Meet the Instructors...

Our youth sailing program takes place twice a year, during our Spring & Fall sessions.  While they are short sessions, just four consecutive Saturdays, a lot of work goes into making this program a success.  With that in mind, I'd like to highlight some of our hard working volunteers.

There are many volunteers, but this article will focus on the key individuals - our U.S. Sailing Certified Instructors. To earn this certification, sailors have to take The US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Instructor Course which is designed to provide sailing instructors with information on how to teach more safely, effectively, and creatively. The goal of the program is to produce highly qualified instructors. Topics covered in the course include: classroom and on-the-water teaching techniques, risk management, safety issues, lesson planning, creative activities, ethical concerns, and sports physiology and psychology.

Although each of our instructors have taken this course, no two instructors teach the same way.  Jim Wallace teaches the youngest kids in the Optimist Prams.  This is mostly eight year olds who have never been in a boat before.  He teaches them to rig the boats, points of sail and how to read the wind. He calls out course corrections from the shore.

Josh Dorval takes on the older kids in the faster, lighter Open Bic Skiffs.  He coaches on the water from his paddleboard.  Because these kids have some sailing knowledge, Josh is creative with games and courses that can challenge and entertain them.

And Jenny Kuntz, prefers to climb in with the kids and teach one on one. She is the perfect antidote for a reluctant or frightened first timer. But equally valuable to the older kids too. Showing off techniques that will increase their performance.

Jim Wallace  joined HISC in 1993.  He owns a Olson 911, named Contrails, which he enjoys racing.  Jim is a fierce competitor and has earned a fair collection of trophies.  In contrast to this competitiveness in racing, Jim is encouraging and patient with the kids. He has been teaching the Youth Sailing Program for a number of years and he is passionate about encouraging the next generation of sailors.

An interesting background fact, between 2006-2014, Jim and his wife Barbara, sailed to ports of call all over the world.

Josh Dorval has been a member of HISC since 2016.  After acquiring his boat, Fandango, a Catalina 36, he brought his family into the sport by enrolling both kids in Youth Sailing.  Regan, now 16 years old has started to coach the younger kids as well.  Brendan, 13 is still busy mastering the skiffs. Josh stepped up to take the Instructor class when the previous instructor retired.  Josh is a dedicated sailing instructor using lesson plans and games to keep his group involved.  His influence definitely inspires the kids in his skiff class.

An interesting background fact, Josh and his wife Erin, lived and sailed for several years in St. Thomas.

Jenny Kuntz, is a "graduate" of the HISC youth sailing program.  She took the instructor course after college and taught the youth sailing program for awhile. Then she got busy in her professional and family life, like so many of us do.

Jenny returned to her sailing roots when her oldest child reached the minimum age requirement. Beginning with Evan, now 16, Jenny enrolled each boy in the Youth Sailing Program.   Wyatt, 12, and Grady, 9 are still participating.  Jenny won't let us officially claim her as an instructor, but she does have the certification and always lends a hand.

An interesting background fact, Jenny was on the sailing team in college.

There are more Youth Sailing volunteers that are classified as "Coaches".  While they do not have a certification from US Sailing, they do have much sailing experience.  Check out next month's article to find out more.