Issue date
Yachting New Zealand’s Volvo Sailing…Have a Go! schools programme has wrapped up its 10th season, and this season saw 3408 students given an opportunity to simply have a go at sailing, try it out, test the waters and see if it appeals as an activity or sport.
Our three Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! Instructors, Reuben, Milly and Henry ran have a go days for students from over 100 schools out of 45 Yachting New Zealand affiliated Clubs, providing the first connection between school kids and their local sailing club. From Taipa to Bluff, the Instructors collectively travelled the entire length and width of the country
The emphasis of a Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! day is on providing kids with a fun, safe day on the water, with the hope that it captures the kids imagination and they want to Learn to Sail. This has been achieved fully this season, reflected by the 90% of kids who rated the day as “awesome” and indicated a desire to continue to sail. Contact details for these kids have been passed on to yacht clubs for them to get the kids and their families back for open days and learn to sail courses.
With a focus on water safety and building confidence in and around the water, kids are taught the importance of wearing adequate clothing and correctly fitted life jackets, rigging and parts of the boat, and the basic ideas behind how to make a boat sail. All this education is disguised by fun activities, capsizing and often a sneaky water fight!
It is heaps of fun!!!! But don’t just take our word for it... check out some of the photos below!
A huge thanks to the Yacht clubs and volunteers who have helped the Volvo Sailing…Have a Go! programme run so successfully this season, and for making the instructors feel so welcome at your club. Thanks also to Volvo and the Lion Foundation, for their ongoing commitment and support to this fantastic initiative. It would not be possible without them.
The Volvo Sailing…Have a go! programme will be back next season, restarting in term 4. If you would like to get your school or club involved in the 2016/2017 season, contact Danika. She will be taking bookings and putting together calendar over the winter months.
Danika Mowlem | Programmes and Services Coordinator | Yachting New Zealand
DDI (09) 361 4028 | E danika@yachtingnz.org.nz
http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/learn-to-sail/volvo-sailing-have-a-go
