The Community Boating Centre has launched a new fleet of RS Quest sailboats
The Community Boating Centre has launched a new fleet of sailboats to meet growing demand for sailboat lessons and rentals.
The six RS Quest sailboats can be used by beginning and more experienced sailors. They’re available for sailing lessons and summer camps, as well as rentals, starting this summer.
“There is growing desire in Bellingham for quality sailing instruction, and these boats help us to enable our community of sailors to continue to grow. The Community Boating Centre has dedicated 2018 to growing our sailing programs and offerings for our community,” says Erica Reed, the centre’s operations manager.
“With this in mind, we were able to devote a large portion of our budget to building our sailing fleet,” Reed adds.
Located at 555 Harris Ave., the nonprofit centre provides boat safety information and classes to those who want to explore Bellingham Bay via a small watercraft. The centre also rents and stores boats.
It focuses on making boating affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.
The RS Quest is big enough for a sailing instructor and up to three students. It can be used by youths and adults learning to sail, as well as those who want to develop intermediate skills.
“People have responded to the RS Quests with great enthusiasm,” Reed says. “We are seeing our Intro-to-dinghy courses and our dinghy rentals jump in popularity, and we keep hearing glowing reviews from the students and renters who have taken out the Quests.”
More on the Community Boating Centre’s programs and rentals, including the RS Quest sailboats, can be found online at boatingcenter.org.
Try it out
The Community Boating Centre is offering free paddles on Tuesday evenings, through Aug. 14.
From 4:30 to 9 p.m., people can get free one-hour rental of sit-on-top kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats and sea kayaks. The boats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The goal is to encourage people to get out onto Bellingham Bay, and to make it possible for them to do so by removing barriers to boating.
The centre is at 555 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
More details are on its Facebook page and on its website at boatingcenter.org. Or call 360-714-8891.
Burke Okrasinski, sailing instructor at the Community Boating Centre, demonstrates one of the centre’s new RS Quest sailboats on on Bellingham Bay in June. Evan Abell evan.abell@bellinghamherald.com
