Nantucket’s Top
Knot-ch Sailing
by Sarah Teach
Nantucket Harbor, prepare to be boarded! That is, by 350 boats teeming with thousands of sailors, all arriving in time for the island’s annual Race Week. Though the events of August 13-21 are hosted by Nantucket’s two major yacht clubs, all proceeds benefit Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profit organization that helps to keep the island’s maritime traditions afloat. It all began in 1994, when a group of Nantucket sailors recognized that, despite the extensive seafaring history of the island, many residents had no access to experience sailing. With just six boats and a handful of human resources, the goodhearted crew founded Nantucket Community Sailing. Less than 20 years later, with a fleet of 170 vessels and a seasonal staff of 50 nautical experts, NCS offers affordable sailing opportunities every year to well over 1,000 island kids.
Despite the program’s youth, it is clipping right along and is already nationally recognized as a top-notch organization. At the National Sailing Program Symposium in January 2011, NCS was selected out of several hundred programs of all sizes as the Outstanding Seasonal Community Sailing Program in the United States! But at its core, NCS is not about garnering awards; it’s about establishing meaningful connections. In 2004, Diana Brown left a high-powered corporate career behind, opting to transplant her talents to NCS as its CEO. Brown says, “Community is our middle name… literally! The primary mission of NCS is to provide safe and affordable sailing and access to water for all Nantucketers.” If you are a novice mariner, you might wonder, “What’s so great about sailing, anyway?” To this question, Brown flashes a genuine grin that promises a stirring response and answers, “There are hidden aspects of sailing that many people don’t immediately recognize, like sportsmanship, leadership skills, teamwork skills. Learning to control a boat fosters confidence, not to mention a respect for the natural elements. The wind, the waves; these things are very powerful, and when you learn to sail, you develop a deep reverence for that power.”
Developing skills and having fun are, of course, great goals, but NCS’s top priority is always safety. Kids are given a swim check on the first day of their time with NCS; and everybody wears a Coast Guard approved lifejacket at all times. Motorized safety boats constantly circle the water where the kids are sailing, and all instructors are Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid. With sailors as young as five, you might wonder if some of them are wary of trying out such new terrain. “We do have some kids cry on their first day,” admits Brown. “Our main goal in that situation is to emphasize safety and comfort. We let the kids know again and again that they are totally safe, that they’re not going to sink. A lot of kids actually find that their favorite part of the program is learning to properly capsize! There are very few tears after day one!” Brown relays a favorite story of hers about a young fellow who came to NCS having never liked any sport. The little guy’s mom fully expected to come and pick him up distressed and eager to leave. Brown smiles widely as she recalls, “But when his mom got there at the end of the session, he was soaking wet and full of delight! He exclaimed, ‘Mom! Look what I learned how to do today!’ Through the sailing program, he found a niche, and he found friends.”
Gliding right alongside its community-oriented mission, NCS is significantly involved with Nantucket High School. Not only is sailing integrated into NHS’s phys ed program, but also any student in any grade at NHS can opt to learn to sail through joining the Club Sailing Team. Students with boating experience may prefer the Varsity Sailing Team, which provides the opportunity to participate in high school level regattas throughout the Cape. NCS sponsors both teams’ equipment, instruction, uniforms, and even travel expenses. NCS also invests in the community by being heavily involved with a number of fellow local non-profits. Several afternoons per week are dedicated to offering fun with water sports to kids from the local Boys & Girls Club, the Lighthouse School, St. Paul’s Church, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and others. Once a week, NCS teams up with the Maria Mitchell Association for a program called Eco Investigators, a unique blend of sailing and environmental education. Brown mentions that everyone, including the instructors from NCS and Maria Mitchell, learns something new on each outing. NCS also reaches out beyond the island, offering adapted water sport clinics through a partnership with AccesSport America. This national non-profit inspires higher function and fitness for people living with disabilities through challenging activities that are developed for each individual participant.
