Many enjoy free sailboat rides at St. Thomas Sailing Center Open House

Peter Holmberg (far right) takes a group out for a sail in the STYC Open House © Rian Bareuther

Two words summed up 5-year-old Cason O'Brien's half-hour ride on an IC24 sailboat during Sunday's St. Thomas Sailing Center's (STSC) Open House.

"Too fun," said O'Brien, who, with his mother, Stacey O'Brien, was one of many members of the public who came to sample the sport of sailing. The O'Brien's did so with St. Thomas native, Olympic silver medalist, and America's Cup skipper Peter Holmberg, one of the afternoon's volunteer skippers.

The STSC, the sail instruction arm of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, hosted the event, which offered free rides on IC24 sailboats and Hobie Wave catamarans and provided information about sailing courses, court sports, and Club membership.

"I haven't sailed for years, since I was a young girl with my dad on a lake," says Carol Hawkins, who, with her husband, Kevin, are the new owners of the Green Iguana Hotel.

Newlyweds Megan Darlington, and husband, Dixxon, visiting from San Antonio, TX, had never sailed. They were looking for a spot to snorkel and discovered the Open House. "It was a whole new world, so peaceful out there," says Darlington.

Open House participants enjoyed sailing Hobie Waves - photo © Rian Bareuther

Robert 'Bobby' Brooks, director of the STSC, says, "Today's Open House at the St. Thomas Yacht Club gave the people of St. Thomas a firsthand look at all we have to offer, from beginner sailing to competitive racing. Despite a rainy start, the skies cleared to reveal a beautiful afternoon, perfect for getting out on the water. We're excited to welcome more local islanders into our programs, providing an affordable way to explore the beauty of our surrounding waters. We look forward to seeing many of today's visitors back soon to join our growing sailing community."

Everyone had fun sailing an IC24 - photo © Rian Bareuther

The STSC offers several sailing courses, from 3-hour Intro to Hobie instruction that lets students, even those who have never sailed before, safely skipper a 16' Hobie Wave catamaran to an intensive 7-day Bareboat Certification course that enables students to bareboat charter a sailboat in places like the Virgin Islands. Other courses include Discover Sailing, 3-hours of instruction to learn the fundaments of sailing such as points of sail, sail trim, and boat parts; Learn to Sail; Performance Sailing, which covers skills for both cruising and racing; and Cruising Course, 4-days of practical liveaboard instruction. Private lessons are also available aboard the STSC's luxury Hanse 38' cruising boat. All our major courses include a Blue Water Membership in the St. Thomas Yacht Club for 30 days, where you can enjoy all the amenities the club has to offer: bar, restaurant, tennis and squash courts, beach, and more.

The next STSC Open House will be held February 2, 2025, from 1-4 p.m.

For more information, call (340) 690-3681, Email: , or visit: stthomassailingcenter.com