One of the great challenges of introducing sailing to the public is it is often out of site and more difficult to reach. Most kids growing up look out their classroom window and see soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, football fields and a multitude of other sports played right on school grounds and in public parks. Typically sailing is far less visible and therefore hard to envision participating.
Kame Richards, owner of Pineapple Sails and founder of Alameda Community Sailing Center in Alameda, CA decided to bring sailing to the people. He took a local class dinghy, an El Toro, added some wheels off a bicyle (not quite as easy as it sounds) and took the boat into the town Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades. This meant sailing was right there 'marching' along with the high school band, the high school football team, classic cars, fire trucks and, most important of all, sailing!
Alameda Community Sailing Center's El Toro heads down 'Main Street USA' to bring sailing to the people.
What else do you do to get sailing visible in your town even though it may be hidden from view? Many town's have a 'Parks and Rec' department that send out an annual catalog of activities offered. Again common listings are soccer, tennis, Little League, softball and numerous other recreational opportunities for the town's youth. Kame and the Alameda Community Sailing Center decided sailing should be there too. They got the sailing center listed in the Parks and Rec annual catalog bringing in many more sailors for just their third summer of operation in 2015.
Now all is 'thumbs up' at Alameda Community Sailing Center and more people have access to sailing in Alameda, CA.
