May 3rd Speaker - Bill Records

Our speaker last week was Bill Records, the Vice Commodore of the Austin Yacht Club. Bill spoke to us about the Austin Yacht Club's Junior Sailing Program, in particular its "PB&J" camps held in the summers on Saturdays. These camps are for children between the ages of 4 and 8, and are taught by adults and older junior sailors.. Using photos to demonstrate, Bill showed how the kids learn to sail on Optimist boats, which are very stable. The first thing they learn is how to right a capsized boat. Next, they learn to steer by being placed in a boat that is on a line without sails and instructed to steer towards a certain point. This same process is repeated with the sails on the boat. In other words, they learn by doing instead of being instructed how to do it. This program has been instrumental in bringing more younger sailors to the Austin Yacht Club along with their parents. AYC now has a number of national ranked junior sailors who have sailed in regattas around the country and abroad. Teaching children how to sail gives them an interest in a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime! Bill, who is a professional photographer in the Austin area for many years and was the official photographer to Governor George W. Bush, also told some anecdotes about his time with the former President.