Live in the sunshine, sail the seas and drink the wild air!
If that sounds like fun to you, let me tell you a little bit more about the Bowen Island Yacht Club Learn2Sail program.
Our mission is to build our community of Bowen Island sailors and inspire children and youth aged seven to 15, in the life-long love of boats and the water.
We have been doing just that since 1987 — or 31 years of sailing stewardship — right here on Bowen Island.
The love of sailing is instilled at a young age.
Historically in the Learn2Sail program, our sail coaches went through the program, then became volunteers while taking the requisite Sail Canada courses.
Then they become certified coaches themselves, thus continuing the evolution of young sailors, becoming young adults, becoming sail coaches.
The program provides summer employment for eight Bowen Island sail coaches — with six volunteer coaches waiting in the wings to become a sail coach.
They often echo the same refrain: “Teaching and volunteering for the Learn2Sail program is the absolute best part of my summer!”
Day camps are offered in July and August at Tunstall Bay Beach between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Children learn safe sailing skills, play games and sail away to new adventures.
Younger sailors explore Tunstall Bay on Optimist boats while older and more experienced sailors take Lasers out to Paisley Island and beyond.
Every week ends with a wonderful, picnic lunch organized by coaches and kids on Onion Island and other island beaches, cementing friendships and celebrating the week’s achievements.
Registration is now live, and we welcome you to come on board! Full information here: www.biyc.bc.ca
The Bowen Island Yacht Club’s annual general meeting is Tuesday, April 24, 7 to 9 pm at the Tunstall Bay Community Association clubhouse. We welcome your attendance!
