Page 42 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 115

42 Issue #115 August 2022
Sailing Camp for Kids
at Stormont Yacht Club
By Christine Ouellet
tormont Yacht Club worked
Swith Sail Ontario to set up a new
sailing camp for youth aged 10 to 15, and his assistant Jason Sinkus, who is
which took place in July.
There is a shift from the Boom
Program, where all the boats and
instructors were from out of town,
to the Main Sail Program, which
encourages the development of
autonomies sustainable sail train
programs.
Sail Ontario would certify the
instructors to teach CANSail level
1-2, and provide the boats, RS Zest
dinghy, and the Main Sail Program,
while SYC members would take
charge of delivering the course. There
CANSail level 1 certification, but himself, said “I never taught sailing
the first 2 days of strong winds to at SYC, Contact fleet-captain@
www.sportsenergynews.com
was such a demand that within 2
weeks 15 young aspiring sailors had
registered for the CANsail program.
Thus, Fleet-Captain Francis Clark
a music teacher and head of the music
department, delivered the course.
They were assisted by three SYC
members disguised as musketeers:
Peter Bray, Peter Mayer, and Mark
Hutchinson, which gave them a ratio
of student/coach of 3:1 and ensured
that the young sailors were closely
supervised.
To obtain the CANsail level 1
certification, the young sailors had
to identify wind directions and point Peter Mayer and Mark Hutchinson tying a boat for a student
Photo Submitted
of sail, learn boat safety, knot tying,
perform various sailing positions, recover, balance their body, switch the techniques of sailing on land, and the
tiller and steer smoothly, trim sails, rest of the week was on the water with
head in a direction, head off, bear off, perfect wind conditions and plenty
tack, gybe, stop and accelerate. of sunshine for beginners. The kids
The week-long day camp focused had a blast, and they were amazing.
One student was particularly good at
on fun, safety, and the fundamentals
of sailing concepts through fun and sailing by the wind, which is unusual
interactive lessons. Fleet-Captain for a beginner, a skill that takes a
while to develop.”
Clark said: “The young sailors Sinkus, an excellent sailor
worked towards achieving their
our main goal was getting campers before, but the principle is the same
comfortable on their RS Zest dinghy whether you teach music or sailing;
on the water and having fun in the the kids learn more when they are
boats. The mood was relaxed, and motivated and see it as a fun learning
the kids learned by playing sailing experience.”
games, such as swapping teams in the They are also thinking ahead and
middle of the water without falling
have a succession plan, Clark and
in; or the final pirate treasure hunt Sinkus said they have identified a
led by Peter Mayer aboard Kateri,
few of the older kids that could join
where they had to chase him and sail next year and assist the coaches,
around the race markers to retrieve it is important to plant the seed for
the hidden treasure. It was a huge
the passion for sailing and they will
success.” have a positive influence on younger
The temperature was perfect sailors. For more information about
said Clark, “We took advantage of other sailing courses available
teach them the basic principles and stormontyachtclub.ca