail, said VIPCA.
The St. Thomas Sailing Center gave instructions for both on land and sea including understanding the parts of a boat, navigation skills, reading weather and conditions, safety basics, and of course plenty of sailing, according to the press release.
Those completing the VIPCA Junior Sailing Summer Program have all been invited to participate in a year-round after-school sailing program at STYC, where more sailing on IC24s and Hobie Cats will further develop their seafaring and sailing skills. This after-school program is sponsored by IGY Marinas and is available to graduates of the Junior Sailing Summer Program for free, said VIPCA.
VIPCA has now graduated 44 juniors to date, bringing the total to 109 students who’ve sailed through VIPCA programs in recent years, all in part are taught at the St. Thomas Yacht Club, including the twelve 18-29 year old’s recently graduated senior students from the four-week VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship on July 14, according to the press release
“I look forward to continuing our work supporting and furthering the career prospects of Virgin Islanders in the marine industry. Whatever age students are introduced to sailing through our programs, the St Thomas Yacht Club and its Sailing Center staff are central to the success and the students newfound boating passion,” said Executive Director of VIPCA Oriel Blake.
VIPCA is the territory’s 501(c)(6) nonprofit marine association, whose purpose is to promote, protect, and further the capabilities of charter yachts and the marine businesses that sustain them. Projects and initiatives VIPCA membership supports include marine vocational training for V.I. youth under the organization’s charity fiscally sponsored by Community Foundation Virgin Islands (CFVI.net), the Marine Rebuild Fund.
