b'Catboat Program Blind & Vision-Impaired SailingThe 2021 season began in May with PBCBs Catboat Speaker Series featuringThe goal of this program is to create a author and historian Stan Grayson, boat builder Geoff Marshall, and Penn Staterich sailing experience for the visually University weather analyst, Bill Ryan.impaired (VI). This eight-week learn-to-sail program attracted eight dedicated Our Catboat Program set sail with a full class in mid-June and never seemedVI sailors who regularly attended. to drop anchor until the very end of the season in September. This year, weAnd the addition of the new ADA added one newly donated boat to the fleet, which increased the class size toaccessible dock and handicap parking/eight participants.drop off area made the transition from curbside to dockside more convenient From commissioning to instruction, the Catboat program relies on a coreand safer for all. group of volunteers who were always at the ready, keeping boats afloat and participants fully engaged in learning to sail in PBCBs well-maintained catboats. A blind or vision-impaired sailor may not be able to experience all the visual This second season had an enhanced program of instruction that included ainput that a sighted sailor does, but course syllabus and established goals. Poised to take this program to the nextthat does not mean the experience level, PBCB plans to introduce a Catboat Seamanship Course in 2022 that willcannot be as rich. encourage participants to advance their skills and confidence in a catboat. Beyond gaining a basic under-The Catboat Program is focused on creating aGUNKHOLING: tostanding of sailing terms, VI sailors community of catboaters who can sail togetherexplore or meanderfocus on learning non-visual and learn together. Next season we are addingthrough creeks,sensations, such as the heel of the a weekly afternoon program, Gunkholing incoves, marshes, orboat, the sound of the sails, the a Catboat Cruise, that will compliment theother shallow areaschange of boat speed, and the Wednesday Racing Series.near shore.direction the wind is coming from. They also learn how they are affecting the boat and what those different Being able to sail a catboat was on my bucket list.Being outsensations mean. Equally important, on Pleasant Bay with new friends has been a bonus.Thanks tothey are gaining the skills and Suzanne and her catboat program, I can continue to grow as aconfidence to come back for more!sailor and in ways that honor and protect the beauty of Pleasant Bay.The Tuesday night VI sailing For years Ive loved just knowing that PBCB was doing itsprogram offered many wonderful work at the far end of Pleasant Bay. Late this summerbenefits on different levels.I finally took advantage of their offerings. As an occasional sailorThe social aspect of the program was of catboats and small sloops, and crew on bigger boats, I wanted to getgreat since it combined the visually more confident as a skipperand just get in some sailing time. The four-dayimpaired with sighted guides. When catboat course was made to order: a quick but thorough indoor refresher,given the tiller, I think we all felt a then three great days on the bay in a Marshall 15 with three excellent andsense of independence and freedom very different instructors,including a day when it blew up pretty strong.that cant be felt on land. The fresh It was just the tune-up I was hoping for with the bonus of being qualifiedair and just being out there was a to rent boats afterward. I learned a ton and hope at least some of it sticks.privilege thanks to the great program! Cant wait till next summer!'