All Aboard!

The Piers Park Sailing Center dock is a busy place. There are free sailing classes for local youth; it’s the site of our Harbor Explorers program; and it has moorings for a handful of private boats. Needless to say, there’s a lot of coming and going. As regulars there every morning, we’ve gotten to know many of the faces that pass through.

Giving a hand (or foot) to pump up the dingy

One of the boat owners, Mr. Martin, has been especially kind to the Harbor Explorers and is always interested in knowing what the kids have caught and learned. This past week, Mr. Martin was preparing his boat for an upcoming race and the kids were full of questions. Once he brought his boat to the dock, not even a crab trap could hold the Harbor Explorers’ attention. Mr. Martin graciously allowed the kids to board his boat and he gave them a quick tour. The kids had a great time exploring and were amazed to find that the cabin contained both a bed AND a bathroom! One of our Explorers declared that he would live on a boat when he grew up.

Donovan, Alex and Blaine paddle around.

To top it all off, Mr. Martin tied his dingy to the back of his boat and the kids took turns paddling around. For many of the kids, it was their first time on a sailboat and they had a blast.

Explorers and Mr. Martin

A huge thanks to Norman Martin for giving our Explorers a special ending to a great week.

-Sarah C