About Sail Martha's Vineyard

Since its inception in 1991, Sail Martha's Vineyard has focused on connecting the Island's school children and the community at large with the traditions and experiences of the Island's maritime heritage. It offers a summer sailing program free of charge to over 135 Island school children. Projects within the community have included; wooden boat building in the schools, scholarship funds to pursue time on sail training vessels and educational programs. It also seeks to attract and welcome historic sailing vessels to the Island so the community can experience first hand the sailing ships of the past.

The Summer sailing program is offered to 8 to 18 year olds. Students are taught basic rowing and seamanship in small Island built wooden skiffs, as well as in more contemporary designs. The program operates out of the Sailing Camp Park on the Lagoon in Oak Bluffs. The Lagoon offers an ideal location for sailing instruction with sheltered waters, sandy beach and minimal marine traffic.

The High School Sailing team, which is sponsored and funded by Sail MV, has developed as the graduates of the summer program have aged. This need for a next step was recognized and a sailing club was formed in 1996. Because of its popularity and success, in 1999 it gained varsity status and began to compete in regional regattas. Both Edgartown Yacht Club and Vineyard Haven Yacht Club provide their facilities and use of their sailboats during the school year. A Junior High After-School Advanced Program was instituted in 2000 to provide a bridge between the Summer program and the High School Team.

Sail MV continues to expand its activities to include Adult sailing instruction. During weekday nights in the summer small classes will be conducted in Catalina Capris and opportunities for racing will be available in a Soling.

Sail MV is completely supported by small local grants and individual donations. In its brief eleven years of existence it has established itself as an integral part of the community.

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  Editorial Vineyard Gazette 7/17/2007: Messing Around in Boats Considering the Island's long and rich history in seafaring traditions, dating back to the canoes of the Wampanoags and the sailing and steaming ships of European colonists and their American descendants, it is especially satisfying to see the rebirth of a new set of connections to the waterfront.
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