“I had the most fun capsizing”

During lunch on our new deck last Friday, I asked a 9 year-old what was the most fun he’d had that day. His immediate smiling reply: “I had the most fun capsizing”.  Here’s my take on building self-confidence through sailing.

righting a bug - 4533Treasure Island Sailing center teaches life lessons such as goal setting, communications, teamwork and leadership through sailing.  While we can’t actually teach self-confidence it’s always our goal to have kids leave TISC with more confidence in themselves than when they arrived.

A few of our campers and outreach students can swim, a majority can’t.  With the exception of returning students, most of the younger kids and almost all of the outreach youth have never been in a boat before they set sail at TISC.  And even though it’s protected from the rollers that come down the bay, the wind does blow here on Clipper Cove.

Time and again I hear stories or see kids through my camera lens who are confused by the wind, flustered when caught “in irons”, freaked out by their first accidental gybe and nervous about that first jump off the dock into the bay or that first capsize.  Every time I hear stories from students about their accomplishments on Clipper Cove I feel proud of the job our instructors are doing to help these kids build their self-confidence on (and in) the water, which in turn boosts their self esteem.

smiles framed by bay bridge

Friday afternoons usually mean time on the beach at the western end of Clipper Cove.  Here’s a few pictures of happy, wet, sand-covered kids returning from “Mexico Beach”, including a fast way to give your wet suit a bath.

Pretty confident looking group, don’t you think !

Regards, from on the dock – On the Cove, D-

back from Mexicoz500 with 6 kids in tow6 kids on 3 kayaks smile framed by breakwater smile in the wet suit tub

 

 

 

Windy Week on Clipper and McCovey Coves

Monday morning’s high winds and cool temperature on Clipper and McCovey Coves were not normal. Didn’t bother outreach groups and students – they love feet dragging in the water and butts on the rail.  Nice view from Bay Bridge bike path.

smiles on a j24j24 framed by transamerica towerWhen high pressure areas dominate early in the morning, as they did last week, afternoon winds can build quickly into 15-20 puffs. With reefed mains on the J/24s used for outreach kids and proper coaching for the dinghy students Clipper Cove comes alive with smiles all around.

The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center visits to TISC are part of their summer program which serves 400 youth in elementary and middle school.  Chilly temperatures and gusty winds clearly don’t dampen their appreciation of what Mother Nature has to offer on Clipper Cove.

Treasure Island Sailing Center, through our own fundraising efforts and the generous donations from individuals and corporate sponsors, enable youths from all parts of the Bay Area to experience the fun of feet dragging in the water.  These kids leave TISC with memories to treasure and respect for the world in which we live, a world within easy view of downtown San Francisco and just under the bridge from the Port of Oakland.j24 windy feet in waterfeet in water framed by oakland cranesopti with safety boatYouth participating in one- or two-week sailing classes at TISC benefit from our top-notch team of experienced instructors, always encouraging and leading students to take the next step. Last week’s windy Monday provided a chance for true seamanship to shine through.

Early morning cat’s paws provide ample opportunity for learning about safety afloat, wind direction and capsize drills.  The afternoon breezes can excite youth about sailing and develop higher levels of confidence and self esteem.  Enter the fun of “butts on the rail” sailing in San Francisco Bay !opti in 15-18

left exit for TISCClipper Cove sailing in the morning is often a hunt for whispers of wind.  Our instructors use these normal light-air mornings for drills focused on boat handling and teamwork. You can see a video of one of these tacking drills HERE.

These pictures from last Wednesday morning were taken from the bike path on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge. We’ve been wanting to check out this path, and were pleasantly surprised how easy it was to access – the entry point is just across Shelmound from the Emeryville IKEA store.  In a year or so this path will enable bikers to drop down to Treasure Island.  For now the path stops at the top of the bridge 185 feet above the bay.

