Dear Readers:
When I met Bill Schopp, it seemed he was yet another unwritten, unsung hero in our community. In this case, he wants to help kids -- rich, poor or otherwise -- to learn to sail and has garnered scholarships for this very purpose. As our kids live and breath around the port of Los Angeles, it seems fitting that we should help our children take advantage of tremendous opportunities such as the one Bill provides. Here's his story -- Diana


THINK SAILING IS ONLY FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS? CABRILLO BEACH YACHT CLUB DOESN’T THINK SO AND HAS MADE IT A GOAL TO PROVIDE FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO GIVE ALL KIDS A SHOT AT TRYING THEIR HANDS AT SAILING THE FAIR WINDS USING A NON-PROFIT

By Bill Schopp, president of Cabrillo Beach Youth Sailing Club Foundation

When I was growing up, I was looking for “my sport.” I assumed that everyone has a natural ability towards a particular sport. By the time I was 14, I had sadly crossed most sports off my list as it was clear they weren’t for me. Then, I discovered racing sailboats.

There was a bunch of kids crewing on 40-foot sailboats racing against each other on weekends and sailing around on smaller boats when the big boats were not racing. There were a couple dads who would give us coaching tips at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club. Most of the kids were family members but since my dad fished -- and didn’t sail -- he was not a member.

Yacht club members there encouraged me to join as a junior member and made me feel like part of the family. Now as an adult, I still race sailboats and will the rest of my life. I had found “my sport,” and realized other kids needed this chance as well.

One day a few years ago, a few of us got together and decided to try to make sailing an opportunity available to more kids throughout the Harbor area – especially kids who weren’t going to make it in the usual suspects of sports – football, basketball and baseball. So we started the Cabrillo Beach Youth Sailing Club as a 501c3 non-profit foundation to support youth sailing. We then teamed up with the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club.

CBYC already had a summer sailing program so it gave us the perfect opportunity to make sailing available to any kid. CBYC and its membership were completely supportive of the idea. While I was welcomed as a kid at the yacht club, officials there today are still happy to welcome kids who want to sail – kids from all walks of life. The club has allowed us to have many types of fundraisers and the membership is very supportive financially.

In these past few years, the program has grown into a year-round effort encompassing high school sailing in the spring and fall with San Pedro, Palos Verdes, Mary Star, home school kids, and the Port of Los Angeles High School, a charter school. There is also a middle school program for kids in the spring and fall for area kids. During the summer, there are four two-week sailing camps for kids ages 8 to 18.

The foundation’s role is to ensure there is available boats and full or partial scholarships for families with financial needs. It truly has allowed other kids the same opportunities to see if this could be “their sport,” – just as I had discovered when hanging about the docks as a child.

Sailboat racing requires both mental and physical agility. Not only do you have to outwit your opponents, you have to control your boat well enough to be in a position to pass them. There are many sizes and types of boats to match kid’s ages, size and abilities. Competitively, there are races at all levels. Racing is conducted locally, nationally, internationally, and in the Olympics. Some of ours kids have represented the United States in races held in Europe.

If you’re looking for a sport for your kids or want something for them to get involved in this summer, I highly recommend sailing. Youths of all ages can come in with their parents and request full or partial scholarships, depending on their circumstances.

You just never know what might capture a kid’s imagination and spark their passions; it could be just looking up at a billowing sail filled with a gusty wind that will make them soar.
To learn more about the club’s scholarships, drop by the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club at 211 west 22nd street, San Pedro or call (310) 519-1694.