The Indianapolis Sailing Club in Geist was the proud host of the O’pen BIC Energized Sailing Tour Saturday, May 31st — the first stop on the Midwest tour. On display was the new O’Pen BIC sailboat, described as the latest, hottest boat to hit sailing — “a true dinghy that heels”!

They aren’t really made out of BIC pens, but BIC is behind the new concept. Known for making kayaks and other wind surfers, BIC is introducing the new O’Pen Bic boat to kids and teens who love to sail. Eight-year-old Jordan Brokowski of Geist didn’t miss the chance to check it out!

Jordan has been sailing at ISC since last year and proved to be experienced enough take the new boat out on his own for a test run while his mom, Carla, watched from the shore.

“I was a little worried at first…it was so windy,” says Carla. “But when the boat flipped in the wind, I knew this boat must be easier to handle because Jordan got it upright quickly — my husband I thought it may not have been that easy to do with a Sunfish!”

Jordan said he really enjoyed the ride. “It (the BIC boat) was a little slippery, and when it flips on you, it is hard to walk over … so you have to swim around to the other side and right it up,” he said.

The boat is plastic (instead of fiberglass), features kid-sized hand grips on the sides, and sports a clear sail—which is being credited for the fewer bumps and collisions during test runs at several East Coast Regattas.

The fast, planning hull of the O’Pen BIC is said to offer a dynamic sailing experience, but the boat is also designed to be easier to right after capsizing. It also is self-bailing, so kids don’t have to work so hard to get the water out after they’ve tipped over. Sure, they still get wet, but what kid really cares about that?

The O’Pen Bic Sailboat retails for about $3,000.

A big thanks goes out to the Indianapolis Sailing Club for providing an opportunity for aobut 25 kids to try something new, improve their sailing skills and enjoy a little early summer sailing on Geist in a hot new sailboat!

If you’d like to learn more about ISC or enroll your kids in this summer’s Sailing camps, you can stop by June 21st for the ISC Open House (11325 Fall Creek Road) for more information and to take a sail on one of their boats skippered by an experienced ISC sailor.

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