The sailing program for students in grades six through 12 has begun for the season in Boothbay Harbor. Director Chris Liberti teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education at Boothbay Region High School when he’s not on the water with the kids.

He said the sailing program is competitive, but not in a school or Interscholastic Sailing Association sense. There will be regattas. Students can band together with students in other programs and compete as an ad hoc team at the varsity level, and younger or less experienced sailors can compete at a junior varsity level to gain skill.

The first regatta is expected in early April, through SailMaine in Portland.

“We have 14 kids so far,” Liberti said. “That’s not huge, but it’s growing.” He said students range in experience from two foreign exchange students who have never been on the water to kids who have been sailing most of their lives.”

They sail 420 sailing dinghies, with centreboards, a two-handed crew with center sheeting, and Bermuda rig.

The kids came out over the weekend to work on rigging, and were on the water Monday and Tuesday.

Because it’s not a school sport, the cost per student for the spring and fall seasons is $300, which Liberti said the Club tries to moderate by helping students out with wet suits and other gear, but he said he understands it can still be a hardship for some kids.

“If you don’t have to work, you can usually find a way to sail all summer long. But many of our teens want to sail and work, and their parents need to work, and we’re trying to find ways to help them with a scholarship that isn’t for Yacht Club members over the summer.” He said it could be possible to find a way to combine a traditional camp program with a half day of sailing.

“We’re doing everything we can do not to turn people away,” he said.

To get involved, or learn more about the program, contact Liberti at libertichris@gmail.com