SOAR class covers sailing basics

SOARing on the waters of Suttle Lake.

The wind at Suttle Lake may not be a welcome companion to fishermen and picnickers, but it is certainly a friend to those with a sailboat.

SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation) owns two such craft, both 14-foot Sea Larks, which are being used for a class of seven Sisters youth taking "Sailing Fundamentals" from instructor Aaron Lish and his assistant Melissa Bearns.

Bearns, a reporter for The Bulletin, has been sailing for many years, including a number of seasons as a Sun Fish racer.

The class has two more Wednesday outings in its four-session course at Suttle Lake.

The goal of the class, according to Lish, is to give the students a working knowledge of sailing, to teach them the teamwork involved in the sport, and instill in them excitement for sailing that they will carry beyond the course.

"I love the sport," said Lish, "and I hope the kids will continue to sail as they grow older."

On the first outing, which was very windy and cool, the students learned some basics of tying knots and reviewed some basic water safety before heading out onto the water under the leadership of Bearns and Lish.

"Sailing is definitely one of those things you learn by doing," said Lish, referring in particular to one group's first hand experience with "capsize recovery."

The second week was much warmer, with ideal wind conditions, and the students began to try out the different roles on a sailboat, including working the jib, manning the rudder, and leaning. The students learn quickly how important good communication is in sailing.

"It's a great life skill to learn how your action or inaction impacts everyone else, and how vital clear communication can be," said Lish.

Lish, who works full time as the director of the Recreation Leadership program at Central Oregon Community College, was only able to teach one sailing class this summer, but is optimistic about next year.

"Melissa is very motivated to make sailing more available to kids in the future," he said. "Central Oregon actually has some great places to sail, so we ought to be introducing people to the sport."