Club sets sail for opening day

The thrill of racing, the warm sun on their face and the smell of salt in the air. And as they celebrate the start of boating season today, members of the Peninsula Sailing Club will have these experiences as they sail through the crisp waters that surround the Kitsap Peninsula.

Founded in Bremerton in 1959, the Peninsula Sailing Club is a non-profit organization working to increase its level of activity and its involvement with the community.

The club, located at the fuel dock of the Port of Brownsville Marina, is hosting an open house on May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who is interested in small boat sailing, racing, and other aquatic activities is welcome to check out the facilities and meet the members.

“Sailing can be extremely thrilling when the wind is good and there is no wave action like in the open sound, but it can still be a lot of fun,” said Ed Hover, the club’s commodore.

The Peninsula Sailing Club has seven “day sailor” sailing boats which are free to use by members. There is a modest annual membership fee with a special rate for families. There are no special requirements for members outside of passing a sailing course in order to take the boats out. Members who have taken a class sufficient to the course do not have to take it.

“When you sail it is important to learn where the wind is coming from,” Hover said. “It’s much easier to learn in a small boat because your weight holds the boat down and directly affects how the boat sits on the water.”

The club meets on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. Meetings are open to the public.

The club holds races throughout the year and are scheduled to take place after the meetings.

“The course is set between here and Bainbridge and if the wind is good, the course could be as long as two miles,” said Hover.

Members of the club are currently trying to schedule races with the Burke Bay Sailing Association which has mainly cruising boats and some “day sailor” boats.

For people who would rather opt for an activity other than racing, the club offers social sailings on the last Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. Many of the social sails have fun themes which include Spring Time and Flowers for the May sail, Pirates in June, and Red, White and Blue in July. The social sails also include a barbeque.

“Some people feel intimidated by racing, so we created the social sails so people can just relax and have fun,” said club secretary Susan Laraway

Info: www.peninsulasailingclub.org.

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