About

During the fall of 2013, board member Gary Bodie presented his dream of a new youth sailing facility at Fort Monroe to a group that included coaches, parents, and other members of the local sailing community. Following this meeting, the discussions continued and the dream became a reality with the support of sailors and community business leaders alike. Board Member Kevin Eley was recruited to head up the organization that became known as Youth Sailing Virginia, Inc. (YSV). With the support of Glen Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority, YSV moved forward to create a practice site. With repaired floating docks anchored in Mill Creek, and seven old FJs, Coach Allen Kilgore’s Kecoughtan and Phoebus High Schools teams began sailing in Mill Creek in March of 2014.

In May of 2014, the opportunity to purchase 18 gently used Flying Juniors from Dartmouth College provided YSV with the matched fleet necessary to host regattas. In August, volunteers began rebuilding a larger float dock donated to YSV. With the 18 boats on the water, YSV could now hold practices for Hampton, Kecoughtan and Phoebus High Schools and Hampton Roads Academy. In October, YSV hosted its first scrimmage regatta for the 14 teams of the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association (VISA).