SAILING is not an elite sport.That is one of the massages Bermuda Sailing Association’s programme director Deb Gravelle wants to get out to the Bermuda public.

“For most people sailing is perceived to be an elite sport and it is not,” she said.

Gravelle, through the Government programme WaterWise, has been going into the Bermuda schools introducing kids to sailing.

“The water is the biggest playground we have here in Bermuda,” said Gravelle. “The National Sailing Programme costs $150 for two weeks and that is pretty good,” she added.

And today the Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation in conjunction with the Bermuda Sailing Association will be hosting the first annual Bermuda Public School System M1 Waterwise All-Star Sail from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Youngsters were selected as a result of their performance during the Waterwise Programme recently held at their school.

“We have been in five schools — Spice Valley, Whitney, Dellwood, Clearwater and Sandys,” said Gravelle.

The sailing regatta today will be held between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m and Gravelle said they have secured the services of the Government boat Friendship to act as a spectator boat for the parents, school administrators and teachers who wish to attend. There will be a presentation following the regatta.

She said: “Last year the BSA gave eight of the kids a scholarship. Of those eight I would say about five will travel to the New England Optimist Championships in August and compete against 300 other kids. Sailing does wonders for your confidence.”

The WaterWise programme is an introduction to sailing for Bermuda’s youngsters. “We use the Optis mostly but some of the bigger kids we put into the 420s,” she said.

Gravelle, who is originally from Colorado, has been the BSA programme director for a year. Although she is from Colorado, Gravelle spent 23 years in Seattle and was on the US sailing team in the 470 class.

This weekend Gravelle said the Laser Radial National Championships will be held and should involved between 15 and 20 boats.

“We have a lot going on this summer. We have Rockal Evans, Stevie Dickinson, Campbell Duffy and John Gardner going to represent Bermuda at the Island Games later this month and then in July we have Malcolm Smith, Sara Lane Adderley and Brett Wright sailing in the Pan American Games in Brazil and Peter Bromby and Bill McNiven will be racing in the Star World Championships in Portugal.”

And then Bermuda will be sending a number of sailors to the ISAF Youth World’s next month in Kingston, Ontario as well as younger sailors going to the Optimist Worlds, European Championships and New England Championships.

“It is proving to be a very, very busy summer,” added Gravelle.