“I’ve learned most of my life skills right here,” said Lane Kaeyer as she prepared for a day coaching at Pleon Yacht Club on Marblehead Neck.
Pleon is the nation’s oldest youth-run yacht club, serving about 175 sailors ages 8-17.
Kaeyer has sailed at Pleon for 11 years. This spring, she and another Pleon coach, Ashley Hoguet, traveled to the Bahamas as part of an exchange program aimed at teaching underprivileged kids how to sail — and the life lessons that come with the sport.
“Resilience, problem solving, teamwork,” Kaeyer listed as examples. “It’s all about putting your best foot forward and learning how to ask for help.”
The exchange program is called Make Them Sailors. Kaeyer and Hoguet spent three weeks in Eleuthera, Bahamas, volunteering at a small community sailing program that serves local kids who would not otherwise be able to afford sailing.
“It makes sailing accessible,” Kaeyer said. “Most sailing is really, really expensive. This helps kids see and experience new things.”
According to the Make Them Sailors website, the nonprofit provides “gently used sailing gear, training and support to sailors around the world, helping them develop confidence, leadership and a lifelong love for the water. Through partnerships with sailing schools and community programs, we work to break down barriers and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the life-changing power of sailing.”
While in the Bahamas, Kaeyer lived on a catamaran and taught kids 6-16 to sail. They’d go out in Optis, Bobcats and Vanguards, she said.
“The younger kids learn tacking and jibing,” Kaeyer added. “The older kids practice racing and match racing.”
Her favorite memory from the trip is being out in a boat with two sisters, ages 7 and 8.
“We sailed outside the cove and saw so much wildlife – turtles, lemon sharks, sea stars, jellyfish,” Kaeyer said. “One of the girls wants to be a marine biologist. They were just loving it.”
Next week, two sisters from the Bahamas will be traveling to Pleon to spend two weeks sailing here and staying with local host families.
Pleon Commodore Ella Benedetto, 18, pointed out that Pleon is fundraising to help cover the travel costs for the girls. Those interested can visit givebutter.com/makethemsailors-pleon.
