A warm cloudy day around 26 degrees Celsius with ESE to SE 5 knot breeze with some stronger gusts a little stronger provided perfect conditions for learn to sail. This week nine (9) young sailors coming down to test their skills. We spoke about wind direction and strength ideal for learn to sail such as today. Sailing into the wind and having to sail at an angle to the wind.

This week Hannah, Hannah's mum and Dan manned the small rubber ducky. They set a starboard triangular course. Windward mark offshore and the wing mark towards the entrance to the harbour. After a couple of laps the young sailors started to get the hang of sailing toward a windward mark.

Sailing at an angle as you cannot make progress straight into the wind. We then had a mini race and all the kids who participated were keen to try and beat each other. Once sailing finished the kids headed to shore and packed up the boats.

At debriefing we spoke about the juniors camp being moved to 2nd and 3rd of April. 19th and 20th March will be just a normal learn to sail day.

Next week is the Katagatta so there will be no junior sailing. Junior learn to sail will be back to normal the following week. 
​
Regards Hugh.

This week 7 hardy kids came to pit their skills against the conditions. A nice warm day around 26 degrees Celsius with around 6 – 8 knot southerly breeze was the order for the day. After some discussion around sailing in moderate wind conditions. IE To stop the boat tipping focus on leaning and mainsheet control (letting the rope out in a controlled manner when starting to tip). Also focus on controlling the boat by keeping hold of the tiller and main sheet. This week the little rubber dickie was manned by 2 of the parents and a triangle course was set.

This week Trevor myself and 1 or 2 parents stood in the water to direct traffic. As the wind appeared to strengthen slightly as we set out we ended up sticking to a reach across the shore and turning by pushing (if facing the sail correctly turned the young sailors into the wind avoiding a jibe and possible bump on head in the strengthening wind conditions). James settling in to the conditions very quickly leading the way. After seeing how well he was going a number of the other kids ended up settling down and set off in hot pursuit. The learn to sail year is approaching an end. There are only 3 more learn to sail sessions.
​
Remaining Learn To Sail is planned as follows:

• Saturday 27th Feb 2016 – Junior sailing is on. Note: Youth Regatta is also on at IYC – let me know if interested in participating and I can give you further information.
• Saturday 5th of March 2016 – NO LEARN TO SAIL. Catamaran Regatta at PKSC “Katagatta”
• Saturday 12th March 2016 – Junior Learn to sail
• Saturday 19th March 2016 – Last learn to sail for season. Note: This is also sailing camp – goes into afternoon and sleep over at the clubhouse and then Sunday morning. Next week will bring along some flyers and attendance forms.

It sounded like the youngsters wind conditions were a bit lighter than those of the adults in the afternoon. Around 10 young learn to sailors came down and were coached in my absence  by the very experienced Richard Hipsley and Trevor Dunn  assisted by a number of parents. Both Richard and Trevor advised the kids performed very well on the day.

​Looking forward to some nice sailing weather next week. Next week plan to consolidate and re-enforce some basic skills like maintain contact/control of rudder and mainsheet at all times.  See you all next week.

A warm cloudy day around 25 degrees Celsius with SE 12 knot breeze with some stronger gusts provided challenging conditions for the learn to sail crew. Eleven (11) young sailors coming along. This week we spoke about sailing into the wind and having to sail at an angle to the wind. As directly into the wind the boat stops (is in “irons”). With the stronger wind we also spoke about safety if capsized and being around outboards to watch out for propellers. If needing assistance to approach the small dingy from the front.

We also reviewed what you could do to control your boat in the stronger winds. Doing things such as letting your sail out and turning up into the wind. This week Trevor being away Kody & Dylans dad and James's dad manned the small rubber ducky. They set a small port triangular course. Windward mark offshore and the wing mark towards the wharf. Just at the time we heading down to the shore the wind picked up somewhat and some of the young sailors found the stronger wind flapping sails a little intimidating. At this point we decided to take the skyriders out 1 at a time to start them off and judge how they were going before taking out the next.

​A couple choosing not to go out on the water. For those who chose to go out they got to experience some stronger conditions with wind gusts getting up around the 15 knot mark. A number of the kids gaining some confidence once they got out testing their skills. Also a number ended up capsizing. The small rubber duckie was kept busy. We ended up changing the course to a shoreline reach to relieve the pressure on the rubber duckie responding to capsizes.
 
Regards Hugh Lewis

Junior sailing reports are in the process of being moved to our new website. Stay tuned for updates.

If you woukd like to find out whats happening in the junior sailing drop the Junior class delegate a line on juniors@pksc.com.au