US Sailing adds Siebel sailors programs in Pacific Northwest
July 19, 2020
Youth development program is coming to Seattle and Hood River in Oregon.
BRISTOL, Rhode Island—US Sailing has announced the expansion of its youth development program, with Primary and Supporting Siebel Centers set to be built in the Pacific Northwest.
Sail Sand Point in Seattle, Washington will be the home of the Pacific Northwest’s Primary Siebel Center. The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle and Gorge Junior Sailing in Hood River, Oregon, meanwhile, have both been announced as Supporting Siebel Centers.
Seattle’s Sail Sand Point awards thousands of dollars in scholarships and offers learn-to-sail classes, race team coaching, rentals, group programs and boat storage.
The Center for Wooden Boats, also in Seattle, serves as an advocate for maritime heritage. The center has been around since 1979 and offers educational, interpretive and hands-on programs on building, maintaining and using historic small crafts.
Gorge Junior Sailing in Hood River, Oregon, meanwhile, promotes sailing as a life skill. Its learn-to-sail classes are offered to youth between the ages of 5 and 18. The center also offers an “Open Sail” event each week, a free sailing experience open to anyone in the community.
The Siebel national community sailing program was created in April 2019, as part of a donation from the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation to US Sailing.
“The purpose of this ground-breaking Siebel Sailors Program is to increase diversity and opportunity in the sport of sailing by providing resources and support to youth sailors at public access sailing centers across the country,” US Sailing staff said in a released statement. “This is a national US Sailing program that is executed locally by Siebel Centers with adaptations for regional needs across the country.”
US Sailing stated most Siebel Programs are on hold right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though some are returning to the water for the summer. US Sailing staff stated they would monitor the pandemic closely and determine whether any of the centers would have to temporarily halt operations again.