TISC classes framed by bay bridge construction

Co-Able Kids 14-06-20It was windy last Monday over on McCovey cove as well.  Five youth joined TISC instructors  and South Beach Yacht Club volunteers to kick off the inaugural session of the first-ever Co-Able Youth Sailing Camp. Sponsored by the Bay Area Association of Disable Sailors and TISC, this summer camp will combine students with and without disabilities in such a manner that they will encourage and assist each other to become independent sailors.

More McCovey Cove smiles from the BAADS/TISC partnership in a future post.

Regards from on (Clipper and McCovey) Coves, D-

PS – Speaking of windy days, the TISC V15 and Laser fleets race every Thursday evening in the summer.  Here are a few tips on how to stay dry when sailing a dinghy in a breeze on Clipper Cove courtesy of V15 Fleet Captain Al Sargent.

In the wake: below are a few more pictures from Sunset Neighborhood Beacon District and some taken along the Bay Bridge Bike Path.

SNBC framed by Bay bridgeSNBC Smilespath to bay bridgeon the bay bridge bike path old bay bridge deconstruction

TISC Instructors Train, Team Up and Reach Out

Summer sessions starts today. Our instructors reported last week for training on safety procedures, fleet familiarization and our multi-step curriculum. Team building is a key ingredient. They spent Thursday afternoon at Pier 40 to prepare for summer co-able classes.

MOB framed by western spanMOB  pick upFollowing safety briefings and a shore-side orientation Monday morning, instructors were off to Clipper Cove and San Francisco Bay. The old Bay Bridge Eastern Span demolition provided a backdrop to man overboard drills.

TISC instructors teach much more than sailing.  They teach life lessons that include goal setting, communications, team work and leadership.

Our team has many skills from off-shore to around-the-buoys racing, keel boats to small dinghies –  and experience garnered from teaching in all parts of the country.  Along with USSailing certification.

Teambuilding was a key part of last week’s training.  At times the training, practice and ice-breaking went beyond just TISC instructors.  On Thursday members of the TI Job Corps took a break from their work on finishing the deck outside the new SS Learn activity center to work with our instructors to raise a tent, move picnic tables and drop in a carpet for summer school shore lessons and lunch breaks.  They joined our instructors for an informal BBQ lunch.

TISC Tent TeamworkThursday afternoon our instructors headed to a Pier 40 orientation sessions in anticipation of the three BAADS / Treasure Island Sailing Center Co-Able Sailing Summer Sessions scheduled for this summer. TISC is partnering with Bay Area Association of Disable Sailors to host these sessions for disabled youth.

TISC 2014 Instructors at Pier 40

TISC 2014 Summer Instructors: Chris, Bohdan, Connor, Jon, Kevin, Sonya, Lauren, Ivan, Annie, Mary Margaret, Clair and Gabby

We’ll provide instructors, curriculum and manage the logistics for this unique no-charge outreach program combining students with and without disabilities empowering them to assist each other to become independent sailors.  BAADS will provide the Hansa 303 dinghies, motorboats and access to Pier 40 accessible dinghy dock.

Responsibility, respect and self esteem are key words at TISC.  Our instructors understand safety is always Job One, and their primary responsibility.  They will set the standard of respect for boats and facilities and for each other – and will expect the same from their students.  Students leave our programs with higher levels of self esteem whether they are here for a week or a month; many return as Junior Instructors.

Sailing is the platform we use to teach life lessons. Mother Nature is always present, sometimes whispering and sometimes shouting.  Never predictable; another reason TISC students are fortunate to have a team of instructors dedicated to providing a safe, positive and memorable experience for 1,000-plus kids.

Regards, from On The Cove, D-

In the wake:

Providing wheel chair access from a fixed pier to water that moves up and down over a range of eight feet takes serious engineering.  As you can see from the picture below the dinghy dock at Pier 40 (located between Pier 40 and AT&T Park) has that capability.  We look forward to the day when TISC relocates as development on Treasure Island continues.  For now we don’t have that flexibility and are psyched to work with BAADS to start up this summer’s unique co-able sailing program.Pier 40Pier 40 ramp ATT Park