Greetings Sailing Families,

 

I frequently find myself in a dilemma. I have several wonderful offspring and I love them all dearly. One has taken to sailing exclusively, another has focused on more traditional sports like baseball and soccer and a third wants to do it all. I try to support them all equally and share time with each of them in their chosen sports. I must confess my dilemma is rather selfish. Frankly, I personally would rather be sitting on a padded seat in a comfortable boat out on a beautiful blue ocean with an unobstructed view of the scenic Optimist sails than sitting on a metal bleacher in a crowded ball park looking thru a galvanized fence. So every time I am sitting on that padded seat out in the middle of a beautiful blue ocean with the unobstructed view, I live with that twinge of guilt wondering if I am spending enough time on that metal bleacher seat in the crowded ball park looking thru the galvanized fence.

 

I hope you find yourself in the same wonderful dilemma!

 

Optimist racing is a wonderful sport and great family activity. Our family looks at the away regattas as mini-family vacations. The weekend practices are opportunities for our parents to get out on the ocean, enjoy the natural ocean environment and beauty and watch your sailors learn some pretty amazing boating skills and gain incredible confidence safely overcoming some awesome challenges. It is ironic how many of us live in South Florida because we love the ocean and then how little we find ourselves actually out enjoying the Ocean while we are here. Let Optimist sailing be your excuse and motivator.

 

The key to this wonderful sailing lifestyle is to get involved. Consider purchasing a small boat to easily get out on the water to enjoy for your-self the padded seat in a comfortable boat out on the beautiful blue ocean watching the sailing action. If you are without a boat, don’t be bashful to volunteer with a boat owning parent.  The company is always appreciated and the personal enjoyment for you will far outweigh the effort, expense and logistics of campaigning one or more sailing yachts.

 

Never thought you would be like a Ted Turner or Larry Ellison… Well you are now! Fortunately we drop several zeros from their budget for our kids racing campaigns. Also fortunately, we have amazing support in the Lauderdale Yacht Club and an Optimist Sailing Program that has been developed over many years and thru the efforts of many Families before us that makes the effort, expense and logistics very manageable.  

 

In the words of John F. Kennedy (sort of...), “Ask not what your Optimist sailing program can do for you; ask what you can do for your Optimist Sailing Program”. Even simple things like helping the kids load and unload their boats on the storage racks, towing coach boats to away regattas and providing or serving on a Parent Safety Boat for offshore practices makes the program go so much smoother. Better yet, consider volunteering before being asked. That is the true spirit of giving and may have you doing something you would rather do as opposed to doing something that no one wants to do! Overall, the spirit of contribution and involvement will also make your personal enjoyment and satisfaction of getting your family involved in a lifelong sport ever more enjoyable.

 

I have accepted the IOD Chairmen’s position for the 2009 – 2010 year with my primary goal of helping make your Family’s participation in the program a resounding success. Any questions, ideas or really good jokes email to me at John@NektonCruises.com.

 

Thanks for climbing onboard and enjoy the ride!

 

John Dixon

 

IOD Chairman 2009-2010