CHATHAM – Since 2016, seniors from the four Pleasant Bay communities (Chatham, Brewster, Harwich, and Orleans) have been participating in the “Seniors Sailing” program.
This summer, Pleasant Bay Community Boating (PBCB) again offered the opportunity to sail, free of charge, to 24 seniors from each of the four Council on Aging centers, doubling their 2017 offerings.
It takes a fair bit of planning, coordination and good luck to pull off a successful Senior Sailing day. Each senior is accompanied by a guide from the town’s Council on Again (COA) to ensure safe transition from PBCB’s parking lot to the dock and boats. With guides and a PBCB sailing instructor, the seniors head out onto the magnificent waters of Pleasant Bay.
For some, it’s their first ever time sailing, while others may not have sailed in decades.
PBCB COA participants have been overwhelmingly positive about the value of their experience — therapeutic for mind, body and spirt.
They get the chance to experience the joy and the thrill of sailing on Pleasant Bay, appreciate the marine environment, and engage with PBCB’s corps of sailing instructors.
In just three years, demand for the Senior Sailing program has exceeded the PBCB’s ability to accommodate more participants.
They’re currently limited to twelve participants from each town’s COA, and directors must discretely manage the application process because of its popularity with eager seniors. They’re also seeking additional funding to enlarge the program scope again for next year!
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