Island Rec offers sailing classes for youth, adults
Island Rec sailing classes got off to a windy start last week. Using boats generously provided by the Sailing Foundation, two classes of aspiring sailors came to Percich Pond to test the waters.

A morning class ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. all week and honed their skills in El Toro sailboats. Eight students ranging in age from 8 to 54 worked on tacking, jibing, man overboard recovery, and capsize drills.

An afternoon class — offered from 2-5 p.m. every day — sailed faster and more complicated boats called Lasers. This class of seventh- through 10-grade students worked on perfecting the same skills at higher speeds.

Early in the week, the weather was blustery, blowing 5-7 knots on the pond. Later on, it tapered off to a light wind on Thursday and Friday.

Felipe Lopez, an Island Rec sailing class alum and sailor for the University of Washington sailing team, taught the classes for the seventh time this summer.

“I like teaching sailing because I had some really good instructors when I took the classes and I like to see these kids get as excited about sailing as I did,” Lopez said.

Even after so many years as an instructor, this class still stood out from the others.

“The morning class really enjoyed capsizing, which is good because for many people that’s kind of scary,” Lopez said.

“The afternoon class was a great forum for developing skills to use in more advanced sailing, maybe even on the high school racing team.”

Island Rec will offer nine classes this summer, each geared to different skill levels. For more information on any of the classes, visit www.islandrec.com or call 378-4953.
— Katie Schmidt

Island Rec’s Horseshu Ranch Day July 8
Join Island Rec and Horseshu Ranch on July 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a day all about horses.

You will have a chance to learn basic care and grooming techniques as well as go for a ride on a gentle saddle horse. The registration date for this program is Tuesday, so register soon.

Scholarships are available; inquire about them at Island Rec’s office.

For more information or to register, call Island Rec, 378-4953; visit in person at 580 Guard St., or visit www.islandrec.org.

Families needed to host British soccer coaches
One of the most respected and experienced soccer training organizations in the U.S. — Challenger Sports British Soccer Camps — is coming back to Friday Harbor this summer.

One of the most popular elements of the British soccer camp program is that the coaches for the camps will stay with local families.

In return for hosting a coach, the hosting family receives a rebate of up to $80 toward the cost of the camp but more importantly they will enjoy a unique week learning about the U.K., learning about soccer and building lasting friendships.

Island Rec is in need of several families to host a coach this summer for the weeks of July 7-11 and Aug. 18-22. Contact Recreation Director Sally Thomsen at 378-4953 to participate.

More information about British Soccer Camps for children ages 4-16 — and all of Island Rec summer programs — are available at Island Rec’s office, 580 Guard St. Or visit www.islandrec.org.

Write to us
Send items for the Sports Briefs column to Sports Desk, The Journal. P.O. Box 519, Friday Harbor 98250.

E-mail rwalker@sanjuanjournal.com, srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com, or jkrall@sanjuanjournal.com