Stone Horse Yacht Club donates two boats to the High School Sailing Program

(left to right) Stone Horse Yacht Club Commodore Jeff Hurst, Rough Rider co-captain James Adams, Coach John Dickson (holding Margaret Dickson), and co-captain Heather Mallory flanked by the two 420 sailing dinghies that were donated to the High School sailing team. Tom Leach photo.

HARWICH PORT - (5/31/04) The Stone Horse Yacht Club has donated two newer 420 sailing dinghies to an aging fleet of the Harwich High School Varsity Sailing Program. The Harwich School Committee at its last meeting accepted the Vanguard boats. Commodore Jeff Hurst said that the Yacht Club located on Wychmere Harbor "is thrilled with the High School sailing team's use of the facility in the spring and this donation goes along with the club's commitment to promote sailing in Harwich Port."

The Harwich sailing team began its first season in 1998 and sailed from the Chatham Yacht Club on Pleasant Bay until last year when then Stone Horse Yacht Club Commodore Peter Haley invited the High School athletic department to use its facility to harbor the team. SHYC has an excellent float system as support for dry-sailing the boats in the cold water time and the open waters of Wychmere outer harbor has proven a good setting for team racing meets.

The Rough Rider sailing team now has ten boats at its disposal and depends heavily on the support of the community to stage a competitive team requiring sails and equipment such as dry suits, life jackets, chase boats, etc. According to history teacher and coach John Dickson, "For many of the sailors on the team this is their first exposure to sailing and they learn very quickly not only about the excitement of the sport, but the discipline and rules that are part of its governance. Many of these young adults will carry on with this sport or the enjoyment of sailing which is part of what we are here on the Cape to enjoy."