Nine kids aged 10-13 completed this three-day course, rigging and sailing the club’s five Pacer dinghies.
After launching the Pacers, the group practised the Capsize Drill, Man Overboard Drill, Tacking and Gybing, and steering and trimming sails on all Points of Sailing.
With experienced sailors Lex, Peter, Kate and young Lachy as instructors, all kids soon took to the water ‘like ducks’, while Bryan and John in the Rescue boats offered tips and encouragement.
The kids were not phased, with northerly winds reaching over fifteen knots on the last two afternoons and strong ebb tides kicking up the white caps.
After lunch, on the last day, we sailed downwind to visit Tony’s Island before sailing back upwind. All kids had broad smiles on their faces as they unrigged and washed down the boats. Hopefully, we’ll now have a keen group to join our other Juniors regularly sailing our Manly Junior, X3 and Pacer fleet.
Congratulations, Ashlie, Atticus, Austin, Darcy, Finn, Lachy, Lucia, Mahlia and Shamus!
JH