The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) has announced that applications are now open for two marine-based educational programs free to USVI public school students and young adults.
The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association’s Junior Sailing Summer Program is for ages 13 to 17.
Apply now for the third RapierMed-sponsored Junior Sailing Summer Program at www.vipca.org/junior-sailing-summer-program.
The swimming portion takes place twice weekly at 2 p.m., June 17 to July 12, at the St. Thomas Swimming Association pool. The sailing segment is held at the St. Thomas Yacht Club from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 15 to July 26. Land and sea sailing instruction includes understanding the parts of a boat, navigation skills, reading weather and conditions, safety basics and, of course, plenty of sailing.
“I am always looking for fun learning opportunities that may turn into potential careers for my daughters and as an ocean-loving family I could not have asked for a perfect program. Even though they may not notice it, this program has built both of my daughter’s confidence in themselves by learning how to manage sailing vessels out on the open ocean,” said LaTarsha Fuertes, whose daughters, 15-year-old AnaMaria and 14-year-old Arianna, participated in the Junior Sailing Summer Program last year.
The program is free for eligible USVI public school students thanks to the annual $25,000 sponsorship by RapierMed, a USVI financial services and venture capital firm.
“We are pleased to once again sponsor this wonderful program to bring sailing and over-the-water skills to the youth of the U.S. Virgin Islands. We hope that the experience instills a love and respect for the water and for vessel operation that will carry these young people forward with confidence whether towards careers in the marine industry or elsewhere,” said Trey Goldsmith, chief operating officer and general counsel for RapierMed LLC.
Summer program participation opens the door to enrollment in the year-round IGY Marinas-sponsored, after-school sailing program, which is held during the public school term from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship Program (ages 18- to 29)
The full apprenticeship schedule also includes swimming, SCUBA diving, sailing and power-boating instruction; boating safety certification; charter vessel and business operations; technical skills and proficiency in diesel engines and outboards; and an introduction to marine careers with various government departments.
“When the students work with us, we train them in basic seamanship and safety. We have them participate in drills such as fire and man overboard and we demonstrate the basic mechanical checks that we do before every voyage,” said Andy Thompson, lead captain at Ocean Surfari.
Sixty-five students have graduated from the Marine Apprenticeship since it started in 2017, with 37 entering the USVI marine industry workforce.
The Marine Apprenticeship is free to participants and sponsored by the Island Foundation. All Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association-directed training programs are fiscally sponsored by the Marine Rebuild Fund within the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association is recognized by the V.I. Department of Labor as an Eligible Training Provider with a Registered Apprenticeship Program that extends the training of the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association’s Marine Apprenticeship into a PAID 12-month Marine Apprenticeship 2000-hour Work Placement.
This mentorship and scholarship program supports the VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship graduates in careers as paid crew providing them necessary sea time to obtain their OUPV U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License.
To date, 14 graduates of the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association Marine Apprenticeship program have obtained their U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License, with 11 additional graduates currently working toward their sea time before taking their exams later this year.
Apply for the VIPCA Junior Sailing Summer Program at www.vipca.org/junior-sailing-summer-program or for the VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship at www.vipca.org/youth-training.
For more information about Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association and its programs, visit www.VIPCA.org or email info@vipca.org or call 642-0656.
About VIPCA
The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) is a non-profit marine association dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry. Its initiatives include offering membership benefits, promoting marine tourism, liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at www.BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show at www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo at www.vibe.vi (public tickets now available May 10-12). www.VIPCA.org
