This week was a warm 27 degrees with 8 to 10 knot breeze making for nice off shore conditions.
This week we had 2 new families with 3 new kids to learn to sail Quentin and Ayesha Mascarenhas and Samuel Grey. Combined with Archer, Zac and Chloe and Tallarah making a total of 7. (Justin’s 2 keen sailors away in Tasmania this week)
This week back to basics identifying the parts of a skyrider and how to put them together. Run thru things like pointing the skyrider into the wind before rigging. Naming the parts eg mast, sail, boom, rubber, centre board, hull, mainsheet.
As Justin was away I gave Archer’s dad Brendan a hand setting up the small rubber duckie and he went out and set out 2 buoys across the wind to test our new sailors out.
After some discussion at briefing on how to steer, balance a boat with your body and by working the mainsheet (sail rope). Always sit facing the sail, remember to duck when the boom comes across. We also used Barry Grant’s model yacht to help explain and give some visual prompts.
Once the briefing was completed it was time to put these skills into practice. Down on the shore it was already quite warm so I encouraged the kids to get wet. We then got together and practiced balancing a boat in the shallows and steering. After which we went out and the kids with some experience set off and those just starting sailed between 2 people acting as buoys and mentoring them. Assisting then thru tacking, keeping hold of the tiller by swapping hands etc.
Progressively the kids started to get the hang of it with some assistance by the end of the session they were sailing reasonably confidently between instructors and or buoys. On the way they were able to learn and practice capsize drills. The newest kids were last off the water and all appeared to have enjoyed themselves.
Regards Hugh Lewis
Learn to Sail Coach
PS: Two (2) parents expressed an interest in learning how to sail. So after some discussion with my catamaran colleagues . Next week I have arranged for Tony Sanderson and Bill Ledger to come down around 10am and do a little impromptu learn to sail coaching. We will see how this trial goes and depending on availability of people etc. this may be an option to get non-sailing parents involved.
If any others think that they may be interested then come and see me and we can discuss options.
This week we had 2 new families with 3 new kids to learn to sail Quentin and Ayesha Mascarenhas and Samuel Grey. Combined with Archer, Zac and Chloe and Tallarah making a total of 7. (Justin’s 2 keen sailors away in Tasmania this week)
This week back to basics identifying the parts of a skyrider and how to put them together. Run thru things like pointing the skyrider into the wind before rigging. Naming the parts eg mast, sail, boom, rubber, centre board, hull, mainsheet.
As Justin was away I gave Archer’s dad Brendan a hand setting up the small rubber duckie and he went out and set out 2 buoys across the wind to test our new sailors out.
After some discussion at briefing on how to steer, balance a boat with your body and by working the mainsheet (sail rope). Always sit facing the sail, remember to duck when the boom comes across. We also used Barry Grant’s model yacht to help explain and give some visual prompts.
Once the briefing was completed it was time to put these skills into practice. Down on the shore it was already quite warm so I encouraged the kids to get wet. We then got together and practiced balancing a boat in the shallows and steering. After which we went out and the kids with some experience set off and those just starting sailed between 2 people acting as buoys and mentoring them. Assisting then thru tacking, keeping hold of the tiller by swapping hands etc.
Progressively the kids started to get the hang of it with some assistance by the end of the session they were sailing reasonably confidently between instructors and or buoys. On the way they were able to learn and practice capsize drills. The newest kids were last off the water and all appeared to have enjoyed themselves.
Regards Hugh Lewis
Learn to Sail Coach
PS: Two (2) parents expressed an interest in learning how to sail. So after some discussion with my catamaran colleagues . Next week I have arranged for Tony Sanderson and Bill Ledger to come down around 10am and do a little impromptu learn to sail coaching. We will see how this trial goes and depending on availability of people etc. this may be an option to get non-sailing parents involved.
If any others think that they may be interested then come and see me and we can discuss options.
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