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Chilly Christchurch weather didn’t deter a group of enthusiastic children attending an Introduction to Sailing Course at Naval Point Club Lyttelton earlier this week.
The course is one of five on during October being made possible by a combined fundraising initiative involving Yachting New Zealand’s Sailing… Have a Go! programme and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand to benefit the yacht clubs of post-earthquake Christchurch with a view to re-vitalising activity and interest in sailing during a difficult time. Five different Christchurch yacht clubs are involved and offering introductory sailing courses.
Monday’s course at Naval Point Club Lyttelton involved fifteen Christchurch youngsters with a morning session and an afternoon session. Coaches helping out included Roger Redman and Roland Eveleens who recently attended a Yachting New Zealand Club Instructor course.
“Bad weather on Monday morning meant that coaches kept the youngsters occupied with learning rigging and many other fun sailing games while they waited for the weather to improve enough for them to get out on the water,” says Yachting New Zealand Regional Support Officer Kate Spackman.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand made a nationwide tour in the lead up to the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race campaign visiting Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin with a Yachting New Zealand Sailing… Have a Go! trailer available at each stop off. Members of the public were able to go aboard CAMPER and children could try sailing through Sailing… Have a Go! and a variety of fundraising initiatives in each destination port contributed to a fund which has made these courses possible.
