Stamford CT Starts H.S. Sailing Team

SOUNDBOUNDER · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2011

“It’s a club team, playing at the varsity level,” coach Jamie Perkins said. Sailors will compete against varsity teams in the Fairfield County Sailing League, but unlike the varsity teams, its members come from an assortment of private and public high schools in the city.

Stamford, CT, Launches High School Sailing Program | BoatingLocal.com

At $1,000 per student, the cost is high for a start-up program, though relatively affordable for sailing, said Mark Ryan, a member of the Stamford Youth Foundation, which pushed to bring the team to the Stamford Yacht Club, where the club provides a fleet of 420s for the teens to sail.

: Ahoy! Stamford starts a high school sailing team - StamfordAdvocate

SOUNDBOUNDER · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2011

Another story here:

Students Test Their Sea Legs - Stamford, CT Patch

paulk · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2011

Hard to see why it's so expensive, except for its being a startup. Are they subsidizing new boats & sails with public funds? Are they buying a drysuit for each team member? Our club has enabled several local high schools (in Fairfield County, same as Stamford) to use our boats and facilities for a nominal yearly "wear & tear" charge for years. Kids bring their own lifejackets and drysuits. (Who would want to wear someone else's drysuit after a sweaty downwind leg?). A city the size of Stamford (twice our size) should be able to field several teams. Many local towns pool sailors from different schools to create teams. Their coach, playing the underdog to "varsity" teams, is being disingenuous. Stamford is simply coming late to the game. Surrounding towns have had sailing teams representing their schools (public and private) for about 10 or more years. More competition is always welcome, though. The Fairfield County Sailing League is a feisty bunch.

SOUNDBOUNDER · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2011

Quote:

Their coach, playing the underdog to "varsity" teams, is being disingenuous. Stamford is simply coming late to the game. Surrounding towns have had sailing teams representing their schools (public and private) for about 10 or more years.

Wow, I didn't realize a new sailing program would stir up such animosity.
I'm sure a lot of people worked very hard to make this a reality.

paulk · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011

Not animosity. Incredulity. Why has it taken so long? The Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) has been around since 1930, (beginning in Greenwich!) fostering High School team racing. My daughter started a team at her high school simply by rounding up interested classmates, getting a teacher to volunteer (no pay!) to coach and getting the group signed up with ISSA's NESSA region. Joel Barlow HS in Easton - which is not on the water at all- also formed a team. My daughter's team competed against teams from Massachussetts and Rhode Island in their first year. They raised money with car washes, and went to the USCG Academy for championship meets - a neat experience. The interest was sufficient for the club to become a full-fledged team sport after a few years, and it continues. HS Team racing is great fun and is quite widespread. Yacht clubs that want to stay in operation realize that they NEED young sailors to enjoy their facilities so that they will become full members later. The trick now would be to get the Halloween YC to support another group...

SOUNDBOUNDER · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011

Quote:

Surrounding towns have had sailing teams representing their schools (public and private) for about 10 or more years.

Quote:

Not animosity. Incredulity. Why has it taken so long?

You should write a letter to them and voice your disbelief. Explain that Greenwich, Westport, New Canaan, and Easton all have their act together, while Stamford is ten years "late to the game". Maybe send copies to Bridgeport, New Haven, and Danbury too.

Sometimes I am embarrassed to be from Fairfield County.