A great way to spend the summer
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“Are you guys ready? Let’s go to the lake!” yells Grahm Gardner, sail instructor at the Rochester Yacht Club.
As he rides in a motorboat alongside a group of young sailors, his voice echoes against the light breeze on Lake Ontario. Each summer, the small sailboats create excitement as well as a new challenge, for those ages 6 and up.
Connor Shumway, a 10-year-old boy and one of the students on the sailboat, hears this statement and seems to be a bit tangled in the equipment. He looks up and sarcastically says, “It’s tough being a sailor.”
Gardner has grown up on the water and has mastered the techniques of sailing, as a lifelong member at the yacht club and currently on the Fordham University’s sailing team.
“I have been racing since I was eight,” said Gardner. “I am actually a product of this program.”
The program he refers to is called Learn to Race, which was created to get kids interested in sailing. Everyday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Optimists and 420’s (types of sail boats), stream out from the yacht club onto the extensive waters of Lake Ontario filled with the laughter and chirps of happiness from the mouths of the children involved.
Jon Faudree, head sailing coach at the yacht club, thinks that these kids will build confidence through sailing.
“For a kid this is the best sport,” said Faudree. “Put a kid on a boat and say go sailing, and they are in control. It’s great for self-esteem.”
Gardner agrees. Independence is encouraged and an important part of this type of sport.
“You really have to think for yourself,” said Gardner. “In the end, when you are on the race course, you know you are doing it yourself.”
Sailing gives these kids control and a feeling as if they are in the driver’s seat. It is a key part of Gardner’s job to let them know this.
“You decide where you want to go,” said Gardner. “And what you want to do.”
One of the best parts about sailing according to Gardner, is that you can go anywhere and sail. Whether it is traveling to competitions or doing it for enjoyment purposes, you can sail anywhere.
“Wherever there is water,” said Gardner.
Although some may not think that Rochester offers the best sailing conditions, Gardner begs to differ. And people even sail all year round.
“We have been really blessed,” said Gardner. “Lake Ontario is a great lake to sail on.”
In order to be a sailor, there is not necessarily one mold that you need to fit into. Both men and women participate.
“I get my butt kicked by girls all of the time and I don’t think anything of it,” said Gardner.
Sailing even gives those with disabilities the opportunity to get out on the water, including the two young boys in the program this summer with Aspergers.
“It’s not a sport that is isolated,” said Gardner. “It doesn’t cut your opportunities like some sports. It’s a very open sport, there are very few limits on who can sail.”
As the kids involved in this program become experts themselves, they begin to offer encouragement to one another.
“The kids can even coach each other if they want to,” said Gardner. “One of my best learning experiences at Fordham was from another sailor on the team.”
This summer Gardner gets to spend everyday out on the water teaching young children about the sport that he loves.
“I can’t complain about being on a boat all summer,” said Gardner. “It’s a great way to spend the summer.”
