School holidays on the water at RNZYS

From left, tutor James West, Felix Lei, Oliver Gibbs, Malo Armstrong-Wills, Kate Littler, Mary Ingham, Paige Williams, tutor Emilie Jones and Alex Rossaak. Back: RNZYS Performance Sailing Manager Zak Merton.

Story and pictures by Debra Douglas

Introductions made, lunch ordered, sunscreen and life jackets grabbed and with an on-the-dock briefing that saw confidence lifted a notch or so, participants in the Squadron’s School Holiday Programme headed out on the water to learn new skills in two of the club’s Elliott 7s.

The four-day programme was an opportunity for 12 to15-year-olds to go keel boat sailing and work as a team under the tutelage of Mastercard Youth Programme members James West and Emilie Jones.

“As all of the kids had sailed solo before, they knew the basics, but there is not a lot on offer for young sailors in that age group in keel boats, unless they know someone who owns one,“ said James.

Day one was a simple sailing day, getting to know the boats, fellow crew members and coaches. Day two and three were a bit more adventurous with spinnaker work included.

James: “And on day four, with a nice northerly, we sailed almost all the way to Bean Rock. It was a great effort from the crews to get all the way down the harbour. But we had to get back for lunch!

“Off the water, we did some theory, but we wanted to make the course as enjoyable as possible and to have fun, so there was not a lot of class work. On the water, there were a couple of mishaps – one of

the kids went overboard three times in one day. But that’s all part of learning to be bowman.”

Fourteen-year-old Paige Williams, a pupil at Rangitoto College, is accustomed to sailing on all types of craft including Optis, Feva, MRX, Mr Kite (40 footer) and Ika Moana (family cruiser). The programme was therefore an ideal way for Paige, daughter of Vice Commodore Gillian Williams, to spend her school holiday week.

Mostly on the helm, Paige said she enjoyed herself. “The attraction being the opportunity to sail on a team boat and meet new people.”

Also happy about the new contacts she made was Mahurangi College pupil Kate Littler (13). Kate started in an Opti when she was eight, then moved into a Bic and currently sails a Feva. This was her first time sailing an Elliott.

Kate: “I was looking to have fun on the water with people who share the same interest in sailing as me. And it sounded fun to learn new skills on a new type of boat. We swapped around, so I did all the positions; the one I liked most was mainsail trim. The coaches were great at teaching us new skills.”

If Kate can fit in keelboat sailing into her sport schedule, (she also plays underwater hockey and water polo and enjoys swimming and surf life saving), she will be continuing her family’s involvement with the Squadron.

Her great grandfather was Cove Littler who co-owned Ariki, Past

Commodore Hugh Littler was her great uncle and her grandfather Ian Littler owned Zambesi, which her dad Ross Littler now owns.

Ross Littler said his daughter thoroughly enjoyed the programme and asked if she could do it all over again.

James West would also like to be involved again. “It would be good to take the kids to the next level and introduce them to keel boat racing.”