Trip report:
We had six Sunset Sail evenings scheduled for Summer 2022. These activities are always weather dependent. Some evenings Mother Nature had Her own plans, and we’re grateful for the understanding and patience of those who had activities cancelled and/or rescheduled. We couldn’t do this without the awesome team at Community Boating Center who is committed to supporting Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in the movement towards a more racially-just outdoors.
Offering these on-water experiences and building BIPOC outdoor Community in this way is extremely important. Sailing is an intimidating sport with high barriers to entry and extremely low Black Indigenous and Persons of Color participation. Everyone feels some level of awe. Everyone learns something about our marine environment. Most come away feeling more confident on the water, and some are stoked enough to continue an exploration of sailing!
Through Sunset Sails, participants experience sailing (most often for the first time); they feel the power of catching, and being moved by, the wind; they get to contribute to small safe tasks on-board; they get to watch sunset from the salty Salish Sea; with senses fully immersed, most participants experience connection of Earth Air and Water that were previously only read about in books or watched in movies.
Participant Praise:
“Being able to participate in actually sailing the boat (steering, tacking, adjusting the jib) with guidance gave me confidence that sailing is something I could learn to do.”
“Great Black instructor and wonderful learning experience!”
“I learned to make adjustments by feeling if the boat was happy or not.”
Gratitude to Community Boating Center and Justice Outside for supporting Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in the movement towards a more racially-just outdoors.
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