PORT ANGELES — The Community Boating Program’s Junior Sailing Program continues to expand with the hiring of Eric Lesch as the first Junior Program director.

Lesch will oversee the junior program and work to expand the nonprofit group’s efforts to teach sailing to younger age groups — with an immediate focus on launching six added camp offerings to sailors as young as 6. These include Opti Sailing and new camps such as Teen Keelboat and Ocean Explorer Camp.

“I am excited to be stepping into the role of Junior Sailing director with the Community Boating Program,” Lesch said. “Youth sailing is the heart and soul of a thriving sailing community. I’m committed to building up our team, taking bold steps and following through with hard work. This is exactly where I want to be.”

CBP Board Director Randy Volker said Lesch’s appointment marks an important milestone in the growth and development of the CBP’s mission to provide access to boating opportunities to youth and adults on the Olympic Peninsula.

“It has been a long and exciting journey to get our programs to the place where we can hire a junior sailing director,” Volker said. “Eric provides the perfect balance of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm needed to lead our programs.”

Lesch began volunteering with the CBP as a coach for the high school sailing team in 2020, and he has obtained his Coast Guard Captain’s License and U.S. Sailing Small Boat Instructor certification in the interim.

Recognized for his dedication and involvement with the organization, Lesch was appointed to the CBP board in 2022.

Lesch also facilitated the acquisition of a fleet of Optimist sailboats and spearheaded the expansion of the CBP’s summer camp programs.

Lesch’s lifelong passion for sailing began on keelboats on the Hudson River in New York. He raced small sailboats in college and grew his love of sailing.

“The Community Boating Program is such an amazing group of passionate and dedicated people and I’m so grateful for their decision to hire me as the first Junior Sailing Director,” Lesch said.

For more information about the Community Boating Program, visit https://www.communityboatingprogram.org or call Erika Hansen-Dahlin at 360-457-4132.