Sailing club makes maiden trip to Tinian for pika festival

  The Marianas Sailing Club sailed to Tinian for the 8th Annual Hot Pepper Festival, taking about 20 passengers with the objective of educating island residents about the importance of sailing.

Commodore Dave Johansen led club officers and members in navigating three 25-footer sailboats, pulling from behind two small boats and two kayaks that were used by the mariners to teach some 15 aspiring young sailors on the island south of Saipan.

The group left the Saipan dock around 5am on Saturday and arrived at their destination in time for a spicy lunch at the festival grounds in Tachogna Beach at 11:30am.

Johansen said that the over-six-hour maritime journey was due to the “uncharacteristically light and pleasant winds.”

“We are shooting for about 20 knots of wind. That’s our ideal wind. Too light winds, not fast; too much winds, very difficult and too many big waves,” explained Johansen, who heads the non-profit organization with Lino Olopai and Cecilio.

Johansen said they brought smaller boats to give their young students “every facet of the challenges in big boats,” including ways to overcome them.

According to Johansen, there is a lack of sailing skills in the islands and acquiring these skills is something that could really impact the Commonwealth in a positive way, given that the islands are interconnected via seaports.

“The old technology of sailing is the green technology of the future,” Johansen told Saipan Tribune.

While the group has yet to receive their official organization documents, member A. “Kamal” Rahaman said they are giving their “full energy” to efforts to get younger members of the community into traveling by sea and without the use of engines.

“We are run by the power of the wind,” he added.

Another member, Bruce Siewert, said their basic requirement is for club members to know how to swim but they do provide life jackets and have a safety program in place for those who want to learn how to sail.

Siewert pointed out that their students do not just become skilled at sailing.

“The second aspect of it is we teach them confidence,” he explained. “Younger ones are learning a tremendous amount of confidence. They can actually control a boat and control that energy in nature.”

At present, Siewert says they have about 60 members. The club asks for a minimum annual fee of $25 per person or $40 per family unit.

“What we’re looking for [are] sponsors to fund these boats,” said Siewert, who noted that they are building their boats from scratch. “The goal is to have 10 of the small boats.”

According to Siewert, each small boat costs $1,800 and companies or businesses can come together to sponsor these boats for use in their sailing program, which also aims to keep the youth out of trouble.

The group is inviting the community to join the club or check out their organization by attending their training every Saturday from 10am to 3pm at the Oleai Beach or every first Monday of the month at 6pm at the American Memorial Park pavilion closest to Hyatt Regency Saipan.

For information, call 285-7901.