We Teach Kids to Sail!
Youth Sailing: The Early Years
Welcome to T.S.S. Youth Sailing Inc.
Until 1991, kids who wanted to learn to sail at the Tampa Sailing Squadron had to depend on their
parents or other club members who were willing to act as mentors. Young people would often show
up at the small boat Squadron races held on Sundays in Bal Harbor. Noticing these kids, who
wanted to sail, but had no mentors or other instruction, Life Member Bud Marafiote thought the
club needed a more structured plan.
In the summer of 1991, largely due to Bud's passion for teaching and his enthusiasm in enlisting
other club members, the first "Youth Sailing" classes were held with a volunteer teaching staff
headed by Bill Borrer. Among those very first club members to volunteer time and energy were Bud
Marafiote, Antolin Rivera, George Cussins, Bob Meyer, Bob Shaw, Eric Eisele, Jeff Austin, and Ray
Dupuis.
The first fleet was made up of prams purchased by Davy Jones from the Clearwater Yacht Club for
the bargain price of $1.00 each. These plywood hulls covered with mat fiberglass were made
shipshape by Bruce Kerns, Ed Johnson, Scott Echols, Bill Borrer, Bud Marafiote, Antolin Rivera,
Charlie Bruno, Bart Nunn and others. Classes were held each Saturday during school vacation, and
cost only $25.00 to cover wear on the prams. The program was adapted from the “Anyone Can Sail
a Sunfish” program, but the emphasis was on making sailing fun and then learning the basics. After
taking a quick swim test given by Bart Nunn, every child was sailing the first day !
The program was a great success and continued year after year until on April 19, 2000 the Youth
Sailing program was incorporated as its own entity. Signers on the original letter of incorporation
included: Bud Marafiote, Bill and Paula Borrer, Bob Shaw, Bill Lemmer, Susan Bishop, Matt Dalton,
David Watson Jr., and Jim Bothwell who represented TSS and provided the corporate leadership for
the incorporation process.
parents or other club members who were willing to act as mentors. Young people would often show
up at the small boat Squadron races held on Sundays in Bal Harbor. Noticing these kids, who
wanted to sail, but had no mentors or other instruction, Life Member Bud Marafiote thought the
club needed a more structured plan.
In the summer of 1991, largely due to Bud's passion for teaching and his enthusiasm in enlisting
other club members, the first "Youth Sailing" classes were held with a volunteer teaching staff
headed by Bill Borrer. Among those very first club members to volunteer time and energy were Bud
Marafiote, Antolin Rivera, George Cussins, Bob Meyer, Bob Shaw, Eric Eisele, Jeff Austin, and Ray
Dupuis.
The first fleet was made up of prams purchased by Davy Jones from the Clearwater Yacht Club for
the bargain price of $1.00 each. These plywood hulls covered with mat fiberglass were made
shipshape by Bruce Kerns, Ed Johnson, Scott Echols, Bill Borrer, Bud Marafiote, Antolin Rivera,
Charlie Bruno, Bart Nunn and others. Classes were held each Saturday during school vacation, and
cost only $25.00 to cover wear on the prams. The program was adapted from the “Anyone Can Sail
a Sunfish” program, but the emphasis was on making sailing fun and then learning the basics. After
taking a quick swim test given by Bart Nunn, every child was sailing the first day !
The program was a great success and continued year after year until on April 19, 2000 the Youth
Sailing program was incorporated as its own entity. Signers on the original letter of incorporation
included: Bud Marafiote, Bill and Paula Borrer, Bob Shaw, Bill Lemmer, Susan Bishop, Matt Dalton,
David Watson Jr., and Jim Bothwell who represented TSS and provided the corporate leadership for
the incorporation process.
It's lunch time, go to
the beach
the beach
Oops!!!
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Our youth sailing program is
a certified U.S. Sailing
program and is run to
U.S.Sailing standards. We
are able to accommodate up
to 10 kids per class at the
present time. We have a
U.S. Sail certified
instructor, a full-time
assistant, and volunteer
Junior Assistants. All of the
instructors and full time
assistants are CPR and First
Aid certified. Our volunteer
Junior Assistants are young
people that have been
through our classes and have
been brought back to help
the new students rig boats
and learn their knots, and
will continue to advance with
us as we grow.
a certified U.S. Sailing
program and is run to
U.S.Sailing standards. We
are able to accommodate up
to 10 kids per class at the
present time. We have a
U.S. Sail certified
instructor, a full-time
assistant, and volunteer
Junior Assistants. All of the
instructors and full time
assistants are CPR and First
Aid certified. Our volunteer
Junior Assistants are young
people that have been
through our classes and have
been brought back to help
the new students rig boats
and learn their knots, and
will continue to advance with
us as we grow.
Wes
Josh
Tyler
Allyson
Sara
The people that make it happen
T.S.S. Youth Sailing is hosted by Tampa Sailing Squadron, a private sailing club.
One of their goals is to promote their love for sailing. They have opened up
their facilities to the Youth sailing programs. Thanks to their support and
efforts our programs have grown and will continue to do so. Tampa Sailing
Squadron welcomes new members and has lots to offer as a Sailing club. Come
on out and visit us and see what we have to offer or check out their web-site
at tampasailing.org
One of their goals is to promote their love for sailing. They have opened up
their facilities to the Youth sailing programs. Thanks to their support and
efforts our programs have grown and will continue to do so. Tampa Sailing
Squadron welcomes new members and has lots to offer as a Sailing club. Come
on out and visit us and see what we have to offer or check out their web-site
at tampasailing.org
This is worse than I-4
Where do you want to go now ?
Where's the mark ?
Beep - Beep
This sailing stuff is cool.
Hurry, get in the boat