US SAILING Recognizes Community Sailing Centers for Outstanding Training Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (September 14, 2011) – US SAILING, the National Governing Body of the sport, has recognized nine community sailing centers that provide exemplary training and educational programs consistent with the curriculum standards of the US SAILING Training Department. The US SAILING Community Sailing Sanctioning Program acknowledges organizations that best exemplify community sailing’s strengths nationwide. These sailing organizations routinely offer sailors with the highest level of education, through US SAILING reviewed and approved curriculums, a proven track record, quality equipment and facilities, and strong safety protocols. Some of the best sailors in the world learned through US SAILING.

Here is the list of US SAILING Sanctioned Sailing Centers:

California
• Westwind Sailing / Dana Point, Calif.

Connecticut
• SHYC Sailing Foundation / Stonington, Conn.

Florida
• Edison Sailing Center / Ft. Myers, Fla.

Massachusetts
• Community Boating, Inc. / Boston, Mass.
• Courageous Sailing Center / Boston, Mass.
• Duxbury Bay Maritime School / Duxbury, Mass.

Washington
• Sail Sand Point / Seattle, Wash.

Wisconsin
• Milwaukee Community Sailing Center / Milwaukee, Wis.

Vermont
• Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center / Burlington, Vt.

US SAILING Executive Director Jack Gierhart said, “US SAILING has long set the standard for training sailing instructors, and we felt that it was a natural progression to recognize programs who utilize our Small Boat Instructor curriculum standards, safety protocols and overall program management. We consider these programs among the best places in the country, if not the world, for people to learn how to sail. We look forward to seeing this program grow as more qualified programs apply and others begin adopting these proven standards.”

A set of criteria was established to evaluate and select these sanctioned community sailing centers. The application process is available to all organizations nationwide provided that they are open to the general public without discrimination. US SAILING reviewed several factors before approving the centers including program curriculums, class offerings, safety protocols and procedures, quality of boats (both sail and power), facilities, staff size and certification and overall stability. While there was not a requirement for a programs’ full staff to be US SAILING certified, it was required that any classes that lead to a US SAILING certification be led by a US SAILING instructor. Programs were chosen from both year round and seasonal locations, but the common thread among all of them is the high level of education that they provide to their students and the quality of their curriculums.

For more information on US SAILING’s Community Sailing Sanctioning Program, including a copy of the application, visit us at http://training.ussailing.org/ProgramMgmt/commsailctrsanction.htm.

For specific questions regarding this program, please contact Stu Gilfillen at stugilfillen@ussailing.org or 978.821.2076.