Boat Donation Provides Big Boost For Beverly High Sail Program

BEVERLY, MA —The Beverly High sail program had strong numbers and coaching out on the water last spring.

What the Panthers were lacking were modern boats that befitted their talent and excitement for the sport.

That was the determination of Jubilee Yacht Club members who came together over the past year and formed the Beverly Sailing Association to help secure 12 new Club 420 for the team's upcoming spring season.

The Beverly Sailing Association was created as a nonprofit to work with the city, the school department and Jubilee Yacht Club to solicit donations for the boats and sails to replace ones the yacht club members judged as old and "not conducive for developing competitive racers and hosting regattas."

"Youth is the future of sailing and we wanted to help by providing good boats, sails, and related equipment and services to support the development of competitive young sailors," the BSA told Patch on Monday.

Thirty donors helped the BSA contract with Boston College and the Intercollegiate Sailing Association to buy the dozen "good as new" boats and sails. The Beverly School Committee accepted the donation at its Oct. 10 meeting.

"It is difficult for the city and/or school department to fully fund a competitive high school sailing team given other demands on their budgets so organizations like BSA can help fill a gap through private donation," the BSA said.

The nonprofit will continue to accept donations for Beverly High and other sailing programs in the city — including additional boats and sails, boat covers, marks, scholarships, maintenance, chase boats and other essential equipment.

The new boats will be stored at Jubilee Yacht Club.

"Our hope is that BHS team members will learn and excel in sailboat racing, and carry the BHS banner to first-class college sailing programs and have a lifetime enjoyment of boating," the BSA said.

Those looking to help with donations to further BSA's efforts can contact hunterearl@gmail.com.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)