East Lyme — Somewhere past the romance of sailing on the blue and bright clear waters comes the wave over the bow and straight to the face. Sailing is for a certain sect, particularly for those of rarified bank accounts, names of Alistair B. Rothchild IV and Rutherford C. Warthbutton.

Ah, but then there's Ken Shluger, a judge (as in "yes, your honor") by day, but a Man Of The People all other times. It is Shluger's mission to introduce sailing to all of us here in our corner of the world, removing the stigma that it's for Muffy and Buffy only.

Shluger is part of the Niantic Bay Sailing Academy, which, among other endeavors, offers lessons to kids and adults throughout the summer at Niantic Bay Yacht Club. Come one, come all. Without even so much as a water bottle.

"The question has always been 'how do we make sailing affordable?'" Shluger was saying last week at the Larry White Regatta, which sent 120 kids throughout the state to Niantic Bay. "We have a scholarship program here. We give 12 a year and to cover everything. They don't even have to bring a water bottle. If they don't have a life jacket, we'll give them one. We provide the boat.

"I think there's outreach for kids who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Kids can come here. They don't have to own a boat. Just pay for the lesson. It's really nominal."

Shluger, who lives in Waterford with his wife, Beth (she runs the Hartford Marathon every year) already knew of the program New England Science and Sailing (NESS) offers to New London kids. This is another example of growing the game, even if it's a game that often feels obscure to Joe and Jane Average Family.

"I know NESS is doing a lot for kids and I hope we can, too," Shluger said. "This is a feeder for the (Larry White) Regatta and sailing lessons. We run junior and adult sailing programs. Adults who have never been on a sailboat can come here and take lessons, too."

Sailing may be the quintessential example of an endeavor that gets mocked through nothing more than blissful ignorance. Translation: It's far more than wind and cocktails. There aren't many other sports that teach the noble enterprise of self-sufficiency better.

"Sailing is a great sport because it's something they have to learn in a classroom and on the water," said Bill Healy, who helped run the Regatta. "They have to absorb a lot from the coaches, but then they have to do it by themselves out there in a race. It's not like football or baseball where the coaches can talk to you while you're playing. Once they're on the water, there's no contact at all until the race is over. On their own trying to figure out how to navigate the course, the rules and the weather.

"You have to be really self-sufficient. If you're not, you learn to be. You can't just plop somebody on the boat and say 'go.' They learn a little about the theory of sailing in the classroom, how you can't sail straight into the wind, how the wind hits your sails, all that stuff."

The second day of the Regatta featured the "Dinghy Race," a two-day endurance-a-thon that required participants to sail from Niantic to Fishers Island, camp out there overnight and then from the Island to the Mystic River the next day.

"Talk about finding out how to fend for yourself," Healy said.

Amazing the lessons sports can teach.

Sailing ... who knew?

"One of US Sailing's missions is to not only grow it but maintain those individuals into adulthood," Healy said. "Make it a lifelong sport for them. We're trying to make it fun and competitive for them without beating them with a stick."

Bravo here to Shluger, too, who illustrates the relative ease with which we can make a difference in our communities. Take what we're good at, what we're passionate about and simply share. It's not about home runs. Bunt singles work well, too.

Shluger not only shares his passion for sailing. He coordinates the "People's Law School" in New London, where a lineup of legal experts volunteer to present free information on their rights on everything from accident, injury, divorce, immigration, benefits and other legal issues.

"I like to use my skills and my experience to share," Shluger said. "I have legal ability and that's useful. I've been sailing since I was a kid. And I like to stay busy."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro