News

NCS Named Outstanding Seasonal Community Sailing Program by US SAILING!

Nantucket Community Sailing (NCS) has been recognized as the 2010 Outstanding Community Sailing Seasonal Program in the United States at the US Sailing National Sailing Program Symposium in Clearwater, FL at the end of January 2011.  NCS Program Director Emily Taylor (seen in photo with Morgan Collins, Member of US SAILING's Community Sailing Council) accepted this prestigious award on behalf of NCS at the symposium. This award recognizes the breadth and quality of NCS's programs, and the high caliber of the Nantucket Community Sailing instructors. NCS Chief Executive Diana Brown said "We are honored to be recognized as the best seasonal community sailing program in the country by US Sailing. This is a prestigious award, and reflects the years of effort that have been put into building our NCS programs. We want to thank our staff, board, advisors, volunteers, parents, students and the many members of the Nantucket community who support us, because we could not have achieved this award without their help." 

Nantucket Community Sailing's mission is to engage people of all ages in the joy of sailing, offering access to all Nantucket's youth, and teaching every participant enduring life and leadership skills, with a deep respect for the marine environment. Now in its 16th year, Nantucket Community Sailing provides sailing opportunities to approximately 2000 children and adults each year with a fleet of 150 boats.    NCS offers classes ranging from the Guppies beginner program for 5-6 year olds, Hunter and Optimist programs for children 7-12, Teen Green for novice teen sailors, 420 racing for experienced teen sailors, J105 keelboat sailing for children and adults, women's clinics, adult and youth private lessons, and a variety of other programs such as windsurfing clinics, water sports camp, and regattas. Nantucket Race Week and the Opera House Cup Regatta are the primary fundraising events for NCS. In addition, NCS is proud to fund and coach the Nantucket High School Sailing Team, and to offer free sailing opportunities to local non-profits and year round Nantucket children. Each NCS sailing program has a defined curriculum, with specific skill sets identified for each level of ability. All of NCS's instructors have first aid and safety training, and are Level 1 certified by US Sailing.

US Sailing, led by legendary sailor and Nantucket Race Week honorary chair, Gary Jobson, is the national leadership and governing body for the sport of sailing. Their annual Symposium is the premier event for sailing education in the United States, and is attended by over 250 participants from community sailing organizations, yacht clubs, and sailing programs.

To read more about NCS in the local news visit The Inquirer and Mirror website by clicking here.