Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF) bid farewell to 2022 and rang-in 2023 with the First Annual New Year’s Eve Sail Party. On a perfect Vero Beach winter’s day, with sunny skies and gentle breeze off the Atlantic, YSF sailors and spectators gathered with family and friends for an afternoon of socializing and sailboat rides. The crowd swelled to over 150 with over 80 sailing the Lagoon on a fleet of ten sailboats skippered by YSF junior sailors and staff.
It was a warm friendly gathering of a diverse group united with a common passion for sailing. Ages ranged from 3 to 80. Pre-school siblings hopped aboard with parents as their older brothers and sisters skippered the colorful catamaran sailboats. It was quite a scene. As one set of parents was about to board they asked Associate Executive Director Julia Linus who was skippering their boat. When Julia informed them their 11-year old son had the helm, the wide-eyed expression of surprise and pride was priceless.
YSF Alumni were back to enjoy comradery with old shipmates. Cody Lanier, who will graduate from Duke University’s rigorous engineering program in May, took the opportunity to spend an hour of quiet time soloing a YSF Laser sailboat. Others were happy to watch the familiar scene glide by while chatting with friends.
As the sun began to go down, and families headed home to ring in the New Year, there was a warm afterglow of an afternoon well spent with family and friends.
Youth Sailing Foundation of Indian River County, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit devoted to eliminating cultural and financial barriers to sailing. Numerous youth programs are offered throughout the year, many of them free to participants. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit: www.ysfirc.org.
