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The transmission of nautical knowledge relies on the commitment of current generations to train the sailors of tomorrow. With Blockheads, since 2017 Harken has been offering a free solution aimed at young sailors wishing to strengthen their practice in light sailing, particularly around the culture of rigging, fittings and maintenance.
An online club for under-25s
The Blockheads program is aimed at young people under the age of 25, whether they are club or hobby players. Registration is free, with no obligation to buy, and entitles you to receive a membership kit by post. Younger people (under 13) must have their registration validated by a legal guardian, using a special form.
Accessible from a dedicated website, the platform offers a wide range of weekly content: technical videos, practical information sheets on knots, sail trimming, hardware maintenance and safety on board. A monthly newsletter provides updates on content, events and competitions.
Objective: autonomy and skills transfer
The ambition of Harken, a well-known manufacturer of racing hardware, is clear: to enable young people to gain confidence, to learn how to trim and prepare their boat, to identify critical points before an outing, and to exchange ideas with their peers. Through Blockheads, the idea is also to create a learning community, outside the traditional competitive framework.
Young members can also suggest content ideas, share their sailing experiences or take part in online events. Derivative products are available for sale, but the program remains accessible free of charge.
An open initiative, but still limited geographically
Initially deployed in the United States, the Blockheads program is gradually opening up to other geographical areas. For the time being, it is still necessary to check eligibility by country when registering.
Personal data is managed directly by Harken, hosted on its own servers, and is not passed on to third parties. No information is stored on the public site.