Fortunately, these enriching opportunities are not limited to kids. Adults can have fun with NCS, too! From rowing to windsurfing lessons to private and group sailing instruction and more, grownups of all ages are invited to participate in the assortment of adult programs available. Special rates are offered to employers who wish to give their employees some time on the water, and membership fees are considered a charitable donation. Every Wednesday brings a fun social event when PRHF rated boats are invited to race each other in the Harbor. (A PRHF rating allows boats of all sizes and types to compete fairly through the use of a formulaic leveling system.) Also, Women’s Sailing Clinics are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Nantucket resident and NCS volunteer Cathy Ward says, “My two sons were some of the first instructors at NCS, but I myself never learned to sail. When I learned about the Women’s Sailing Clinics, I challenged myself and now I’m hooked! It’s a comfortable environment for ladies of all demographics to learn to take control of a boat and enjoy their time on the water.” NCS should be applauded for taking on a traditionally male-dominated activity and fashioning a more even keel.
But above all, NCS focuses on those folks who would otherwise be unable to experience sailing. Many summer residents and visitors are unaware that Nantucket is home to thousands of year-round residents who struggle to pay their bills. Brown responds graciously when asked if sailing is meant for the affluent. “Sure, that stereotype exists,” she says. “But in reality, it’s a hobby that transcends financial, racial, and generational barriers. Learning to sail is like learning to ride a bike; once you have that skill, you never lose it. You can enjoy sailing throughout your entire life!” Taking a deep breath, Brown discloses, “The stigma does cause some fundraising issues for us. People might think,‘ Oh, great, they want me to pay for rich kids on Nantucket to go sailing?’ But that’s not the case at all! We have to get over that perception of success and recognize that not all Nantucketers are wealthy. If a child’s family is able to pay full freight, then they definitely do. On the other hand, scholarships are available to those who need them. The most important thing to note is that our policy is to never deny a child the chance to sail if money is the problem. And you know what? Some really neat friendships are formed without regard to social status or money. That’s all in the nature of sailing. Everyone can enjoy it together.”
Not only does NCS act in the interests of the less well-off families of Nantucket, but also those of the island’s fragile environment. Brown nods and acknowledges, “It’s not lost on us that Race Week stirs up the water and the natural elements of the island. But we aim to make as little impact as possible on the environment.” Since 2009, Sailors for the Sea has certified the annual Race Week as a Clean Regatta, which means that the following conditions are being met or exceeded: Land-based water quality initiatives are supported; reusable water bottles are used, along with water refill stations. Sailors are encouraged to use bicycles and public transportation while on the island. Bilge sponges are on every boat; and the use of green cleaning products and environmentally friendly bottom paint (the kind that doesn’t leak copper into the water) is promoted. No discharge enters the harbor; glass, plastic, metal and paper are recycled; and finally, there is a "green team" of folks who collect trash and recyclables. This year, Race Week will have about 400 volunteers altogether (who oftentimes receive a cool t-shirt as a gift from NCS)!
But even if your sea legs are subpar, NCS has something fun for you to do on the island during the annual Race Week. Does the idea of winning a shopping spree in downtown Nantucket capture your fancy? If so, you are invited to participate in Sail Our Streets, an enjoyable way to get to know Nantucket on a personal level. Participants must obtain stickers from 30 shops in downtown Nantucket. The array of merchant store stops ranges from the yummiest to the most unique, and all are within easy walking distance of Race Week’s festivities. Simply ask shopkeepers for their store’s SOS sticker, and then do some browsing if you like. Each necessary stop is listed on your free entry card, which can be picked up at the harbor, the airport, the Greenhound Building, or any other participating store. Upon completion, you will be entered to win a shopping spree redeemable at any SOS stop! Three winners will be chosen randomly, and need not be present at the time of drawing in order to win.
Beyond Race Week and Sail Our Streets, there are many other fun and rewarding ways through which you can get involved with NCS. Have sailing skills? You can volunteer some time as an instructor. Know how to fix boats? Hop onto the repairs team and challenge yourself to do quality work alongside likeminded people. “People do things because they have a good time doing them,” Brown states matter-of-factly. And as simple as it sounds, it’s true. People who can afford boats will always sail, but NCS has decided that no one should be excluded from Nantucket’s maritime culture for financial reasons. And the Nantucket community, generous in spirit and in deed, seems to agree. With her eyes wide, Brown shakes her head and says, “We couldn’t do this without the community. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support NCS has gotten from the town and from Nantucketers, seasonal and year-round alike.” Long live the maritime traditions of our magnificent Nantucket Island, and all the good hearts that support them!
