2022 Jr. Sailing Enrollment Now Open!

Summer 2022 will be here before you know it so if you’re planning to register for Jr. Sailing, head on over to this link. Looking forward to seeing you there. The planned dates for the 2022 sessions are below.

Jr. Sailing Series - Breck

When I was asked to write this article, so many different funny times, traditions, memories, and friendships immediately came to mind. So as I’m sitting here writing this article, I started to remember all the crazy times, friendships, and memories I have created at sailing camp. Not only has sailing taught me some very valuable life skills, but it has also given me a second family.

The Junior Sailing program is one giant family in my mind. Everybody comes from different places with different stories, backgrounds and we all are there just trying to have a good time, and let me tell you, we have a good time. My father, who is now 48, sailed in the WRYC Junior sailing program when he was my age. My father made many lifelong friendships through the camp and to this day, he still talks to some of them. Just like him, in my second year at the camp, there was a boy from Sweden, he and I had nothing in common except for a love for sailing. Through this, we became best of friends and we were inseparable. We sailed together every day and although he has moved back to Sweden, I still consider him a close friend of mine.

Every family has its own set of weird traditions and the junior sailing camp family is no exception. I know of so many weird traditions that have been passed down throughout the decades. Some of these weird traditions were the funny awards we got at the end of the camp or the shows we used to get in the morning. At the end of the two weeks, the counselors would give out funny trinkets that remind them of you. For example, one individual got the knotty sailor award because she was obsessed with knot tying. However, my favorite tradition was the performances. If you forgot something of yours at the club and the counselors found it, as camp tradition, they make you perform for the group whether it be singing, dancing, acting out a skit, or even telling some funny jokes. There was also a daily weather report given by one of the older campers. It was typically about how the earth getting closer to the sun is causing the sharks to become controlled by aliens and come after us.

The Junior Sailing Camp at The Ware River Yacht Club has given me an experience like no other. I have met kids halfway across the planet, created lifelong memories, and danced in front of many to get my water bottle back. I hope you consider joining me and many others, and as Captain Jack Sparrow said from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, "That's what a ship is, you know—it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs. But what a ship is, really is, is freedom."

Jr. Sailing - Facilitator Job Announcement

The Junior Sailing program is looking for a facilitator for the 2021 summer. Junior sailing is a great way for youngsters to young adults to learn how to sail and race. WRYC has offered a Junior Sailing Program for as long as we’ve existed. Our counselors are mostly alumni, and seek to teach sailors basics of rigging, launching, sailing and racing. We offer three sessions throughout the summer, but they fill up fast. The minimum age requirement for these camps is 8 years of age by the start of the session.

JOB TITLE: Junior Sailing Facilitator
SALARY: Commensurate with experience
OPEN PERIOD: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Until filled
LOCATION: Ware River Yacht Club, 5992 Ware Point Rd., Gloucester, VA

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Junior Sailing Facilitator (JSC) will assist in coordination and execution of the Ware River Yacht Club’s (WRYC) Junior Sailing Program. The JSC will operate under the guidance and direction of the Junior Sailing Committee. The JSC will ensure a safe environment, oversee the camp counselors, provide on water support, facilitate effective communication between campers, staff and the Junior Sailing Committee, and provide a safe, fun, and educational environment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 18 years of age or older, Dinghy sailing experience (preferably Lasers and Optimist), sailboat racing experience, knowledge of the US Sailing - Racing Rules of Sailing, First Aid and CPR certification, coaching/training/facilitating experience

To apply - please send resume / cover letter to wareriveryc@gmail.com. Must include preferred method for contact.

Jr. Sailing Series - Naomi

My name is Naomi, I am 14 years old and this was my second year of sailing at the WRYC. I love sailing and was super excited to get back on the water this year. This summer was an strange one with all the COVID restrictions and masks, but that didn't make it any less fun for sailing. Just more interesting! Learning to sail at the WRYC has been awesome and getting to know all the kids in camp over several weeks is one of the best parts.

My family and I live in Northern VA, so when we come down for sailing we camp at Gloucester's Jellystone Park. Staying in a RV was challenging for sure! On the weekends my dad would join us with our two, fairly big dogs, Beau and Charlie. Making the RV go from small to tiny! We camped for about 3 weeks this year so that my three sisters and I could participate in the WRYC's jr. sailing camp, and my older sister and I could sail in the Governor's Cup. This year was a good year for that, because there were only camp kids in the laser class, which was nice for our first race! I really enjoyed sailing this year and can't wait for next time!

Sailing is in Full Swing

Despite the extremely warm temperatures, the Junior Sailing Program has provided opportunity for the up and coming next generation of sailors to get out on the water. The instructors have done a fantastic job both on and off the water. Thank you to all of the adults who have come out to oversee the camp and ensure the kids have a safe environment.

By maintaining proper social distancing rules, by wearing face covering shields, and more importantly by staying outside and on the water, WE WERE able to hold our abbreviated 2020 summer sailing camp program. Thanks to staff and volunteers, we manage more than 30 campers and successfully continue to share the joy of sailing with all participants. We feel extremely fortunate to have been able to offer this camp again this season and now we are hopeful To RETURN to a more normal 2021 Sailing Camp Program.

Some new news on the fleet this month. First, the Scout 175 powerboat that was donated to the club has been sold. The money from that sale will go towards a skiff with outboard and trailer. The skiff will be used to support Junior Sailing and the Sunday Series as a mark/safety boat. Second, the Catalina 27 is still for sale. The boat, numerous sets of sails, and an assortment of spare parts will make a great PHRF racing boat or coastal cruiser for someone willing to put in a little elbow grease. Proceeds from that sale will be put towards improvements to the fleet boats. Finally, WAGTAIL is back on her mooring at the club. Minor repairs are still ongoing while the boat is in the water. A brand new mainsail has been ordered. Thanks to Steve and Dave for all the hard work getting WAGTAIL cleaned up and ready for the shortened season; and thanks to Jim for the electrical work.

Finally, the club has four new moorings, complete with new helix anchors and complete chain rode. Thanks to Jim for taking the lead on procurement and diving with me during the install. Also, thanks to John for supporting from the power boat on the surface, we could not have done it without that support. The helix anchors provide much more holding power than concrete anchors. We are anticipating the boats will stay put a lot better now than before. We did leave one of the old moorings near the swim platform. That mooring should only be used by boats utilizing the swim platform and only while people are with the boat (not overnight). The new moorings are marked one through four. Moorings two and four will be the permanent moorings of the club owned keel boat fleet. Moorings one and three are available for club members use.

Hope to see everyone at the 2020 Governor’s Cup! See you on the water.

Scott