All 28 participants earned their way to success, completing the Swim 2 Sail Program, by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC)! This was part of SMYC’s Primary School Program. Students from the ACE Foundation, Leonard Conner School, and the Seventh Day Adventist School took part in the weekly sailing lesson during school hours.
The Swim 2 Sail Program, which is free of charge, started at the beginning of the sailing season in September, and ended in December. It was designed to empower children who are not yet confident in the water or unable to swim. By earning their Swim 2 Sail certificates, these young learners are now ready to explore the world of sailing with confidence. With these certificates, the young students are taking a big step in their journey to becoming skilled sailors.
The Primary School Program introduces children to sailing in an exciting and enjoyable way. Beyond the fun, it helps build confidence, foster teamwork, and teach essential water safety and sailing skills. These valuable skills will not only ensure their safety on the water, but also prepare them for future adventures. Whether for leisure or to inspire future careers in the maritime industry, these experiences are invaluable.
Each school celebrated the students’ achievements with small end-of-year ceremonies. Parents, teachers, and instructors attended to support the young sailors. The students received their certificates along with red sailing shirts personalized with their school names on the back. These shirts are especially useful on the water, as they provide sun protection for the children.
“What an incredible transformation we’ve seen over the past few months with all the kids! Some of them started the program feeling anxious about the water and look at them now! I’m so proud of their progress and excited to continue developing their sailing skills in the coming months,” said Elja van der Horst, sailing instructor for the Primary School Program.
This program was made possible with the support of Gustavia Yacht Club, the Department of Sports, Independent Consulting Engineers, and Lagoon Marina for sponsoring the program. T-Maxx T-Shirts and Bob Hilbert provided the shirts and custom printing.
SMYC said it looks forward to a continued and successful sailing season, with the newly certified young sailors enjoying the waters in their distinctive red shirts, proudly representing their schools.
