Learning the ropes at an early age

Generations of area sailors got their start taking classes as youngsters during the Lewes Yacht Club's Junior Sailing Camp. Learning how to tie knots, rig sails and read the wind has been taught to youngsters for more than five decades.

More than 250 campers ages 5 through 16 took part in this year's eight-week LYC Junior Sailing Camp. Full-day and morning and afternoon sessions were offered starting June 18 and ending Friday, Aug. 10. A special Cape Critters camp was offered to 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds. Campers spent time doing classroom work, but most of their time was spent out in the Delaware Bay in front of the yacht club.

Matt Brower, head of the camp, said the emphasis is on having fun, but at the same time, learning how to sail. "Campers could come in with little or no experience and progress through a wide variety of activities and boat types that both challenged them and built excitement for the next level," he said. "We saw such dramatic change in beginner sailors from the beginning of the week to the end of the week that it kept the instructor staff excited about the program."

In the future, LYC would like to get its young sailors involved in competition. "We hope to build a Lewes Yacht Club sailing team that can compete with other yacht clubs in the region," Brower said.

Each summer, the Lewes Yacht Club Foundation offers scholarships to sailing camp. Scholarships help fulfill the foundation's mission, which is to provide funding to enhance the potential of youth in sailing, swimming and maritime activities and education.