Youth Sailing Launches NEW OPti

The Vero Beach Power Squadron (VBPS) also known as Americas Favorite Boating Organization is supporting the Youth Sailing Foundation. Many of the VBPS members join together to help manufacture the dingy on Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays. The times vary, but generally its 4pm – 7pm during the week and 9am-12pm on the weekends in the Marina Hanger, which was donated by the city.


The primary mission of the Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County is to promote and operate a sustainable sailing program for the benefit of local youths, ages 6 to 16, using 8-foot long Opti sailing dinghies.

Our goal is to create sailors who will enjoy and contribute to the sport of sailing, their communities and the environment their entire lives. We strive to do this in a fun and safe learning environment, developing competence, character and confidence within our sailors who will be mentored by a parent or volunteer throughout the process.

The Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, a 501(cX3) corporation began just a few months ago and has made remarkable strides. Conceived as a community-based youth program, area youths, along with their adult partners, learn to assemble from pre-cut kits, sail and race their own dinghies.

The fledgling Youth Sailing Foundation has attracted support from many parts of our community including governments, marine-related business, local organizations and other non-profits. Already, the scope and mission of the organization have started to grow.

The City of Vero Beach and the Municipal Marina have enthusiastically endorsed the plan by committing physical facilities and resources that include a location for assembling the eight foot wooden Optimist dinghies from kits, the use of the east basin adjacent to the marina for in-water training purposes, nearby storage for completed boats and the permission to construct needed docks and a launching ramp. In addition, the Vero Beach Power Squadron has offered their on-site facilities to teach participating youth basic marine fundamentals, navigation rules, safety training and more.

The program allows girls and boys (ages 6-16) to participate along with their adult partners. The cost for each dinghy kit is estimated to be about $1,400.00 plus personal sailing incidentals, safety equipment and training materials. We are committed to finding funding sources so all qualifying youths, regardless of financial capabilities, will be able to participate.

The Youth Sailing Foundation vision includes launching a pilot "fleet" based at the Municipal Marina in the fall of 2009. We expect to involve up to 75 youths in the program. They say that the first launch of the most recently completed finely crafted sailing vessels will take place this Sunday June 6, 2010.