News

Fall Sailing Surges Ahead at YSF Community Sailing

Children from 35 schools and 40 homeschoolers come together for fun on the water.   About half the sailors come from underserved homes and sail for free.  Our minority communities represent twenty-seven percent of the roster.  An additional 30 special needs adult sailors join the junior sailors aboard specially designed Hansa sailboats.  

YSF uses sailing as a medium to teach life skills. Lessons learned on the water – resilience, perseverance, and focus – are brought ashore to help children achieve their full potential.  Sailing is challenging.  With success, confidence soars.  Children from across the socioeconomic spectrum leave their screens and anxieties on the beach as they concentrate on learning the sail.   Teamwork is essential.   Fail to properly trim sails or maintain weight and balance, and you are swimming instead of sailing.

Sailing impacts young lives in ways that can be transformational.   A recent Duke University graduate related how sailing at YSF helped form his disciplined approach to problem-solving that provided a foundation for success in Duke’s rigorous engineering major.   Another sailor who came to YSF on a bicycle from a troubled home environment learned to sail, became a certified instructor, and launched into a successful military career. 

Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF) of Indian River County, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that eliminates cultural and financial barriers to sailing. YSF was founded in 2009 to use sailing as a medium to help children achieve their full potential.  We operate under the banner “YSF Community Sailing” to reflect that we now serve the entire community.  We make it easy and affordable for children, adults, and families to enjoy the thrill of sailing.  For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit:  www.ysfirc.org  Contact: Email info@ysfirc.org  Phone 772 492-3243