The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is a community sailing club for adventure seekers, newbies to sailing, and experienced sailors offering affordable access to sailing.
Step Inside the World of Sailing
The youth sailing part of the sailing squadron was developed over two decades ago. The YSP, as it is called, teaches kids how to sail and find a way to get boats for the squadron. The program has been so successful that it has created nationally ranked sailors in many boating arenas. From Dan Pletsch to Chris Banning and more, they all came up through YSP and are forces to be reckoned with in the sailing world. Teaching kids to sail has been around for a long time but YSP is unique in scope. From a summer camp to a large program, it has grown to provide a racing program year-round featuring around 45 kids in Opti prams, Lasers, or 420s. Young kids can learn about recreational sailing on weekend excursions, private lessons, and squadrons.
Summer Sailing Programs
Summer Camp runs with several hundred kids a summer. They pull youth from the community and give them a chance to sail. They start in prams and go from there. The ratio of boys to girls is about even
Year-Round Racing Program
YSP offers a year-round recreational sailing program which started recently. Meetings are Sunday afternoons with a four-week commitment. Small groups of 10 or less meet every four weeks then rotate out. Nearly 60 kids have gone through this in a year.
High School Sailing Program
The final tier is a high school sailing program for youth in schools including Sarasota Military Academy, Pine View, Booker, Riverview, and Sarasota high schools. The program is building momentum currently. The 420 boat is popular as a team boat and kids learn life skills like showing up, committing, and working with others on a team. Kids love to learn these skills and grow them as they get stronger.
What is the youth sailing program?
The youth sailing program (YSP) introduces young people to teenagers how to sail, learn life skills, and experience life on a squadron if they want to compete
What types of activities are offered?
There are summer camps, larger programs for teens, and private sailing experiences. The core of the experience is working with other teens and learning from pros.
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