ESA is an All Volunteer Operation.
Come join us, meet new folks, have fun and help build confidence, character and community through sailing

Sailing Instruction
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Adult volunteer instructors teach sailing to youth and adults, ensuring everyone has a safe and fun experience while learning to sail small boats.

Each ESA course has a lead instructor, who is responsible for developing content and managing execution. Adult instructors help the lead instructor deliver the content. We maintain great student-instructor ratios in our programs due to the quality and dedication of our instructor team.
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Instructors must know how to sail small boats and be able to work well with youth and adult students. All instructors must be CPR and first-aid certified. We encourage our adult instructors to pursue US Sailing certification. For committed volunteers we pay part of the tuition for the certification course.

Safety Boat Operations

Our priorities are safety, fun and learning in that order. Whenever we're on the water we operate safety boats (16' 40 HP outboards) to respond to any situation that may develop.

Safety boat skippers maneuver their boat in tight quarters to assist sailors. They support instruction delivery, setting marks and coaching students as needed. Skippers must hold a Florida Safe Boating Card and be confident powerboat operators.

Safety boat crewmembers help sailors by steadying boats, helping sailors in the wter and getting into the water to help a sailor if needed. Crewmembers must be confident swimmers. Skippers and crew must be CPR and first aid certified.

ESA offers in-house training for safety boat skippers and crew.

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Beach Operations

ESA's "Beachmasters" are critical to maintaining a safe environment for learning. Their work allows instructors and safety boat crew to focus on the needs of the students.

Beachmasters monitor the weather, using online apps and a lightning detector to warn of upcoming hazards. They maintain radio contact with the safety boats to communicate critical information to and from sailors. As needed, they administer basic first aid and coordinate emergency response for more serious injuries. They maintain accountability for youth students, ensuring positive handoff from and to parents/guardians. They help rig, launch and recover sailboats.

Beachmasters require no prior knowledge of sailing or boating–we'll provide training on all of our policies and procedures.

Administration

Like any business, ESA has needs beyond support for our primary operations. We have volunteer opportunities for maintenance, marketing, bookkeeping, event planning and more.

We also have leadership opportunities available. Our board of directors consists of four executive officers, four at-large board members, and the immmediate past president.

We're a working board–each board member is involved in the execution of ESA's many efforts.

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Onboarding

If you're interested in becoming an active volunteer, the best next step is to contact our Volunteer Coordinator to express your desired area of service and develop a plan to get to know other volunteers who are carrying out those opportunities.

Click here to send our Volunteer Coordinator a message. He or she will contact you to discuss the best approach for your involvement.

You must become a member of ESA to participate in volunteer efforts.
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The Community

It's fun being part of a community of like-minded folks.

Some of us get together for breakfast every Wednesday morning.

We have three social gatherings each year in addition to one business meeting. 

We have a bit of a party after every course to celebrate. After every youth summer camp, we have a cookout at the park park pavilion.

After every adult class, we celebrate with snacks and beverages at the sailing center.

After many events, many of us go to a local restaurant to discuss the day and enjoy our success.

​All volunteers are invited to each of these events.