Sailing program fosters confidence

Eleven kids aged eight to 14 took part in the BOOM program at Pither’s Point last week where they learned the basics of sailing.
The BOOM program is a mobile sailing school that travels around Ontario and teaches sailing in communities where there are no sailing programs.
“All the kids I’ve ever talked to have loved it,” said Eric Rude, a member of the Rendezvous Yacht Club who helped bring BOOM to Fort Frances. “It teaches kids skills that will last them a lifetime.”
BOOM, which stands for Best-ever Ontario Optimist Mobile, is run by the Ontario Sailing Association. An optimist is a dinghy used to teach young people to sail.
BOOM has been coming to Fort Frances on and off for the last 20 years, Rude said.
“It depends on the interest,” he noted, adding that they try to attract participants from both sides of the border.
BOOM provides all the necessary equipment for sailing including boats, life jackets, personal floatation devices, and two certified instructors.
The five-day program is designed for beginner and intermediate level sailors, but most of the kids who come out are sailing for the first time, instructor Zach Dayler said.
“Most of the kids have zero knowledge, generally,” he said.
The days begin with some warm-up exercises followed by a lesson, which includes boat safety, and learning sailing terms like tack and gybe, tiller and mainsheet.
After the lesson, everybody hits the water.
“The most important thing is time on the water,” Dayler said, “and getting the kids sailing proficiently on their own.”
He and fellow instructor Tobey Gullick try to have the kids on the water for two hours before lunch time, and for another couple hours after lunch.
While the kids are sailing, Dayler and Gullick go out on a small motor boat so that they can move quickly between the sailboats to help the kids out if they need it.
Friday afternoon was fairly windy, and Dayler encouraged any kids who felt uncomfortable sailing in a strong wind to come in the motor boat.
Gullick reminded the kids to reapply their sunscreen, and get their hats and life jackets on.
Dayler shouted instructions and encouragement to the children sailing.
“Would you let go of the steering wheel in a car?” he asks one student. “Then don’t let go of the tiller.”
Ross King, 12, said that he knew nothing about sailing before the BOOM program, but now he knows “how to control and how to capsize a boat.”
Students are encouraged to capsize from time to time to let any water out of the boat. Capsize recovery is also an important skill in sailing.
Matt Depiero, 12, is in his third year of the program. “It’s really fun,” he said, adding that he feels “fairly confident” in a boat now.
Eight-year-old Courtney Dolph said that her favourite part of the program was the races.
“The OSA looks to spread the love of sailing,” Dayler said.