Sail a Small Boat Day

Despite the hail, rain and gray skies, Richmond Yacht Club’s Sail a Small Boat Day was a complete success. People of all ages and skill levels came out to try their luck on anything from a Hobie kayak to a Laser to a Wylie Wabbit. Volunteers at RYC warmly welcomed guests and invited everyone aboard. Various small boats and watercraft launched at the club’s dock, where people lined up bundled in foul weather gear, sweaters and PFDs.

Who ever said bigger is better? Some could say there is a different boat out there for every kind of experience you could want on the water. There are many makes and models of boats in our modern age. Have you ever whipped around on an Optimist, capsized a Byte, or sailed on a foiling Moth? This weekend sailors and non-sailors were given the opportunity to test-run a wide variety of sailing dinghies and small keelboats around the Richmond Harbor.

The morning started off cold and rainy, with no wind, but that didn’t stop the crowd. By noon, the sun peeked through clouds, and the wind picked up to 15 knots, for full sails, big smiles and full stomachs from the free hot dog lunch. It’s safe to say that Sail a Small Boat Day recruited a few new sailors.

For those who can’t wait to get back on the water, and for those who missed the event but want to take a chance on a small boat, RYC will be offering summer lessons for children and adults at different skill levels.