VERO BEACH — More than 125 avid boaters showed up at the Vero Beach Power Squadron to sample a variety of chili, along with corn bread and cole slaw, to raise funds for the Youth Sailing Foundation Saturday evening.
“All the chili was great and it’s for a great cause,” said Youth Sailing Foundation volunteer Toby Jarman.
The three-year-old Foundation teaches Indian River County children how to build their own boats, how to sail them safely, and eventually, how to compete in regattas. The program is open to any child between the ages of 7 through 15 who can pass a swimming test.
The mission of the Youth Sailing Foundation is to get children away from technology and provide healthy physical activity lacking in today’s wired world. Sailing evens the playing field for children with limited athletic skills to compete equally with children who are more athletically inclined.
“No child is ever turned away,” said Jarman. “If you get kids who feel good about themselves, they’ll be able to resist negative influences.”
“And being out in the lagoon is so spiritual, seeing the birds and dolphins,” added Joann Jarman. “The Indian River Lagoon is amazing.”
Gifford Middle School students Alden Findley and Jarrod Smith were selling raffle tickets to the buoyant crowd.
Findley was an experienced sailor before joining the Youth Sailing Foundation. His parents lived on their boat for 18 years before he was born and he grew up on the water.
Smith, on the other hand, found out about the Youth Sailing Foundation when he took a safety course offered by the Power Squadron. Both are now junior instructors at the camp, located at the Moorings.
“I like to sail, and I like teaching kids to sail,” said Findley.
“The Optimist Dinghys are fun little boats,” said Smith. “We’re raising money to buy the boat kits, equipment, and rent on the boat house.”
The Foundation has rented a new boat house at the base of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge, near the Power Plant.
The crowd judged the variety of chili by putting dollar bills, which added an extra $130 to the funds raised, in cups in front of each cook’s contribution. The cup with the most bills was the winner.
Bill Sandelin was having a hard time deciding which chili he liked best.
“They’re all my friends,” he laughed, referring to the chili cooks. “I’ve got to put dollar bills in all the cups.”
Earle Beasley’s favorite chili was made by Tom Maddalla, of Vero Shores.
“I could feel it right here,” said Beasley, pointing to the middle of his tongue. “This is ‘two beer’ chili.”
Medals were awarded to the winners.
Joan Clark, whose boat is moored at the Vero Beach Marina, was the gold medal winner, since the cup in front of her chili was filled with the most money at the end of the evening.
“I’m a Youth Sailing Foundation volunteer and the kids and their parents recognized me,” she said humbly. “And my husband put some extra money in my cup.”