GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Thursday, a group of students braved the rain and the waves to learn some important skills on Little Bay de Noc.
The City of Gladstone’s Sail School taught nearly 50 students about different types of boats, how sailboats work, and sailing safety. To demonstrate and celebrate their knowledge, the group competed in Hawaiian-themed sailboat races for their final class.
“A lot of them have never been on a sailboat or have never been on a boat by themselves,” said lead instructor Troy Drebenstedt. “We have a lot of young kids. They learn problem-solving, they learn how to build their self-confidence, teamwork. It’s more than just sailing that they come away with.”
14-year-old student Kristof Stahlmann says the skills he’s learned in the two-week Sail School have prepared him to be better informed and safer on the water.
“I took this class because it’s a fun thing to do,” he said. “I like sailing a lot. My family has a sailboat and I’ll be able to help around on the boat, which is nice, because I understand the fundamentals more. Especially living by the Great Lakes, it’s a nice skill to have to be able to sail on a boat.”
Next year, the Gladstone Sail School plans to move to a one-week format and offer more sessions throughout the summer. For updates on future classes, join the Gladstone Michigan Sail School Facebook group.
Click here for more information about the Gladstone Sail School.
