Free Sailing Safety Seminars Offered In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Recent dredging at the mouth of Southport Harbor is expected to improve navigation and safety for mariners ahead of the upcoming boating season. Community Sailing of Fairfield, a local nonprofit, is offering a free three-part seminar series to help boaters brush up on safe sailing techniques.

The Safe Sailing Seminar series will be held on Tuesday evenings beginning April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Recreation Center, located at 75 Mill Plain Road. Additional sessions will be held April 29 and May 6, concluding by 8:30 p.m. each evening. The sessions are open to the public and no registration is required.

The seminars are led by Community Sailing of Fairfield President Robert Claiborne and Vice President Paul Zwynenburg, both experienced sailors. Topics will include safe sailing practices, boat operation, local navigation, and club rules. The first seminar will also feature a segment on kayaking safety.

Claiborne said the recent dredging project, carried out in January by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in coordination with the Fairfield Harbor Management Commission, restored the harbor’s channel entrance to approximately 100 feet wide and nine feet deep at low tide. Prior to the project, the channel had narrowed significantly due to sediment buildup, creating a potential hazard for boats, particularly at low tide.

As part of its membership process, Community Sailing of Fairfield requires all prospective sailing members to attend the full seminar series, while prospective kayak members must attend the first session. Returning sailing members must attend at least one session to maintain active status.

Founded nearly three decades ago, the group operates under the auspices of the Fairfield Department of Recreation and maintains a fleet that includes two Ideal 18 sailboats and eight kayaks, all based at Ye Yacht Yard in Southport. The organization, which serves about 80 households, is privately run and self-supported.

"We provide safe, accessible, and affordable access to Long Island Sound," Claiborne said. "Our members are expected to be proficient in swimming, sailing, or kayaking, and sailing members must hold a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate."

More information is available at www.communitysailingfairfield.com.

— Community Sailing of Fairfield President Robert Claiborne; Photo credit: Don Hyman