Little Washington Sailing School graduated this year’s first class of sailors in the summer-long program.

For five days, children ages eight to 16 years old tackled the basics of sailing, alternating every hour of classroom work at the LWSS office with two hours on the Pamlico River, just off the Washington waterfront.

It was a grueling week, with brutal temperatures , according to LWSS Program Director Kevin Clancy.

“This week they had too little weather — little wind — but I’m sure they fun capsizing,” Clancy laughed.

This year represents a revised LWSS youth sailing program, one brought about by the purchase of six Optis, which are, essentially, beginner sailboats.

“Adding the Optis allowed us to lower the age of those who are sailing with us,” Clancy said.

Of the 18 sailing students who were graduated Friday, several eight- to 10-year-olds were among them. Previously, the program only accepted students ages 11 through 16. According to Anne Kumins, president  of LWSS, the Optis were a win-win deal for both LWSS and the manufacturers: the sailboats, with a broader beam to promote stability, were made by students in a YMCA program for at-risk youth.

For Kumins, the summer sailing program builds some life skills that will be invaluable for children, now and later.

“It teaches kids both to learn to sail as well as appreciation of the water, teamwork and responsibility,” said Anne Kumins. “Sailing is something that, one you learn to do, you can do it for the rest of your life and have found that sailing has, for me, opened doors to new people and living in new places.”

Basic sailing courses take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week, with each new class starting weekly. A more advance class will be held the week of Aug. 9. For more information about LWSS, call 252-402-7878, email at LittleWashingtonSailing@gmail.com or visit LittleWashingtonSailingSchool.org.