Set Sail

The floating docks of the Ocean City Yacht Club

If you’re looking for a way to stay active this summer and physically distance yourself from people, I have a four-letter word for you… SAIL.

Sail out onto the sparkling bay, feel the sea spray splash your face, and hear the wind sing in your ears. Cruising out on the salty water in a boat, kayak, or paddleboard is the perfect way to unwind when you’re working from home or just looking for a delightful vacation activity. On the bayside of Ocean City, a kind-hearted community of sailors is excited to share a piece of the island that has remained close to their hearts for generations.

As you drive down Bay Avenue from the north side of the island, you’ll spot a cozy store tucked onto the right side of the road: Baycats. At Baycats (located at 316 Bay Avenue) you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or even enjoy the pleasure of sailing out on the water in a Hobie Cat boat, with or without an instructor.

The shop has been open since the 1980s, but the current owner, Jennifer Boyce, who was once an instructor herself, took over in 2012, and she’s continued to incorporate charm and community into her business.

Jennifer was compelled to take over Baycats.

“I saw the joy that it brought to people,” she said.

She was able to use her “entrepreneurial bug” to keep the joy going. Her son, Alex, manages the store in Ocean City. This summer, the Baycats family has expanded with a new location in Somers Point.

The dock of Baycats

Baycats, the Sailing Foundation, and the Yacht Club can all be found on Bay Avenue.

Front entrance of the Ocean City Yacht Club

Baycats offers sailing options for all ages and families. Their camp for kids ages 8-14, started on July 6 this summer due to Covid-19 regulations, teaches young skippers how to sail the Hobies themselves. “Sailing creates a certain maturity level and a different level of responsibility,” said Jennifer.

For a great family activity, you can rent a Hobie for up to five family members and sail the boat with or without an instructor, giving customers the option for an enriching lesson or a relaxing trip out onto the water.

The Hobie Cat, a brand of boat originating in Ontario, California, was made by Hobart “Hobie” Alter in the 1950s. The boat was largely inspired by two surfboards connected by a trampoline material. To Jen’s team at Baycats, Hobie Cats are more than just the boat that they sail.

“The Hobie lifestyle takes teamwork, and it creates such a close community,” Jennifer explained, as we sat on the Ocean City Sailing Foundation operates out of the Bayside Center on Bay Avenue

front porch of Baycats, which is beautifully equipped with colorful chairs and a woven hammock. It’s like a charming little home for guests and employees, or rather, the Hobie community itself.

The Baycats team recently attended the Hobie Worlds, a hobie regatta held in Captiva, Florida in 2019. The Worlds were held in the United States for the first time in over 25 years. The team’s attendance at the regatta allowed them to connect with Hobie sailors from all over the world. “All you could see as you looked out over the Gulf of Mexico were the Hobie sails,” said Jennifer.

Luckily, you can see those vibrant sails of the Hobie Cats yourself in Ocean City.

Just a few blocks down the road, the Ocean City Sailing Foundation is doing their part to encourage the joy of sailing.

The Sailing Foundation offers week-long sailing camps for ages 8-17. They do private lessons for adults as well, so you can get your day out on the water too. As a result of Covid, they’ve limited their class sizes and emphasized the need for sanitization of their boats and life jackets in between classes, but they are continuing to run their camps for the summer.

“Camps are geared for a kid who is in town for a week or two,” said Doug Mroz, the director of Sailing Foundation’s program.

However, if you are a homeowner, the sailing community in OC has options for you to get out on the water all summer long. The Ocean City Yacht Club works hand-in-hand with the Sailing Foundation to ensure that each guest has an experience suited to their time on the island. The OCYC has seen generations of sailors come through, and they are more than happy to welcome you as well. Doug himself is a third-generation OCYC member and this season’s Rear Commodore, and he works with both organizations to make sure there are plenty of sailing experiences to go around.

Doug describes the Junior Sailing Program at the Yacht Club as “progressive,” meaning that the lessons that the instructors teach each week build on each other throughout the summer. This program works best for aspiring skippers, ages 8-17, who are down at the shore all summer. They also organize club events, such as the Rocking Chair Race for alumni and the Tuesday Laser series for adults, creating an active community filled with tradition and friendly competition.

Gordon Brown Baer, the co-director of the Junior Sailing Program, has been sailing at the Yacht Club for a long time as well. Despite moving off the east coast during the winter, he concedes that he can’t leave his lifetime friends at the Yacht Club.

“The Yacht Club is about family,” he explains. “It’s about A Hobie Cat sail

longevity.”

On July 6, the Junior Sailing Program picked up for the summer, followed by the Laser series that began the next day on July 7. If you’re a sailor looking for a community filled with tradition, learning, and loving rivalries, the Yacht Club may be the place for you.

Baycats, the Sailing Foundation, and the Yacht Club can all be found on Bay Avenue. They have all worked together to create the sailing community that Ocean City sees today: a community that is filled with sportsmanship, kindness, and - most importantly - great sailors.