Mary, some answers for you: These programs take a lot of time and effort. Our Founders, Jonathan and Marcy Edwards started a Learn to Sail program in 1993 at Corinthian Yacht Club at Leschi on Lake Washington. In 1998 they formed a 501(c)3 not for profit Corp named Sail Sand Point, and donated all their Opti's and safety boats, floats, etc to this new Corp. In 1999 an agreement was signed with the City of Seattle to have a trial concession agreement at the North Shore of Magnuson Park, which was the Sand Point Naval Air Station. For more info see the website www.sailsandpoint.org. Under "About Us" check Vision and history. Under "Community" check Sponsors & Friends, and Hobie Wave Donations, typical of donated boats. Check "Voluteers and Outreach" for more details. Part of the outreach is the "Fast and Fun" free sailing programs. see http://www.ussailing.org/multihull/fast&fun.htm US SAILING no longer has this program, but we continue this program with our five Waves.

Our instructors come up from the ranks of first taking classes, become volunteer instructors, take Level 1 US SAILING Training, then administrative roles at SSP and finally become Board Members. Most have paid for their own Level 1 classes, but we now are getting sponsors, such as the Northwest Yacht Brokers to offer scholarships to cover this cost.

On the Catamaran Programs and donations, support is from our local Hobie Cat dealer, Hobie Cats Northwest, and the local Hobie Cat sailors and fleet members. All new Waves were pasted thru at cost by Hobie Cats Northwest. They have also just moved into our Building 11 at Sail Sand Point from their prior location in Kirkland. We will be in their booth at the Seattle Boat Show, Jan.25 to Feb.4. All six of our used Hobie 16's have been donated, then fixed up by our Hobie sailors.

Again, it is the people that make it happen.

Caleb Tarleton