American Sailing Association Launches Local/National Education Campaign
Sailing, one of America’s favorite pastimes, is rebounding here bigtime after hitting rough waters in the 2008 recession, so this summer there’s a huge push in our area and throughout the nation to get more Americans back on the water again.
“With our July “Learn to Sail” Month campaign, we want folks to know sailing is for everybody,” says Lenny Shabes, CEO and founder of the American Sailing Association with local schools in our area. “There are so many options to take group lessons, share and rent new boats or buy older smaller boats. More Americans are focused on having new experiences and there’s nothing better than sailing that’s proven to calm the mind and soothe the soul. It’s a hip adventure young people are learning to love.”
With the loss of pensions and rising health care costs, Baby Boomers are working longer and later in life so they’re not sailing as much, and their Millennial and Gen Z kids aren’t as exposed to sailing to learn to love it like earlier generations.
Today’s young people earn 20 percent lower incomes, amass half as many assets, are less likely to own homes and have 50 percent of the net worth as boomers had when they were the same age. The ASA is out to prove that sailing is an accessible and fun activity for everyone, regardless of income. ( NY Times and Forbes articles about the 2017 Federal Reserve data by advocacy group Young Invincibles)
Young families are tied up with more time-consuming activities for their children like travel baseball and competitive dance that didn’t exist years ago. Sailing turns the family into a team of their own, working together for a fun and exciting day on the water.
ASA leaders note Baby Boomers were more of a hands-on generation, repairing bikes or re-building old cars while technology has younger generations involved in more sedate screen-time activities like building websites. Learn to Sail Month will encourage everyone to get more hands-on by enjoying the fun, uplifting and restorative activity of sailing.
New Technology – sailing has changed, and new fascinating technology makes it easier for tech-savvy learners to feel comfortable to steer, power, and maneuver a boat.
Lighter Lifting – Heavy sails that used to require major upper body strength have been replaced with lighter synthetic sails. No need to “muscle” the lines like in years past because more efficient mechanisms and techniques make it easier.
Tie the Knot Lessons– Younger generations may marry later in life but tying a knot on a sailboat is critical and it’s now easier with new twine and procedures.
Person Overboard Drill – learn procedure if someone falls off the boat.
About the American Sailing Association
The American Sailing Association (ASA) has been the leader in U.S. sailing education for 35 years. The Association has grown to include an international network of more than 350 professionally accredited sailing schools. More than one million certifications have been awarded to over 507,000 people who have been introduced to sailing through ASA schools, clubs and programs since 1983. For more information, visit https://asa.com/.
Sailing Schools
South Coast Sailing Adventures
Kemah, TX – (281) 334-4606
Windward SeaVenture
Kemah, TX – (281) 467-2279
Let’s Go Sailing School
Seabrook, TX – (281) 532-1518
Sea Star Base Galveston
Galveston, TX – (409) 572-2560
Bay Area Sailing Academy
Kemah, TX – (713) 408-1318
Discover Sailing School
Kemah, TX – (281) 334-1993
