It’s never too early to find your balance on the water. You know it’s summer in Harpswell when small sailboats from the Orr’s-Bailey Yacht Club begin dotting the horizon on Merriconeag Sound.
For more than 30 years, the club has been introducing kids as young as 8 to the fundamentals of sailing — giving them lifelong confidence and a deep appreciation for time on the water.
It’s more than just hopping in a boat. At the club’s Abbot Fletcher Sailing School, students learn how to rig their boats, trim the mainsheet, steer with a tiller, tack and jibe, and even right a capsized boat. By the time they leave, they’ve built not just skills, but also independence and a sense of teamwork.
The club and the school have a deep and rich history.
“In the beginning, we had a small school, mostly for members’ children,” recalls Sue Baker, club historian. “It wasn’t uncommon to see Abbot Fletcher on the docks, sharing his love of sailing and teaching kids about navigation and the finer points of sailing.”
In the late 1990s, the club named the school in honor of Fletcher, a beloved member and accomplished competitive sailor who generously mentored young sailors until he died in 1999. Today, roughly 75% of the students come from nonmember families — a testament to how the program has grown to reach the wider community.
This summer included a full-circle moment: Pete Worthington, who first taught sailing at the club more than three decades ago, returned as head instructor.
“It’s all about the kids — teaching and leaving them with a better appreciation and understanding of sailing and the water,” Worthington says.
The program now offers classes for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced instruction. It combines classroom lessons with plenty of time on the water.
Many instructors were once students themselves, and pass along the same lessons and excitement they experienced. It’s common for kids to return summer after summer.
This season, 75 students set sail with the Abbot Fletcher Sailing School. Looking back, more than 1,500 children have gained their sea legs on Merriconeag Sound thanks to the dedication of the club and the legacy of Abbot Fletcher.
Applications for the 2026 season will be online early next year. For more information, go to obyc.org/sailing-school.
