Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies

EASE: The Erie Adaptive Sailing Experience

The vision of the EASE program is to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing sailing instruction and the opportunity to sail independently on Erie's Presque Isle Bay. EASE participants enjoy the adventure and fun of sailing while experiencing enhanced independence, increased self-esteem and personal growth in a unique therapeutic and recreational environment.

These sailors are from Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Adaptive Sailing EASE (Erie Adaptive Sailing Experience)

Jane Earll with students in the Adaptive Sailing Program, EASE.

BCMS, the Junior League of Erie and several local agencies have created the region’s first adaptive sailing program. Specially designed sailboats, the Access Dinghy, will enable participants with a wide range of mobility issues to sail on their own.

Sailing is one of the only sports where a physically challenged individual can compete equally with an able bodied competitor. Students from the Millcreek School District, Shriners’ Hospital and the Achievement Center are learning and enjoying sailing.

BCMS expanded the Erie Adaptive Sailing Experience (EASE) program by utilizing larger boats to accommodate a wider range and greater number of participants. The most significant change was utilizing our 42’ catamaran, Taco the Town, and our Friendship Sloop, Momentum, to take out large groups of participants from the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center. We were able to accommodate both Camp Shamrock and Camp Connections during the season on a regular basis. In addition, we were able to expand our regular summer program to include Shriners Hospitals for Children, Erie Homes for Children and Adults and the Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRICL). We began to use our catboat, Total Eclipse, as a spectator boat during these events to accommodate family membersand participants. More students were able to participate because they felt more comfortable sailing with their counselors and other familiar faces on the larger boats.

Our Friday afternoon sailors had a wonderful 8-week session with beautiful weather every time. Volunteer Coordinators, Bren and Kathy Lindell and Aleasha Stainbrook have done a great job working with the kids and the families. The season was topped off with a family picnic on the BCMS campus.

Thanks to a grant from the Erie Community Foundation; we were able to purchase a Boston Whaler to use as a motorized launch so the BCMS staff can easily reach and supervise any of our boats underway. We have also accepted a donation of a 16’ pontoon boat that will enable us to take several passengers in wheel chairs out on Presque Isle Bay. We are looking forward to another exciting summer of adaptive sailing in 2008.