Raising Awareness and Funds for the Youth Sailing Foundation

A fleet of young sailors showed off their navigation skills as they sailed into Riomar Creek, a waterway that runs alongside the Quail Valley River Club. They were participating in the ninth annual Rock the Boat fundraiser, benefiting the Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF).

The Mission of the Youth Sailing Foundation

Founded in 2009 by Charlie and Chris Pope, along with Varoujan “Pops” Karentz, the nonprofit organization has introduced local children to sailing and continues to expand its programming to provide educational, recreational, and competitive sailing programs for children and adults in a fun and safe environment. The organization’s free sailing program is open to all youth in the county, and it teaches life skills such as resilience, teamwork, confidence, and self-esteem.

YSF board chair Bill Krueger said, “We work really hard to make sure that sailing is accessible to all the kids in the county. Of our 500 sailors, half of those are from the underserved community.” The organization also offers adaptive programming, enabling persons with disabilities to have access to the water and experiential sailing.

The Annual Rock the Boat Fundraiser

Guests attending the Rock the Boat fundraiser enjoyed cocktails along the water while the Vero Beach Pipes & Drums opened the youth regatta. According to John Moore, the organization encouraged the crowd to purchase raffle tickets and bid on seaworthy auction items. Proceeds from the event helped fund the nonprofit’s mission to provide educational, recreational, and competitive sailing programs for children and adults.

The Pat Harris Community Sailing Center

The YSF plans to break ground on the Pat Harris Community Sailing Center in March 2025. The $4.5 million facility will have public restrooms, picnic pavilions, an educational pavilion, docks, boat ramps, a beach launch, and a maintenance and sailing office on the first floor of the building. The second floor will have a large room that can be divided into classrooms or could be used for birthday parties, conferences, and small weddings.

The revenue from public sailboat rentals at the center will create a revenue stream to help sustain YSF programs. Additionally, a generous donor through the Kiwanis Club has donated $100,000 for a children’s play area. YSF’s paid adult programs currently support 100 percent of their free youth programs.

Conclusion

The Youth Sailing Foundation’s dedication and commitment to offering sailing programs to all youth in the community, including those from underserved communities and with disabilities, is admirable. The annual fundraising event and the plans for the Pat Harris Community Sailing Center are steps in the right direction to continuously support and expand their programming. For more information, visit ysfirc.org.

Originally Post From https://veronews.com/2024/05/31/rock-the-boat-youth-sailing-rides-wave-of-enthusiastic-support/