Kids get big chance on the big lake
 No comments posted.
|
|
|
Jared Merkel, 9, whose hair is tinged blue from the blue sail, and Will Stone, 7, tried their hands at sailing Lake Wissota Saturday.
|
|
|
By MARK GUNDERMAN mark.gunderman@lee.net
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:18 AM CDT
Jared Merkel is 9 years old, but he’s already talking like a pro.
“We caught the wind and we just flipped. It let water in so we had to pull up the main sheet,” said the fledgling sailor about his trip out on Lake Wissota in a little 6-foot craft.
“When you pull in the main sheet it brings the sail in tighter and gives you more control,” explained his mother, Erika.
The Eau Claire family is experienced at sailing, and Jared will soon be able to take part in a more hands-on fashion, thanks to a program conducted through the Lake Wissota Yacht Club and the Eau Claire Parks & Recreation Department.
That program, a six-week sailing program for kids in the ages 7-12 range, concluded with a day-long sailing party on the big lake Saturday.
This is the fourth year of the program that started with applications in April, then sailing lessons on Half Moon Lake in Eau Claire in May, said Cathy VanNurden of Chippewa Falls, the social director for the Yacht Club.
This was their first chance to sail on a big lake, she said.
The class is limited to eight kids because of the limited number of the small boats available. The boats are supplied by the Yacht Club, which also provides instructors.
“Eau Claire Parks & Rec is a huge participant in promoting the program,” said instructor Joe Horan, noting a picture of the kids sailing made the cover of the summer program brochure this year. There’s usually a waiting list for the program.
“The kids absolutely love it. Some of us grow up with the romance of sailing. It’s a chance for them to learn more about it, and to experience it,” Horan said.
Saturday was a perfect day for the course-ending party. The day started off fairly calm, so the kids could get their sea legs about them, so to speak, before taking on the challenges that Wissota can bring.
“We let them go out just before lunch just for the fun of it, and they were having so much fun they didn’t want to come in for lunch,” said Wes VanNurden, Cathy’s husband and harbor master for the Yacht Club.
In the afternoon, the kids sailed a regatta, rounding certain points marked by floating orange buoys. By then, the wind had picked up to 8 or 9 miles an hour, enough to push them along pretty well and challenge their skills.
More than one flipped — under the watchful eye of adults taking every safety precaution, of course.
“We have a water balloon fight between the boats if we’re good enough,” said Grace Stone, 11.
Stone thinks sailing will become a lifelong hobby for her.
“I like that you’re in charge and there are no boundaries. You can go where you want to go,” she said.
Merkel gushed with excitement, not bothered a bit about having taken on water during one go-round.
“The funest part is hitting the waves and have them come over the bow,” he said.
“They are really doing an awesome job. They know what to do,” said Wes.
“The goal of the program is not to make world-class sailors out of them, but to learn the terminology and get some experience,” said Horan.
And a goal is to get the next generation of sailing enthusiasts off to a good start by instilling a love of the sport.
“Sailing is still an art form to a certain degree,” said Horan. “It’s an activity that will stay with you for the rest of your life.“
|
Archives