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Nelson Yacht Club

Schools programme in Nelson comes to life

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A number of Nelson school children have had the opportunity to go sailing recently and, for some, it is their first time in a boat, thanks to a collaborative effort from the Nelson Yacht Club and Port Nelson.

The sailing experiences are part of Yachting New Zealand's schools' engagement framework, Kōkōkaha, and build on the knowledge students have learned in the classroom about the power of the wind.

A number of Nelson schools have taken up the opportunity to try sailing at the Nelson Yacht Club recently thanks to funding from Port Nelson. The programme is aimed at schools who are decile six and lower and this season is the first of three sponsored by Port Nelson.

"It's something that I've dreamed of trying to put together," Nelson Yacht Club manager Tim Fraser-Harris told the Nelson Weekly. 

A number of Nelson schools had already enjoyed the sailing experiences, with a host of others booked in over the coming weeks.

"We're extremely grateful for the funding from Port Nelson that allowed us to do it and extremely grateful to the team at the Nelson Yacht Club," Victory School principal Dan George said. "The team of instructors are great. 

"It gives students an opportunity they wouldn't normally have. For some, it was their first time sailing or, for others, the first time out on a boat. 

"We've had heaps of good feedback from kids, from our staff, from parents. A really positive experience for everyone involved."

You can learn more about the schools' engagement framework, Kōkōkaha and further modules in development here