Out in the open glittery water of Lake Natoma, a clear sunny sky beams down on the lake and the sailboats that navigate on it.

On these sailboats, Sacramento State students learn the fundamentals of sailing through kinesiology classes offered by the university, allowing students to not only learn the basics, but also discover a joy for the activity.

“It’s an opportunity to connect us to the campus community; and how many other college campuses do you know where you can actually go take an educational and recreational class and get college credit for it?” said Cindi Dulgar, associate director of the Aquatic Center.

KINS 9 and KINS 10 are Sac State’s courses designed to teach beginning and intermediate students about all-things sailing. These classes comprised of 10-20 students who traveled to the Sac State Aquatic Center twice a week during the semester for hands-on sailing experience.

Sailing instructor John Stroud started sailing in his childhood and began his first teaching position at the Aquatic Center six years ago.

“I’’m enjoying it from a different perspective as an instructor rather than simply being on the boat,” Stroud, who teaches both classes on Wednesdays, said.

The classes are planned so that students learn the basics of the boat, the relationship between the wind and the boat, sailing terminology and safety.

A challenge that some students encounter in this class is simply getting into the water.

“For some students, it’s overcoming a fear of engaging in a water-related sport,” Stroud said. “Often times our students have never really done anything on the water.”

For safety precaution, students are required to pass a swim test with a life jacket on. Stroud said that students must also demonstrate the ability to capsize the boat,return it to upright position and climb back in.

“We try to emphasize safety first and foremost. Usually when students have accomplished those tasks, they feel pretty confident about getting away from the dock and feeling confident that regardless of what happens, they’d be able to handle it,” Stroud said.

Foreign exchange student Rhiannon Jennings was in a sailing club in the United Kingdom, but is now taking the intermediate kinesiology class as an elective and to improve his sailing technique.

“Having come from a sailing club where the weather dictates if we can go sailing, it’s really good to come here and know that rain is not a factor and even if there’s (none) or very little wind, John won’t cancel class,” Jennings said.

Jennings said he has never really been scared of the water, but what he finds most challenging is when the wind can suddenly drop, which interferes with the sails.

“To learn how to get the best out of a boat requires more concentration on the placement of the sails, body weight with regards to where to sit in the boat and keeping a constant eye on the wind and how the water changes depending where on the lake you are,” Jennings said. “But as John has told us, to master this type of condition will really help in (situations) where the wind is more stronger (and) faster.”

Stroud agrees another challenge students can run in to is learning about the wind and sailing as a combination.

“I’d say the biggest challenge is understanding the relationship between the wind and the sails and trying to learn how to make best use of their equipment to get the boat to perform at its most efficient,” Stroud said.

The first two weeks of class are spent in lectures learning about sailing, but the rest is out on the dock or in the water. Stroud said each boat can only hold two to three adults, so students are obliged to sail the boats from the very beginning while he is at dock or on a motorboat giving instructions through a bullhorn.

Jennings said there are many benefits from taking a classes at the Aquatic Center, including overstepping comfort zones and trying something new.

“You’re potentially in a boat with someone new who is also new to sailing and it’s a good way to find (things out) about them, being in a boat out on the lake, just with each other for company until another boat comes by,” Jennings said.

Stroud hopes students get admiration for their surroundings while being on the boat, as well as a few other things during the class.

“Hopefully (they gain) an appreciation for the joy of being out in the natural environment (and) taking advantage of the wind as a means of getting around opposed to relying on a motor of some sort,” Stroud said. “And also getting some exposure to all of the other programs available through the Aquatic Center.”

Wendy Aguilar can be reached at [email protected]