Archive: Around Town

"Did you like the wind?"

"It was sort of scary sometimes."

"It was just awesome!"

That was the assessment from the kids in the beginner's sailing camp in Myers Park on Thursday, their first day with real wind. Led by Hurf Sheldon with assistance from Lisa Turner, the program boasts a morning session with 16 kids, and an afternoon session for 6 advanced campers. The kids are divided into groups. "They like to sail with their friends," explains Ms. Turner, but noted that they mix up the groups to give everyone a fulfilling experience. She volunteers her boat and herself to the program. One of the campers, Jay Kyle, also brings his own boat, a Laser Pico.

One of the campers, Jay Kyle, also brings his own boat, a Laser Pico.

Lisa Turner gives individual instruction

"Meyers Point is the perfect place to teach sailing,because we have the Salmon Creek estuary," says Mr. Sheldon, who has taken a week off of work to teach the sessions every year for the past six years. "The first thing I do is teach the kids how to maneuver the boats within a very confined space. We practice capsizing and everything, and when they can do that, then they can go out and sail on the lake a little bit, and their confidence grows."

The girls evaluate their last sail

"We had three kids who were just out in heavy water where some more experienced sailors were having trouble. They had never sailed before Monday. Lisa Turner took them out on her boat. Individually we've taught them how to sail. The three girls were out by themselves and sailed better than anybody else. This is their fourth day in a sailboat. That's really what we're trying to accomplish."

When a boat runs into trouble it is towed back to Myers

The program started six years ago when Mr. Sheldon asked Steve Colt, who heads the town Recreation Department, why there wasn't a sailing program. "Because you haven't started it yet," replied Mr. Colt. This began a long term love affair with teaching Lansing kids sailing.

This year the program has a life guard on duty. "Dawn Ryan is our lifeguard and she's doing a great job," says Mr. Sheldon.

A broken rudder is removed for repair

Mr. Sheldon would like the program to stand on its own, with a sailing master, paid instructors, its own boats and new programs including one for adults. He asks that if anyone wants to volunteer their boat they should contact the Recreation Department. Additionally if anyone has boats to contribute to the program they can get a tax deduction.

After a sail and a swim, snack time was quite popular. But then it was back to the work of sailing, on a beautiful (not too) windy day.

Snacks!

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