ST. PETERBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg Sailing Center, which has roots that date back all the way to the 1940s, offers opportunities to get aboard one of its boats used to instruct and learn how young and old can get into the hobby of sailing. 

Each pull of a line aboard a sailboat is integral to keeping everything moving forward and in the right direction. That's something captain and longtime sailing instructor Zac Oppenheim knows well. Growing up in the Great Lakes, he was on the water often, learning to sail on his parents' sailboat. 

“That's how I grew up," Oppenheim said, "As much time as we could get away in the summertime, as much time we could spend on the boat, that was what we did. We explored a lot of places, so you could definitely say I was born into sailing.” 

He took everything he learned in his childhood and made it his career — not just in sailing, but also all types of water sports. Now he's also a licensed captain. 

“I really enjoy it," Oppenheim said, "Working on the water and sharing my love of the water and ocean around me with others.” 

That is something he's been doing at the St. Pete Sailing Center for a quite a few years as an instructor that helps with some of the center's many courses for youth and adults. 

"We start kids as early as 5 years old!" Oppenheim said. "We call them the harbor mice, and they're a riot running around causing trouble, but it's really great.” 

The sailing center is a partnership between the city and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, a partnership that's been around since the 1940's when the center first started. Now it hosts a number of national and regional regattas that make it one of the most active sailing facilities in the United States. 

It's a storied and decorated history that makes this spot the perfect place to tackle a new hobby, learning alongside seasoned captains of the art of sailing.

The St. Petersburg Sailing Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. It offers classes for youth and adults. For more information on those classes and special events, go to its website.