b"PBCB OptimistPBCBs pilot Opti program was a huge success!Our fleet of Optimist Prams allowed us Race Team to provide young sailors with an opportunity to continue to learn more about the sport of sailing. But most importantly it provided access to racing! To say we were ecstaticOur sailors, ages 8-11, practiced boat handling and racing Monday through Thursday with the opportunitymornings. Each day our practices began with a talk focusing on a specific skill. Sailors for our 8-year-old son,rigged their Optis independently and sailed to the practice area on Pleasant Bay. Time Rylen, to participate inon the water was spent practicing the specified skill, and each day always ended with this program would be anracing and a fun activity.understatement. Coach Lisa Downings quality ofOur goal for the first two weeks focused on preparing the sailors for our first Opti instruction and passionevent on July 7 at Stage Harbor Yacht Club. Our PBCB sailors were enthusiastic and was top-tier and exactlydetermined, and quickly gained the skills and confidence to compete. Finishing places what our son needed. were 2,7,12,19, with one of our sailors earning the Regattas Sportsmanship Award![The] attention to detail, progress, and theThe teams next event was hosted by Stone Horse Yacht Club. Conditions were depth of knowledgechallenging with fairly strong wind and waves. The finishing places for our two youngest relayed to the kids was farPBCB sailors were 10 and 15. At the next event held at Wianno Yacht Club, we were beyond any program represented by four PBCB sailors and one regatta-only sailor. The hard work during our we have experienced. practices was starting to pay off. In one of the largest fleets in which they competed, -Darren & Brooke Saletta PBCBs sailors finished 1,8,11,32,40a PBCB sailor finished first! Our last event was the Hyannis Yacht Club Youth Regatta. We had four of our PBCB sailors attend and also took on a Chatham sailor as a regatta-only teammate. It was amazing to watch our PBCB sailors compete with confidence and skill. Out of 45 sailors, our finishes were 3,6,9, and 24.Scholarship PBCBs Greg Kelly Scholarship Fund awarded 13 full scholarships to children and 21 Program discounted scholarships to families so they could attend day camp and sailing programs. We would like to thank everyone who generously supported this program: West Marine, the Fred S. Brotherton Charitable Foundation, the Ryan Memorial Foundation, and those who contributed to the Galas Fund-A-Need.Our family was delighted to receive scholarships for our two daughters. The financial support enabled them to attend the Science and Sailing camp. They were so excited to go every day!.They learned the language of sailing and were excited to share the activities of the day when they were picked up. The girls loved it so much that theyd go back every week of the summer if they could. This program gave them the opportunity to get out on the water in a way that they would not have been able to if it weren't for Pleasant Bay Community Boating. It let them participate in the activities of our ancestors, which is something that we as their parents can't provide for them. PBCB is an incredible local resource for Cape Codders and visitors alike, providing opportunities for anyone with a desire to sail. Annie Haven"