supporting Community

The Youth Nautical Education Foundation (YNEF) has a clear mission: to promote national and international amateur sailing, maritime arts, education, water safety and community improvements. The Foundation has been committed to working for the past several years with the Challenge the Wind organization located at the Belle Isle Boat House and is dedicated to providing the opportunity to the youth in the inner-city to learn about sailing and water safety. The YNEF has donated funds, equipment, boats, and people to work with this program which has grown to a substantial community program in Detroit. 

Over the years, we have been able to provide a complete fleet of Optimist dinghy boats, 420 sail boats, facilities, and improvements to their infrastructure. The YNEF has provided volunteer assistance, teaching materials and coordination of available resources with the CTW team. 

Over the past 10 years the CTW program has grown from just a few participants to now having a capacity to teach approximately sixty 10-17 year old’s Basic and Intermediate Sailing Skills operating out of the Belle Isle Boat House, formerly the Detroit Boat Club Site. 

The YNEF scholarship program offers a college scholarship to all young sailors in our community. To date we have awarded 99 scholarships in our effort to encourage and support children to learn about sailing and water safety. Details regarding the YNEF Scholarship Program along with applications are available on our Website.