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500 Sails takes a trip to Tinian
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Posted on Aug 13 2019
Members of the 500 Sails group pose for a picture as they are welcomed to Tinian at the Tachonga Beach last July 28. The group held a summer sailing and swimming program on the island, from July 28 to Aug.1. (Contributed Photo)
The 500 Sails program completed its trip to Tinian over the last week of July to hold a summer swimming and sailing program from July 29 to Aug. 1 at Tachonga Beach.
The group saw roughly about 60 registered children in grades K-12 and about 40 volunteers during the weeklong program.
500 Sails co-founder Emma Perez found it an “amazing experience.”
She said the group left Saipan in the early morning of July 28, bringing with them three sakman or traditional Chamorro sailboats, and they were able to make it to Tinian in a matter of hours.
Perez said the participants were introduced to swimming, sailing, and learning the history of navigating in the Marianas.
“Some of the students had fears of swimming beyond shore but, a couple of hours later, they were swimming and enjoying the time that they’ve spent learning how to swim,” Perez said.
She noted that a couple of participants were able to sail on their own and that was a surprise that they had for 500 Sails, as this was done in the last days of the summer program.
Perez thanked the people of Tinian, the Northern Marianas College and its NMC-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Services program, Typhoon Sports, the Public School System, and others who made this summer program a success. She said they want to return to Tinian for another trip sometime soon.
For more information about 500 Sails, visit their website at www.500sails.org and visit their Facebook page (@500Sails).
