Boating : Sailing Against the Wind : A yearlong project targets disadvantaged and at-risk O.C. teens through OCC and Amateur Athletic Foundation of L.A.

Hand on the tiller, Jose Ortiz steered the Lido 14 across Newport Bay, then tacked and pointed his bow toward the Orange Coast College Sailing Base. A moment later, with some friendly coaching from instructor Paul Prioleau, Jose nosed the boat safely into the dock.

Not bad for a landlubber like Jose, 17, who until this day had never stepped foot aboard a sailboat.

But thanks to a new program at OCC, about 100 teen-agers like Jose, who otherwise might never have a chance to learn how to sail, can take lessons for free. The yearlong project is funded by the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles and is aimed at disadvantaged and at-risk teens in Orange County.

The after-school program, open to boys and girls age 13 through 18, is taught by OCC sailing instructors Paul and Karen Prioleau. The Prioleaus are assisted by volunteers, most of whom have learned to sail through the college’s many classes. Recent students included Jose and about 10 other members of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana.

“To be eligible they have to be underprivileged, at risk or from difficult homes or difficult neighborhoods,” says Karen Prioleau, who has taught sailing for about 20 years.

Students will meet after school on Mondays and Wednesdays at the OCC Sailing Center, 1801 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, throughout the academic year. “It’s a progressive program,” Prioleau says. “They’ll learn to sail and will get progressively better and better.”

The goal of the program, she says, is to help the teen-agers build self-confidence and self-esteem by learning to excel at a new sport. Already Prioleau says she has seen changes in some youngsters. “We had this one boy, it was blowing like crazy and he was pretty nervous. I wasn’t sure he’d come back, but he ended up being the first to solo. We had another boy who was afraid of the water, but we require them to tip the boat over and right it. He did and got over that fear. Afterward he didn’t want to get out of the water.”

To be accepted into the program, the student must know how to swim and the student or group must be able to provide transportation to and from the sailing base. There are still spots available in the sailing classes, and Prioleau hopes to spread the word through the various Orange County youth groups and school districts. (For information, call the Orange Coast College Sailing Center at (714) 645-9412.)

“Teachers who volunteer to help with the program can go through it too and learn to sail,” she says.

Prioleau says she hopes the program might be able to keep some kids out of gangs and out of trouble.

Nicole Jefferson, program specialist with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana, says the sailing classes present a great opportunity for the club’s teen-agers. “A lot of these kids don’t have the chance to go out and try different things like this,” she said.

“The kids we’ve had are really good kids,” says Paul Prioleau. “Many of them have never been on a boat before, but so far they are doing really well.”

Students start in the classroom by learning something about tying knots and basic sailing, but most instruction takes place on the water.

Tony Burciaga, 14, admits he was a bit nervous before his first sail. “It looks easy, but it’s not,” he says.

Juan Macias, 18, was also apprehensive. “I feel good about it; I just hope I don’t fall in the water.”

By the time the students had sailed back and forth across the bay several times without mishap, their confidence had increased substantially.

Karen Prioleau, who taught sailing in a pilot program at the Newport Harbor Adolescent Hospital last year, says: “It’s interesting to see how they respond. The positive feedback really helps their self-esteem.”

Prioleau says she watched one very shy boy come out of his shell after only one lesson. “It’s very rewarding,” she says.

Because the program is so rewarding, Prioleau says, she has had no trouble getting volunteers to help out with the classes. So far the toughest obstacle, she says, is transportation. “Getting the kids back and forth is the problem.”

Once the yearlong program is over and the $14,000 grant runs out, Prioleau hopes the sailing classes will be able to continue into the summer and into the following school year. “We’d like to see the community take this over and keep it going.”

Sailing Meeting. The Women’s Ocean Racing Sailing Assn. will hold a meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Dana West Yacht Club, 24601 Dana Drive. Members are attempting to organize a “Sail for the Blind” to be held Oct. 24. About 20 boats are needed so that members can take blind adults on a day sail in the bay, according to Lorrie Lewis, who is helping stage the event. For further information or to donate use of a boat call Lewis at (714) 631-6460.

Bay Cruising. Twilight cruises of Upper Newport Bay are being offered this fall beginning Saturday by members of the California Wildlife Campaign. Cost is $20 for non-members and $15 for members. Included in the price is a light dinner provided by El Ranchito Restaurant. Cruises also will be Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (714) 640-6746.