By Lee Perry, Event Organizer
The Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF) hosted its inaugural Discover Sailing event on Saturday, April 26, at Tempe Town Lake. They welcomed curious first-timers to experience the joy of sailing, and several past ASF students also had a chance to sail again. With 23 enthusiastic volunteers offering their time, boats, and expertise, the event created a welcoming environment for 28 attendees—both adults and youth—to take their first or second step into the world of sailing. The sun was shining, the breeze was perfect, and the atmosphere was electric with excitement and discovery.
Steve Dawson had the Hobie Fleet well represented and Ken Gerard brought a Hobie 16 for sailing and RC Hobie for display! If the boat didn’t bring them in, the cookies surely did! 
Participants were welcomed by volunteers Linda Park, Laura Johnson and Renata Hejduk (not pictured) 
Several volunteers helped get people into boats..
The attendees, many of whom admitted they had long dreamed of sailing, finally saw that dream come true. Each participant was paired with an experienced Skipper/Coach aboard a variety of sailboats, including four Capri 14.2s, an Opti, and an FJ from ASF, as well as a Hobie 16 and a Butterfly owned by volunteers. When the sailors returned to the dock, the joy on their faces spoke volumes—this was a morning they wouldn’t soon forget.
On shore, ASF displayed a full range of its training boats, fully rigged for hands-on exploration. Visitors got a close-up look at a Capri 14.2, FJ, Opti, BIC, Laser, and Sunfish while volunteers stood by to answer questions, demonstrate knot-tying skills, and share their personal sailing stories- all exhibiting their passion for sailing. A special highlight was a radio-controlled Hobie sailboat demonstration by Ken Gerard, showcasing the breadth of sailing opportunities available.
ASF Youth Director Craig Taylor shared this about the day: “Emma Wright, who started with ASF in one of my Kids Introduction to Sailing classes, has stayed involved with ASF opportunities from then, two years ago, until now. I knew I would be on the docks most of the day, so I asked Emma to help, and she volunteered to enrich the kid’s experience in this day of discovery.
On Saturday, she took the helm of my Butterfly and gave most of the younger participants a first-time sailing experience. Not only did the children observe the skills Emma has gained through her involvement with ASF, but she also allowed each child to take the rudder or the main sheet and have a go for themselves. Every child present had this opportunity.
The parents who observed with me from the dock were thoroughly pleased to see their children riding in little boats and further amazed to see their kids, briefly, sailing a boat. I even heard some chatter from those pleased parents about shopping for boats.”
While ASF’s sailing programs break for the hot Arizona summer, they will return in October with a new season of classes for both adults and youth. Discover Sailing was a shining example of the power of community and passion, leaving a lasting impression on every new sailor who took to the water that day.
Event Volunteer Hall of Fame
Appreciation goes out to everyone who helped make the event possible: Deniz Katar, Linda Park, Barry Bond, Tim Putney, Renata Hejduk, Olivia Stanley, Lafe Larson, Sadie Hoberman, Dave Henning, Lee Perry, Stephen Dawson, Multihull Fleet Captain, John Woodrow, Josh Klein, Joanne Aspinall, Dan Thornton, Matt Baker, Laura Johnson, and Andrew Fulton.
Bill Feil brought his 14.2 for rides; Don Weaver displayed his Sunfish; Junior sailor Gianni Petrucci bought his BIC for display; Craig Taylor, ASF Youth Director, brought his Butterfly and managed the youth sailors; and Ken Gerard brought his Hobie 16 and an RC sailboat.
Editors Note: Like many AYC volunteers, Lee isn’t seeking recognition; he simply wants to get more people sailing. Here’s a pic of Lee so you can put a smiling face to the name and, if available, volunteer on the next Discover Sailing day.
The Backstory: One day, a trio of sailors met for lunch, and the idea for Discover Sailing was born among Lee Perry, Craig Taylor, and Emory Heisler. Lee transformed the concept into reality with assistance from many others who also believed it was a great idea!
Photos by Joanne Aspinall. View the complete SmugMug gallery by clicking here.
Volunteers acted as skippers and coaches on the water! 
The kids enjoyed the Opti’s. Junior Member Emma Wright took the helm of the Butterfly to deliver a first-rate, first-time sailing experience to other youth. 
Ken had some of the younger people join him for a spin on the Hobie 16. 
Are they racing already? 
The adult participants were thrilled to try sailing.