Melrose Family Set To Sail This Summer

For the Benagh family of Melrose, sailing is a family affair.

Jeff and Betsey Benagh are active members with the Quannapowitt Yacht Club (QYC) in Wakefield, which was founded in 1884 and is the oldest inland boat club in America. The QYC offers lessons and clinics for adults and children who are sailors or interested in learning to sail, plus hosts regularly scheduled regattas. Lake Quannapowitt is one of the headwaters of the Saugus River and offers a nice 'sea breeze' for those who sail its waters.

Jeff is in his second year in charge of the QYC's Adult Sailing Program, while Betsey is enjoying her first year on the Youth Sailing Committee. The couple enjoys watching the weekly Sunday regattas from the dock of the QYC and taking out their private boat they keep anchored in Salem Harbor.

Sailing is a passion that the 14-year Melrose residents are passing on to their two children, Andrew, 10, and Katy, 8. Andrew and Katy have both been sailing since a young age and will be attending the summer sailing camp next week at the QYC, which enrolls children at 8-years-old or entering third grade through high school. The youth sailing program also offers advanced racing programs and participates in several regattas.

It's Andrew's second year in the program and Katy's first year. Besides attending sailing camp at the QYC, Andrew will also be participating in the Marblehead Junior Race Week later this summer.

Andrew and Katy, along with fellow children sailors, will learn to sail on an Optimist dinghie — a small boat made specifically for sailors younger than 15.

"Sailing in an Optimist is like being in your own little world," Andrew said. "It's fun! I love it when I can feel the wind because I know I am moving."  

Katy added an important safety tip when sailing on an Optimist: "Never stand on the down-wind side or you'll capsize."

Jeff explained that students are trained to be independent sailors through the QYC's summer sailing camp.

"The kids learn to do everything on their own from taking out their boats, placing them in the water, as well as operating them," he said.

"Safety is very important in the program," Betsey added. "There is always a rescue boat that goes out with the students. And, if a student is not comfortable alone, an instructor will climb onboard with them and guide them during their lesson."

Andrew added that on days with no wind, students perform row boat races instead.

Mary Vadaro, the QYC's Youth Sailing Program Coordinator, said many of the students return each summer to further develop their sailing skills, with some students transitioning into the QYC's racing program after a few years and eventually competing in regional regattas.

"Most of our instructors learned to sail in the program and participated in our racing program," Vadaro said. "Our program includes a hands-on internship under the direction of US Sailing certified instructors, racing experience to further develop sailing skills, and courses that culminate in US Sailing instructor certification."

The third session of the Quannapowitt Yacht Club's summer sailing camp, which runs from July 26-Aug. 6, currently has openings for enrollment. QYC Family memberships are also available.  Those interested can contact the QYC at 781-245-9518 or visit the QYC website.

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