VIDEO: Meet the Fiberglass Team

The Harken Blockheads shares the story of the Columbia Sailing School and its program for a group of Chicago-area high school sailors to learn the skills needed for taking increased responsibility for their equipment.

At first, the program was mandatory; if you damage a boat, you do community service. Then, as time passed, the same group of seven kids started volunteering to fix the boats. These Blockheads choose to show up, slip into a Tyvek Suit, pull on a respirator mask, and get the power tools humming. And they love it. There’s no turning back.

What exactly is a Blockhead? If you are totally obsessed with how to rig, sail, and maintain your boat, you might already be one! The Harken Blockheads website is filled with hundreds of tips and videos to help you learn more about sailing. The club is free and young sailors get free stuff right away — Join Blockheads at https://harkenblockheads.com/join.php